Conference unifix::sailing

    This past winter we vacationed at Cabo San Lucas. Although most of the
    40 or so sailboats there were of the more capable cruising variety we did 
    see a Catalina 36 there. There was even one fellow who single-handed a
    23 foot pocket cruiser from San Deigo (full keel type built in England).
    This was his second attempt.
    
    A Catalina 34 can be sailed to Mexico. But after reading many of the
    discussions in this conference regarding off-shore sailing I would
    conclude that other boats would be more capable, comfortable, and
    forgiving.
    
    Another thought. Gunk-hole to San Deigo, then truck it to the top of
    the Sea of Cortez. The inland sailing is much more predictable (in
    season). In any case, go for it. Mexico is an absolutly beautiful place
    to be in the winter.
    
    	Howard

>>>     i am looking at a catalina 34, i have a 30, for my next boat. 

	If you look at the list of DEC boats in this conference you'll 
	see that I have a Catalina 34.  We bought it last year and we
	are very pleased with it.  The 34 as you probably know is a very
	beamy boat, so it's built for cruising as opposed to racing.  
	That makes for very confortable accomodations.


>>>     it will be used in the sf bay 80% of the time... 

	Our boat is used on Long Island sound most of the time.  The only
	disadvantage of a larger boat (compared to boats 30 foot and under)
	is that you need a good wind (10 knots and over) to be able to get 
	to 5-6 knots speed.


>>>     but i would also like to sail down the coast to mexico..
    
	I don't know how long a trip that would be.  But I wouldn't hesitate
	to go in a Catalina 34 on a trip that is 5-7 days offshore.  Then
	again I'm fairly conservative, after all Tania Aebi went around the
	world in a 26 foot boat (I saw it at the New York show in January 88,
	and boy, is that boat tiny!!!); and a friend of mine went solo from
	Block Island to the Bahamas in a J-24 (that is also really small).


Overall, I highly recommend getting a Catalina 34.  At our dock there's one of 
the new Catalina 42's.  Boy that boat is big.  Maybe I'll get that one when I 
win the Lotto ;-) and can go sail around the world.

Good luck and let me know if you get the 34.
Jacqueline

RE:.2 by FINSER::STAMATIEN "I'd rather be sailing"

> But I wouldn't hesitate to go in a Catalina 34 on a trip that is 5-7 days 
> offshore.  

I DO like Catalina's,  but the larger ones are just too beamy and light for
my taste.  They are reasonably well built,  but they are NOT designed or built
for rough sea conditions.  The only one I would take on a serious offshore
passage is the 27,  and then only after some serious upgrades.


Phil

    There's a good sailing video about cruising Mexico called "Baha
    Adventure," I believe.  It's about a California couple [hey, dudes :-)]
    who sailed their Catalina 30 down to Mexico.  It's available from
    Bennet Marine Video in Los Angeles or you can rent it from the
    Catalina 30 association in San Francisco.
    
    I have a Catalina 30 and would love a 34.  Personally, I like it better
    than the 36.  Maybe when my kids graduate from college or DEC starts
    giving pay raises again . . . whichever comes first.
    
    Adam

    re. 4
    
    Okay, so I lied.  The name of the video is "Baha Passage."

RE: .2,

>>>   The only disadvantage of a larger boat (compared to boats 30 foot 
>>>   and under) is that you need a good wind (10 knots and over) to be 
>>>   able to get to 5-6 knots speed.

Not neccesarily so (in displacement mode).  For light airs, the key ratio 
is Sail area to Wetted surface, which is not a function of size.  For many 
other reasons (mast height, weight distribution, pitching characteristics, 
etc, etc) a larger boat *may* in fact be noticeably faster in light 
conditions.  As a buyer, you can optimize a certain performance range in 
your choice of craft, independent of size.


>>>   ...after all Tania Aebi went around the world in a 26 foot boat...

And survived through little fault of her own.  (An impressive trip 
admittedly, but not one displaying particular preparation, planning or 
seamanship skills; determination, stamina and good fortune were Tania's 
stronger suits.)  

Size ain't the key to seaworthiness -- it's design and construction.  A
Taylor Contessa 26 may be a better ocean voyager in stock trim, but is
pretty slow compared to most every other 26-footer in the modern
designers' repertoire.  Linking size with seaworthiness is a common, but
foolish, mistake.  (However, in some cases size may be linked justifiably
to the seaworthiness of the *crew*, if the easier motion of a larger vessel
prevents or retards the effects of seasickness. ;-] ) 

J.

    thanks for the replies...the wind on the bay during the summer are
    in the 15-25knot range every day...i am putting 'toy # 3' up for
    sale after this season for the 34...
    
    jfk

RE:.6 by CDR::SPENCER "John Spencer"

> Size ain't the key to seaworthiness -- it's design and construction.  
> Linking size with seaworthiness is a common, but foolish, mistake.  

Large is more seaworthy, all other things being equal.  In the 1979 Fastnet
race,  in biggest three classes,  no crew were lost,  and in the smallest
three classes,  15 were lost.  About 5% of the largest boats suffered a
"B-2" knockdown (turned turtle) and about 30% of the smallest boats suffered
a "B-2".

Naturally,  the chance of a supertanker seeing a wave large enough to capsize
it is a lot less than the odds of a small boat seeing such a wave.


Phil

    Phil,
    
    Re. your Fastnet comparisons:
    
    Wasn't that more due to the fact that the storm passed behind the
    larger (and faster) classes, and therefore they didn't have it as
    severe as the smaller classes.  Seems I remember reading that 
    somewhere.  
    
    At least where racing boats are concerned, some larger boats are less 
    seaworthy than some other, smaller ones.  Seaworthiness is often 
    sacrificed in the interests of speed.  Some boats are optimized for
    around-the-buoys racing, and wouldn't be all that safe in open water. 
    Design plays a bigger role than boat size when judging seaworthiness. 
    
    ... Bob
    

RE:.9 by BOOKS::BAILEYB "playing to the tide"

> At least where racing boats are concerned, some larger boats are less 
> seaworthy than some other, smaller ones.  Seaworthiness is often sacrificed 
> in the interests of speed.  

Since we are talking about Catalina's here,  compare the Catalina 27 and 30.
The 27 handles much better in waves,  has a much better capsize screening 
factor...and the 30 is much faster.  It is a question of what you want.  The
30 has more speed and space,  and the 27 handles better and is probably more
seaworthy.  Size is not the only factor,  but it is a factor.


Phil

    I was on a Catalina 34 over the weekend.  It was pointed out that the
    head had a 6" platform installed under it after the boat was found
    washing its interior at the dock; the head inlet through-hull had been
    left open and the hand-pump valve, although closed, leaked "just
    enough". This boat was built in '86: has the factory raised the bowl
    rim yet? 
    
    The overall layout of the boat was nice for a cruiser; can't comment
    otherwise, since this boat was reworked in many ways by the original
    owner (who had an interest in a rigging business).