[C320-list] Handling chop & short period waves

[Robert E. Sloat]

Mike-The C320 with short wing keel is around 11,700 lbs. displacement and 
the fin keel is 11,300 lbs.  This is a big step up from the C250 and 
contributes to smoother sailing over the C250.  I am on southern Lake 
Michigan and have not experienced any nasty tendencies in chop with my 2002 
Hull 894.

If you like technical aspects of sail management, then the traveler will be 
used to optimize the main a lot.  If your boat does not have the Garhauer 
E-Z glide adjustable genoa car system get them.  It does wonders for easily 
changing sheet lead angles and optimizing my 155 genoa.

Bob Sloat
Savannah Hull 894
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Barrowman" <watercayman at hotmail.com>
To: <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:29 AM
Subject: [C320-list] Handling chop & short period waves



Hi folks,

My first post here - please forgive me if I've done this wrong.

My family currently has a C250 which we are selling, looking for a larger 
boat.  I've narrowed the list to the C320 and the C34, leaning toward the 
320.  I will need to sail (or have sailed) the boat from the US upon 
purchase to Cayman, so it needs to be able to handle the trip -- which I 
believe the 320 can, and know for sure the 34 can.  Any comments?

90% of my sails will be day sails solo, and it seems the 320 is a good boat 
for this.  But, with my wife and young daughter on the boat, one of my key 
needs is a boat that handles chop well.  Our current 250 bounces over the 
waves a bit too much, which prevents my daughter from enjoying it.  Our bay 
is very shallow and typical winds of 15kts build very short period 1-2 foot 
waves.  How would the 320 handle these conditions?  The weight of the 250 is 
only 4K #, so I'm hopeful the 11K # 320 will slice right through, but after 
searching the archive, I'm not sure I've seen a direct comment on this.

Many thanks,
Mike