[C320-list] 320 vs. something just a little bigger

[Jack Brennan]

Hi Paul:

That’s a complicated question.

Basically, you have to stick to Catalina, or maybe Beneteau or Hunter, to make the bigger-boat-equals-more-space equation work. For example, the 320 has more interior space than most 35- to 40-foot sailboats built from the 1970s through the early 1990s.

That said, I love the interiors of the 350 and 355. Very well designed and comfortable at anchor and at the dock. 

But neither of those boats will give you that much more in terms of motion comfort. The 355 has 2,000 more pounds, but it also has a six-foot-longer waterline, which translates into a lighter boat than the 320 performance-wise. More motion comfort generally requires a heavier boat.

Going larger than that entails much bigger and heavier everything, which can tax you as you get older.

In my cruising club, we have members in their 70s who sail really big, comfortable boats like the Island Packet 38 and, until recently, a Brewer 44. But they have electric everything to make it work. How do they get the 60- or 70-pound anchor up if the windlass goes on the blink? Luckily, we usually cruise in groups.

I like the 320 because it’s small enough for me to pull up the anchor by hand, lug the sails ashore and do all of the other functions without need of electricity. I expect that to continue as long as I own the boat. For me, that’s a safety factor. 

But I’ve also been a small boat sailor, and that’s what I’m comfortable with. A bag of shorts, underwear and shirts, with maybe a sweater thrown in, constitutes a cruising wardrobe for me. The 320’s galley and fridge are spacious, and that meets most of our material needs. That big cockpit locker holds all of my tools and spares.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.









Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Paul Ducham
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2020 7:27 PM
To: C320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] 320 vs. something just a little bigger

   Seeking opinions from those who downsized to a 320 or anyone who has a
   320 and finds themselves wishing they had spent the extra dollars for
   something a little bigger.

   I�ve always subscribed to the boat philosophy that you should own the
   smallest one you or your spouse can tolerate. And I�m mostly convinced
   that the 320 should be our next/last boat. But I wonder if I�m going to
   find myself wishing I had spent the extra money on something with 2-3
   more feet of LOA for the extra storage, motion comfort, and additional
   space.

   For context, I�m 55 and trying to pick a boat that will suite me for
   the next twenty years, assuming I�m not going to get stronger, smarter,
   or more coordinated with age. I solo sail mostly (even when my wife or
   friends are along, I�m pretty much solo sailing) out of Chicago on Lake
   Michigan. For the next couple of years, the boat will be used mostly
   for day sailing and weekending with my wife and dog, with a 2-4 week
   cruise each summer, mostly staying in marinas. But the longer-term plan
   is to spend more of each summer cruising the great lakes.

   All thoughts and opinions welcome.

   Cheers!

   Paul