[C320-list] Handling chop & short period waves

[Paul]

We occasionally sail off the coast of NJ (on our way to somewhere else) and 
have experienced some significant chop.  The boat handles very well in a 
3'-5' chop with 25 knots on the bow.  We usually motor in those conditions 
and found that slowing the boat down to 2 knots against the waves make the 
trip more comfortable although longer.  We take the waves at a 45 degree 
angle to keep the boat from taking a pounding and putting undo stress on the 
rigging.  All in all we feel very safe.

Paul Adison
C320 #722
"Rough Draft"

-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Barrowman
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 9:29 AM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
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