[C320-list] Is my boat big enough.
Scott Westwood
scottwestwood at bellsouth.net
Thu Feb 17 15:05:12 PST 2022
I agree with the other comments. Here's my 2 cents:
First thing, like most boat related things it depends on your tolerances.
Short version, The C320 is very capable of trips like Bahamas, Dry Tortugas, even Cuba if legal. Tolerance/comfort, weather distance.
We took our '98 C320 (hull 517) from NC to Bahamas 2 years ago but only had a little over 2 months. Made it to Spanish Wells, Aluthera, and Exumas. Great trip. This past year we just got back on Jan 27 from the Dry Tortugas for 2 months (off Key West) and we also went around the Chesapeake last spring (also 2 months). Went as far north as Havre de Grace.
For Bahamas: I think we had 3 diesel cans (5 gal/ea), about 20+ gal extra water (above boat tanks), folding bikes, and canned/dry goods for almost 8 weeks on board. Depending on your usage, we think the C320 has plenty of space for (at least) 2-3 weeks without docking. For us, fuel was usually the first reason we docked. Even then we (usually) got fuel/water and went on. That year the weather was not great so motored most of the time. Could have just brought more fuel cans?
Don't NOT go. There are many places to stow things. This all depends on what "frills" you take.
Again, depends on HOW you cruise. Maybe, take as much "emergency" food as you can and buy local and always try to keep enough to get back home or at least back to the states? If you reach out to others, while you are wherever you are, you can find what you need. (our experience).
I should note that before we did all this we added solar (200watts) and davits for the (new/reliable)dinghy. (We have minimal usage while anchored- no TV etc...) Also replaced LA batteries with AGM (400AH) and added separate Start Battery. IMHO, Davits and solar(or/and wind/generator etc..) are the main benefits for cruising. Anchoring for long periods without "something" to replenish the house bank just adds something to worry about. Again, depends on how you like to cruise. Anchor or marina hop. Also think how much you like hot water if anchored for long periods. Also, (Like Chris noted below) an autohelm make life so much easier. We have a wheel Auto but it can't handle rough seas. There was one time I spent 10 hard hours straight at the helm. The auto couldn't handle it and my wife could not either. Did not do that again. Now we choose more reliable weather windows. It wasn't unsafe, just following/rolling waves so keeping a course was difficult (at night).
For us, 2-3 months is very doable on a C320. We have met many people that have lived/traveled MUCH longer on boats this big. We met a couple in Bimini that came from Denmark in a boat this size. They said it was the first marina for them in a month.
Go for it.
Could go on and on with stories.
Thanks,
Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net C (919)- 819-9794
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, 04:01:41 PM EST, <c320-list-request at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Is My Boat Big Enough (Michael Leschisin)
2. Re: Is My Boat Big Enough (Diane Fowler)
3. Re: Is My Boat Big Enough (Michael Farina)
4. Re: Is My Boat Big Enough (RONALD HODEL)
5. Re: Is My Boat Big Enough (Chris Burti)
6. Putting Vega Up For Sale (Joe Geiger)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:49:21 -0600
From: Michael Leschisin <mleschisin at imagestudios.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Is My Boat Big Enough
Message-ID: <2D81DAD5-2C08-4D2E-A7B4-3226FA624FE6 at imagestudios.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
This time of year with subzero windchills and short daylight hours I start overdosing on Youtube sailing vlogs and dreaming of sailing off to Caribbean waters with our Catalina. I?m hoping to someday pull the plug on the Great Lakes, drift down the Hudson and make that happen.
We bought our 320 about five years ago and have had a great time sailing the Great Lakes both overnighting and daysailing and the boat leaves little to be desired.
