[C320-list] Head'sl Question

[Jack Brennan]

OK, I did find the prices on Catalina Direct. There just wasn’t an obvious  link from the email they sent me promoting the sale.

Ullman prices a fully equipped 135 at about $2,400 minus a 15 percent discount, say, $2,050. That compares to $1,700 at Rolly Tasker. I wonder what the local lofts for the same sail are charging these days?

Trying to compare the quality is difficult. Ullman has a huge loft in South Africa. Rolly Tasker has been making sails in Thailand for 50 years. Both have decent reputations for service. I presume any defects would be handled in a professional manner.

If you’re a competitive racer, I think it’s probably worth the edge to hire a local guy whose reputation is at stake. 

If you’re a cruiser, as I am,  I think most of these sails from well-known lofts are going to meet your needs. The 320s are relatively fast boats, so it’s not difficult to get them up over 5 knots, which is a nice speed on a cruise, even in relatively light winds.  

In heavier winds, I tend to heed my automatics reefing alarm – my wife yelling at me. 😊 That’s usually when we’re going more than 6 knots and the boat starts getting uncomfortable. Speed becomes secondary.

I wouldn’t worry too much about measurements unless your 320 has undergone alterations. These are modern, mass-produced boats, and you’re not going to see the measurement differences that you would with, say, a ‘70s model with a production run of 20 in some obscure warehouse.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320, no. 528
Tierra Verde, Fl.
Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay






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