From: stefan@helios.physics.utoronto.ca (Stefan Mochnacki)
Subject: Re: Catalina 30 (WAS: Request for advice ... Cruising sailboats)
Organization: University of Toronto Physics/Astronomy/CITA
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 06:32:25 GMT


Well, this thread is most productive! 

* Osmosis: I am aware that osmosis occurs on Catalina 30's, but
           I did not know it was common on newer boats ... Can 
           anyone say anything about osmosis on older boats
           (say 1980 and earlier) ?

* Chainplates: The clarification about the need to upgrade was
          very useful. However, can anyone report failure
          of properly-maintained chainplates in heavy conditions?

* "Thunder Thighs": There is a textbook which lists the righting
          ability of boats - I don't have one unfortunately (it
          may have been one of the post-Fastnet '79 books). Can
          anyone report the comparative figure from the table in
          that book? (C&C's, e.g. the 27, had good numbers). 

          I would think, however, that capsizing a big boat on the
         Great Lakes is a fairly remote possibility provided good
         seamanship is practised. [ Contradictions of this 
         statement would be interesting! ]

Greg Bullough writes: 

> The original poster might look into Ericson Yachts. They have some attractive
> boats, and given the state of the market, you might be able to pick up an
> Ericson for not much more than a Catalina. I don't know, but I think they've
> made some real strides since my Ericson 27 (which had acceptable quality, not
> stunning, but acceptable) was built in 1976.

Ericsons  are  rare  around here. Perhaps comparable in 
Canada  is the Mirage line. Fellow Power & Sail Squadron  student 
is selling a nice 28-footer ("Mirage 27 Schmidt Design").

 
> Then again, if I were in Canada, I'd still look real hard at the CS boats,
> which aren't as inexpensive as some others, but then again after import
> duty, and after making a good deal...  ...

CS27's  sell  for  about CAN$20-25K, usually with  a  diesel.  Roomy 
cabin, but I don't like them. Narrow, nasty decks, deep draft for
length in most cases, prone to osmosis so ads play up epoxy. Too
small for me. Well built and finished, though,  and  sail  very well. 
If you like a powerful-looking beetle, a CS27 is for you. 
CS30's, 33's etc. are  out  of  my league. Very good reputation.

> if they're still in business :-(

Nope. Like "all" manufacturers, belly-up. But then "Denis knows"
that resurrection is possible ... so maybe CS too may revive, 
just like C&C (thanks to Hong Kong money).

> I'd also be willing to bet that there are a lot of boats in charter fleets
> which are going to be sold off cheaply, given the economy. Look around.

Maybe, but those "bargains" don't seem to have come my way ...  a 
better bet may be checking out private listings: without knocking 
brokers, some of whom are very helpful and patient, self-listing
owners  advertise  lower  asking prices,  provide  much  more 
information  about their boats, and often sell quickly. When  a 
boat  I've inquired about sells, I ask the ex-owner what it  went 
for. Very revealing. (No library around Toronto gets the BUC book
any more...).

-- 
Stefan W. Mochnacki          INTERNET - stefan@centaur.astro.utoronto.ca
Astronomy, U. of Toronto     UUCP - {uunet,pyramid}!utai!helios.physics!stefan
Ph. (416) 884-9562           BITNET - mochnacki@utorphys.bitnet 
FAX (416) 884-2672	     LOCATION - David Dunlap Observatory 
Newsgroups: rec.boats