Catalina 445

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Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
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Catalina 445

Spent the night onboard Friday, went to breakfast the next morning and found myself next door to Faralone Yachct Sales our local Catilina dealer.
I popped in and spoke to Dinah Goodsell and asked if they had a C445 in inventory yet. She stated that they had sold the first one and it went to Southern California, they had just received there second one and it had not been cleaned up since delivery. I introduced myself and told her I just wanted to compare the salon layout to my C36. Dinah was more than accomodating and opened up the boat for us.

Upon aproaching the boat I liked the look a lot, the house sides are steeply sloped and the boat has very wide side decks, with a freeboard not to much greater than our boats it was impressive but not ponderous. I did not spend much time on deck or in the cockpit but liked all I saw. I did note you will not be able to set anything on the helm seat as there is no fidle or bulwark to keep things from going to the briney. This boat was equiped with a hard top for a dodger thought the side panels had not been installed yet. The companionway doors fold to the starboad side against a the wall of the entry to eliminate the need to stash the boards. The steps below did not feel as steep as on the 36 or the 400.

The interior is lovely, it is the same layout as or C36 MkI, but having an extra foot and a half or so of beam allows much wider isleways and gives room for larger cushions and furniture. I am not a big fan of the white interiors that Catalina has been fitting in many of their new models. The ultra leather in this boat was more of an ivory or cream moving in my direction away from white white, I would prefer a bit more color yet. The light colors help keep the area bright but this boat did not need it as it felt very spacious, almost a deck salon feel with the steeply angled large solon windows. I liked the feel much more than some of the other recent Catalina offerings that have a ball room feel to the main salon, lots of air but no more usable space. The balance of the interior was nicely done joinery looked a little rough but as Dinah noted they had not had a chance to detail the boat since delivery. I am sure once they get it staged with tall vases, wine glasses overflowing fruit baskets and all the other things that you would never go sailing with it will show better. By the by the salon table with its folding corners does look as though it could be used on the C36, I did not bring a tape measure but it looks the same size. It must be made out of a composite material as the corners felt feather light when folding them. The floors too are of a composite, Pergo like, they looked durable but, did not look as rich as varnished teak and holly.

The state rooms were impressive, the master forward was roomy and nice
fairly large attached head compartment. The aft port guest berth was also larger than expected, not the palace that the C400 has but nice. The starboard aft area was very adaptable with fold down upper or lower bunks or a fold out double. When the extra berths are not needed they fold out of the way to make a great pantry, work shop or storage area.

Dinah did mention that surprisingly Faralone had been experiencing a good year. She stated she was eager to find used C36's and stated she had waiting buyers for a walk through transom 36.

All in all I liked the C445 a lot, knowing there is an ready market for my MKI is comforting but as for a move up I may have some problem going to the C445. A slight issue of the quarter million dollar balance after trade in is a bit daunting. My wife does not drink much anymore and I would need a constant supply of Rohypnol (that date rape drug) for both her and my banker to pull this trade off. Maybe if I hit the lotto, in the mean time Dream, Dream, Dream.
Oh well, still love my C36 MKI, maybe just a few doses of that Royhpnol and I can get a new suit of sails and running rigging.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

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dejavu
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Nice review, Steve. I was able to walk the 445 & 375 back to back and I found that the forward stateroom and head were almost identical on the two boats. I remember being surprised because I expected the 445 head to be more lavish. No doubt, though, the 445 is a beauty. Oh, and I too was surprised at how much they said my 36 was worth after 10 years of ownership.

Mike

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

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therobesons
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We too went aboard a 445 and while it was all-new, clean and had the "new boat smell" I was a little disappointed with the berths.

We really liked the boat and the v-berth was OK the rear stateroom still had a bed that land locks one person making it so someone has to crawl over someone else to get in or out of bed. Not cool.

I really like the 400s rear stateroom with that lovely centerline bed, but not that low headroom.

I was hoping for more from the 445.

JMHO

Bob

Bob, LaRainne and McKenzie Robeson

1985 Std Rig C-36, Hull #374

San Pedro, Cal

Sailing the So Cal Islands and coastal ports from San Pedro south to San Diego.

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dejavu
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[QUOTE=therobesons;2912]but not that low headroom.