Keeping in mind that the bigger the boat, the more everything costs, (slip fees, bottom paint, sails, etc.) the 320 seems the perfect compromise between budget, seaworthiness and space. I?m curious to hear however, what first hand experience forum members might have cruising, living aboard, Island hopping, etc. on 320s. I don?t foresee crossing oceans with my boat, and from what I have gathered through experience and discussions I believe that Bahamas/Caribbean coastal cruising is well within the capabilities of the 320, but I?m also wondering about the livability factor. I would foresee a scenario of anchoring out for a string of days, then pulling into a Marina for water, provisions, fuel; like we do now on the Great Lakes. It seems that storage might be the one consideration that would be limiting, but there is no teacher like experience. How far have you cruised, what is your longest live aboard, what are the limitations of the boat, what is the worst weather you?ve experien
ced? Is this a realistic prospect for the 320 or should I be looking at something with more space and more systems? If you?ve done any amount of cruising on your 320, what upgrades have you made; solar, tankage, navigation? I know everything on a sailboat is a compromise and everyone?s opinions will vary, but I?d love to hear any and all first hand experience cruising with this boat.
Thanks for any input you might have,
Michael Leschisin
Wild Blue Yonder
#995
Menonminee, MI
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 13:58:01 -0500
From: Diane Fowler <dianeflr at aol.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Is My Boat Big Enough
Message-ID: <D4D1F2AA-DA5B-4DF0-A6B3-3D8BEBB52714 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
We've taken Windy City, #948, from Cape Coral to Bahamas. Lived aboard 35 days. Mounted TV on cup rack- facing forward- with DVD player for rainy nights.
Would have loved a full enclosure- as it rained 5 days straight!!
Plenty of storage- baby wipes helped with water storage- diesel fuel plentiful.
We spent 22 days aboard late October- November along Florida west coast. Traveled with 15 larger boats & glad we have all the comforts of home with A/C, windlass, large bunk, walk through transom with shower.
We go to Sturgeon Bay for summer & have SailTime membership. Have seen your boat!!
Go for it! You only live once!!
Captain Diane Fowler, CRS, GRI, e-PRO
Nautical Realty Group, Inc.
Let me help make your sale a breeze.
239-850-4935
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 17, 2022, at 1:49 PM, Michael Leschisin <mleschisin at imagestudios.com> wrote:
>
> ?This time of year with subzero windchills and short daylight hours I start overdosing on Youtube sailing vlogs and dreaming of sailing off to Caribbean waters with our Catalina. I?m hoping to someday pull the plug on the Great Lakes, drift down the Hudson and make that happen.
>
> We bought our 320 about five years ago and have had a great time sailing the Great Lakes both overnighting and daysailing and the boat leaves little to be desired.
> Keeping in mind that the bigger the boat, the more everything costs, (slip fees, bottom paint, sails, etc.) the 320 seems the perfect compromise between budget, seaworthiness and space. I?m curious to hear however, what first hand experience forum members might have cruising, living aboard, Island hopping, etc. on 320s. I don?t foresee crossing oceans with my boat, and from what I have gathered through experience and discussions I believe that Bahamas/Caribbean coastal cruising is well within the capabilities of the 320, but I?m also wondering about the livability factor. I would foresee a scenario of anchoring out for a string of days, then pulling into a Marina for water, provisions, fuel; like we do now on the Great Lakes. It seems that storage might be the one consideration that would be limiting, but there is no teacher like experience. How far have you cruised, what is your longest live aboard, what are the limitations of the boat, what is the worst weather you?ve experi
enced? Is this a realistic prospect for the 320 or should I be looking at something with more space and more systems? If you?ve done any amount of cruising on your 320, what upgrades have you made; solar, tankage, navigation? I know everything on a sailboat is a compromise and everyone?s opinions will vary, but I?d love to hear any and all first hand experience cruising with this boat.
>
> Thanks for any input you might have,
>
>
> Michael Leschisin
>
> Wild Blue Yonder
> #995
> Menonminee, MI
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 14:10:56 -0500
From: Michael Farina <mjfarina at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Is My Boat Big Enough
Message-ID:
<CAJTW4tu1e-5DO1ZCUYZPo3T80H=9qQKhrHrtj04=QHPMUg=qLQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Check out SV Smitty?s blog. They cruise extensively on a 310. They have
gone from Maine to Grenada on it and are usually on the hook. Similar boat,
but everyone?s needs are always different?
