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

[Scott Thompson]

I wouldn’t discount a Mark I 320 in good shape. Some of the features of the older boats are nicer IMHO. I’m thinking about the fridge and boarding ladder mostly. 

> On Dec 18, 2020, at 7:23 AM, Paul Ducham <paul at ducham.com> wrote:
> 
>    Thanks everyone for sharing your experience and perspective. Each and
>   everyone of you made points that were invaluable to my decision.
> 
> 
> 
>   Your comments helped me reduce my short-list to only Catalinas, and
>   most likely a 320 Mark II. The 355 isn't out of the running. I really
>   think the 355 is a great design. But at about double the price, my
>   frugality struggles with the ratio of incremental benefits of the 355
>   compared with the 320 relative to incremental cost.
> 
> 
> 
>   Cheers!
> 
> 
> 
>   Paul
> 
>   -------- Original Message --------
>   Subject: Re: [C320-list] 320 vs. something just a little bigger
>   From: <[1]amiraults at sympatico.ca>
>   Date: Thu, December 17, 2020 4:50 pm
>   To: <[2]c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>   Paul:
>   Re-read what Pat Reynolds has written, as there is much there to chew
>   upon.
>   Twelve years ago, at age 53, I went looking for my final, retirement
>   boat.
>   In 2007 I moved up from a 1981 28 foot Tanzer to a 2001 C320. The
>   former
>   boat had been a bit of a project that allowed me to "learn by doing" in
>   regards necessary maintenance. Among the things learned was that I
>   didn't
>   want another project boat to sail while I completed my final
>   pre-retirement
>   employment laps. I wanted a well cared for boat old enough that the
>   bugs
>   were worked out, desirable owner add-ons were already actually added
>   on, and
>   with a bit of depreciation making it more affordable. It also needed to
>   be
>   young enough that aside from regular cleaning it would not need heavy
>   maintenance for 4-5 years. This would allow me to get to just sail the
>   boat
>   while winding up my career - such as it was. All this has come to pass.
>   Everything Pat wrote about performance I have found to be true. His
>   observation that the hull grows bigger with every spring's wash and wax
>   is
>   also true. An additional thought is the impact of personal surprise. I
>   was
>   VERY surprised by the need for triple bypass surgery during the period
>   of
>   launch prep in '19. Recovery was long, and Bear has been all the boat I
>   can
>   handle. I do day sail. I do race her with the addition of four crew. At
>   least once a season (except '19) I take her out single-handed;
>   obviously
>   possible to do, but every change of direction requires planning and
>   organization. For day sailing with friends it is a great boat, with
>   plenty
>   of room on deck and below. The same for weekends on the hook with the
>   spouse. So long as you are willing to be creative with v-berth storage
>   I
>   would expect that longer duration cruises on The Great Lakes for two
>   would
>   find the C320 ideal.
>   A bigger boat is always more comfortable, and great if you can afford
>   it.
>   Before you acquire one, look to your spouse if it is your retirement
>   intention to cruise. My spouse is willing, assuming that there is not
>   more
>   than 15 degrees of heel. Further, she's 5' tall with a light upper body
>   structure, so she lacks upper body strength to the point that I
>   replaced the
>   original 150% head sail with a 135% modified Yankee cut so she could do
>   some
>   initial grinding on the tacks. Finally, she's willing to pull or
>   release
>   lines, or take the wheel while I raise the main or deal with a minor
>   issue;
>   but will not take the helm in/out of harbour, while minor mobility
>   issues
>   prevent her from jumping onto the dock to secure the boat on entering
>   our
>   slip. This means that when it is just the two of us in and out of
>   harbour it
>   is kind of like single handing. Much of the sailing we do feels
>   somewhat
>   like sailing alone. How do you see your significant other with this?
>   Will
>   this work for you on a bigger boat? Shit also happens and the skipper
>   usually carries the greater responsibility for boat handling. He who
>   handles
>   more is more likely to get hurt. In the event of an injury, at what
>   point
>   would a boat be too big for your spouse to handle with you only
>   providing
>   verbal assistance?
>   These aren't starry-eyed n-footitis questions, but they're still valid
>   considerations. I am not in a position to advise on the size of your
>   next/last boat as I don't know you that well. Bigger is more
>   comfortable,
>   and offers more crew and guest possibilities. The C320 can sleep seven,
>   but
>   I don't know five more people that I like THAT much. Of the boats I
>   have
>   been on, my limited experience is to recommend you satisfy the purchase
>   within the Catalina family. They appear to be built up to a standard
>   rather
>   than down to a price. When I have been unpleasantly surprised by
>   conditions
>   to the point where I became fearful, Bear didn't bat a padeye. I have
>   to
>   quit before Bear does. And a funny thing, at my club the Catalinas tend
>   to
>   be sailed more.
>   Brian Amirault
>   797 Waltzing Bear, too
> 
> References
> 
>   1. mailto:amiraults at sympatico.ca
>   2. mailto:c320-list at lists.catalina320.com