In addition, although the plant as a whole runs 24 hours per day, gelcoat spraying and laminating are restricted to night hours. At Catalina, hulls and decks link up quite early in the production sequence, often before engines, systems, and most wooden components have been installed. A corollary of this approach is that interior components must be designed to fit through the companionway. Not surprisingly, the companionway on most models is unusually large, a popular feature among owners in the mild California climate. The largest boats in the product line have a more conventional horizontal flange joint through-bolted and sealed with polysulfide.
Keels are external lead antimony casting, held in place by embedded stainless steel bolts.
In-House Subcontracting Modern cruising sailboats incorporate all the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems found aboard comparable powerboats, and quite a bit more besides. Consequently, the glass parts make up a significantly smaller proportion of the total package in terms of both labor and cost. In fact, the great majority of Catalina buyers are day sailors and coastal cruisers who use these sails as the backbone of their inventories. Even those with racing aspirations generally appreciate the factory sails for cruising and casual use. Similarly, the Catalina spar shop fabricates straightforward masthead rigs with swaged-terminal 1x19 wires.