On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 1:49 PM Michael Leschisin <
mleschisin at imagestudios.com> wrote:
> This time of year with subzero windchills and short daylight hours I start
> overdosing on Youtube sailing vlogs and dreaming of sailing off to
> Caribbean waters with our Catalina. I?m hoping to someday pull the plug on
> the Great Lakes, drift down the Hudson and make that happen.
>
> We bought our 320 about five years ago and have had a great time sailing
> the Great Lakes both overnighting and daysailing and the boat leaves little
> to be desired.
> Keeping in mind that the bigger the boat, the more everything costs, (slip
> fees, bottom paint, sails, etc.) the 320 seems the perfect compromise
> between budget, seaworthiness and space. I?m curious to hear however, what
> first hand experience forum members might have cruising, living aboard,
> Island hopping, etc. on 320s. I don?t foresee crossing oceans with my
> boat, and from what I have gathered through experience and discussions I
> believe that Bahamas/Caribbean coastal cruising is well within the
> capabilities of the 320, but I?m also wondering about the livability
> factor. I would foresee a scenario of anchoring out for a string of days,
> then pulling into a Marina for water, provisions, fuel; like we do now on
> the Great Lakes. It seems that storage might be the one consideration that
> would be limiting, but there is no teacher like experience. How far have
> you cruised, what is your longest live aboard, what are the limitations of
> the boat, what is the worst weather you?ve experienced? Is this a
> realistic prospect for the 320 or should I be looking at something with
> more space and more systems? If you?ve done any amount of cruising on your
> 320, what upgrades have you made; solar, tankage, navigation? I know
> everything on a sailboat is a compromise and everyone?s opinions will vary,
> but I?d love to hear any and all first hand experience cruising with this
> boat.
>
> Thanks for any input you might have,
>
>
> Michael Leschisin
>
> Wild Blue Yonder
> #995
> Menonminee, MI
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 11:28:19 -0800
From: RONALD HODEL <ronandgail2 at me.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Is My Boat Big Enough
Message-ID: <4D91F2EF-81A6-42C6-AC3D-2F35A15FE2F4 at me.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
You can check out our blog as well. My wife and I cruised from Southern California to Bandaras Bay Mexico and then summered in the Sea of Cortez for about a year. After dwelling on dirt for the last 5 years my dear co-captain has said, it?s about time to move back aboard and head off on another adventure. To where, that?s the discussion at this point. Inland Passage to Glacier Bay? Back to the Sea of Cortez (a place we loved)? Costa Rica? Panama? The 320 isn?t a boat for crossing oceans (although it could - and so could a rowboat under the right conditions) but coastal cruising . . . she?s an awesome boat for that. I?ve got my lists of things that will make the next adventure even better than the first - I?d be glad to share that with you if you want me to - publicly or privately doesn?t much matter to me - as well as how we?ve got Lokomaikai currently configured. Anyway, here?s our blog address. https://lokomaikai.wordpress.com/
Set a date and GO!
Don?t look for a better boat. The best boat is the boat you?ve got.
Ron Hodel
#1070 Lokomaikai
Dana Point, CA
Sent from my iPad
> On Feb 17, 2022, at 10:49 AM, Michael Leschisin <mleschisin at imagestudios.com> wrote:
>
> ?This time of year with subzero windchills and short daylight hours I start overdosing on Youtube sailing vlogs and dreaming of sailing off to Caribbean waters with our Catalina. I?m hoping to someday pull the plug on the Great Lakes, drift down the Hudson and make that happen.
>
> We bought our 320 about five years ago and have had a great time sailing the Great Lakes both overnighting and daysailing and the boat leaves little to be desired.
> Keeping in mind that the bigger the boat, the more everything costs, (slip fees, bottom paint, sails, etc.) the 320 seems the perfect compromise between budget, seaworthiness and space. I?m curious to hear however, what first hand experience forum members might have cruising, living aboard, Island hopping, etc. on 320s. I don?t foresee crossing oceans with my boat, and from what I have gathered through experience and discussions I believe that Bahamas/Caribbean coastal cruising is well within the capabilities of the 320, but I?m also wondering about the livability factor. I would foresee a scenario of anchoring out for a string of days, then pulling into a Marina for water, provisions, fuel; like we do now on the Great Lakes. It seems that storage might be the one consideration that would be limiting, but there is no teacher like experience. How far have you cruised, what is your longest live aboard, what are the limitations of the boat, what is the worst weather you?ve experi
enced? Is this a realistic prospect for the 320 or should I be looking at something with more space and more systems? If you?ve done any amount of cruising on your 320, what upgrades have you made; solar, tankage, navigation? I know everything on a sailboat is a compromise and everyone?s opinions will vary, but I?d love to hear any and all first hand experience cruising with this boat.
>
> Thanks for any input you might have,
>
>
> Michael Leschisin
>
> Wild Blue Yonder
> #995
> Menonminee, MI
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 14:30:13 -0500
From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
To: 320 <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Is My Boat Big Enough
Message-ID:
<CAAAgXkyLACPM2Nd_zngoLx2uVQ8XNaPrJvKfH1c5eG0QSopKjQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
We did a fair amount of cruising, but not longer than three weeks.
We've been caught out sailing in 35 knot winds with gusts to the mid
forties. The C-320 can easily handle more than you can.
We added below deck linear drive autopilot and Garhauer adjustable genoa
cars, i consider those to be essential for extensive cruising.
I added a protected anchor well washdown system, another essential for me.I
would recommend adding a 20 gallon water bladder, but never got around to
the project. Creativity can overcome the limited storage.
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC
On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 1:49 PM Michael Leschisin <
mleschisin at imagestudios.com> wrote:
> This time of year with subzero windchills and short daylight hours I start
> overdosing on Youtube sailing vlogs and dreaming of sailing off to
> Caribbean waters with our Catalina. I?m hoping to someday pull the plug on
> the Great Lakes, drift down the Hudson and make that happen.
>
> We bought our 320 about five years ago and have had a great time sailing
> the Great Lakes both overnighting and daysailing and the boat leaves little
> to be desired.
> Keeping in mind that the bigger the boat, the more everything costs, (slip
> fees, bottom paint, sails, etc.) the 320 seems the perfect compromise
> between budget, seaworthiness and space. I?m curious to hear however, what
> first hand experience forum members might have cruising, living aboard,
> Island hopping, etc. on 320s. I don?t foresee crossing oceans with my
> boat, and from what I have gathered through experience and discussions I
> believe that Bahamas/Caribbean coastal cruising is well within the
> capabilities of the 320, but I?m also wondering about the livability
> factor. I would foresee a scenario of anchoring out for a string of days,
> then pulling into a Marina for water, provisions, fuel; like we do now on
> the Great Lakes. It seems that storage might be the one consideration that
> would be limiting, but there is no teacher like experience. How far have
> you cruised, what is your longest live aboard, what are the limitations of
> the boat, what is the worst weather you?ve experienced? Is this a
> realistic prospect for the 320 or should I be looking at something with
> more space and more systems? If you?ve done any amount of cruising on your
> 320, what upgrades have you made; solar, tankage, navigation? I know
> everything on a sailboat is a compromise and everyone?s opinions will vary,
> but I?d love to hear any and all first hand experience cruising with this
> boat.
>
> Thanks for any input you might have,
>
>
> Michael Leschisin
>
> Wild Blue Yonder
> #995
> Menonminee, MI
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:02:20 -0500
From: Joe Geiger <joe.geiger at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Putting Vega Up For Sale
Message-ID: <FBA7E3BE-EB28-48B1-AA38-62A39CF4CB9F at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
We have decided to get out of boating and are putting Vega (#722) up for sale this spring. She?s a 2000 wing keel C320 with leatherette interior. She?s had the standing rigging replaced (2018), the transmission rebuilt (2018), new 140% headsail (2020) and new full batten stack-pak mainsail (2021). Engine has about 1500 hrs on it.
Just putting the feelers out to see if anyone on this list is interested before listing with a broker. We are located in Greenwich Cove RI on Narragansett Bay. If interested, please email me directly at joe.geiger at gmail.com.
Thanks,
Joe
--
Joe Geiger
Vega #722
Greenwich Cove, RI
End of C320-list Digest, Vol 4189, Issue 1
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