Bob[/QUOTE]

Yes, I think if you want a nice aft cabin with headroom, you almost have to buy a Hunter. But with the accompanying freeboard, that "leap of death" to the dock can be kinda scary.:D

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

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[QUOTE=dejavu;2918]....with the accompanying freeboard, that "leap of death" to the dock can be kinda scary.:D[/QUOTE]

Leaping to the dock is completely unnecessary. Latitude 38 published my letter to them a year or so ago:

HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY

In the April issue, Mark Johnston asked about dealing with aging knees and boat docking in “Senior Sailors and High Freeboard.” He expressed his concern about docking with a potential future bigger boat, noting “…it’s not so easy…for my wife and me to jump down to the dock with lines in our hands.” We’ve had our Catalina 34 for the past 10 years, with a C22 for two and a C25 for twelve before that, sailing all over the Bay, the Delta and up & down the coast. We employ what we believe is the most useful and safe technique for docking that still seems to be a mystery to most sailors. It’s called the midships spring line. Our older Catalina 34s did not come with a midships cleat, so we added one on each side at the forward end of the jib fairlead track. Many newer boats come with them. There really is no reason to ever have to jump off a boat to dock it properly. I recommend that Mark Google “midships springline” – there is a wealth of information available, one of which is: [url]http://www.cruising.sailingcourse.com/docking.htm[/url].

The maneuver is simple: attach the springline to the midships cleat, run it fair outside the lifelines, as you approach the dock loop the springline over the aft dock cleat and bring it back to the winch. Snug it up and keep the boat in low throttle forward and the boat will sidle right up to the dock, no jumping is EVER required. A friend developed an enhanced springline arrangement with a prefixed length of line with a hose holding a lower loop of line open to assure that it catches the cleat on the dock, so that no line needs to be returned to the winch.

I do a lot of single-handed sailing and have found this invaluable in docking in all conditions. I’m sure that once this “trick” is learned and mastered it can be used in a wide variety of docking situations with all manner of wind and currents.

It’s not only safer, it’s a sure knee and back saver. The only drawback is when docks don’t have cleats, but have those nutty rings or the wooden raised runners so prevalent in the Pacific Northwest. I think that’s one reason they invented grapnel hooks!

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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deising
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I second Stu's thoughts. We never have to leave the boat to dock, although each place brings its own challenges.

Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/

caprice 1050
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You'll never guess where I learned the single line docking manover.....At Disney World. About thirty years ago I was on a small shuttle ferry boat going from the Magic Kingdom to the Campground and oberved the youg girl skipper of the boat single handed use this method. She had a large loop on the boat end of the dock line and leaves the line on the dock. When she arrives at the dock she picks up the loop with a boat hook and just drops it over a cleat on the boat. When I got home I triedit on my 24 foot sailboat and have been using ever since.

__/)__/)__/)__Capt Mike__/)__/)__/)__
Punta Gorda Florida
1990 Std WK M35 Hull #1050

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deising
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Mike's suggestion is perfect when coming back to your own dock. Stu's suggestion works for varying situations as found at other docks.

Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/

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I have a 40' long 16' wide downwind slip. My docksteps are on the starboard side of the boat (it's like that on my dock). When I come in singlehanded, I'm dead center in the slip, but when I hit a burst of reverse to stop the boat, the stern lays nicely to the port side of the slip and I hop off that side and tie her off. I would get off on the steps, but they're 4' away on the other side. It's not a problem for me, I just wouldn't want to do it off a center cockpit Hunter. I think even if I tried the nifty "snare the dock cleat with the loop" trick, I would still end up getting off on the port side 'cuz that's where the boat goes. I do try to leap gracefully, however.:p

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

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Steve Frost
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We have become a bit side tracked. You guys have brought up some good points on docking but, anyone searching our site for infomation on docking may not think to look at the Catalina 445 thread. Maybe a new thread on docking would be in order.

I am guilty of these same diversions but, it is frustrating attempting to search for a information when the thread goes sideways. Any suggestions on this protacol? Maybe we need to impliment the Dewy Decimal System.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

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dejavu
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Sorry. I think it was my "Hunter leap of death" comment that got everyone fired up.:o

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

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Steve Frost
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Mike,

I am probably one of the worst here for wandering off topic as I am blessed/cursed with non liniar fractal thought process's.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

nelson
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To bring this thread "off track" and back on the "main line," check out the November issue of Cruising World, which features the 445 on the cover and in a review inside. I must say the aerial photo, taken on San Francisco Bay, does a good job of showing the boat's handsome lines. I wish Catalina could have done as well with some of the last few new models.

--Nelson

Nelson Lee, "Stella," 2002 C36, hull 2069, Universal M35BC, berthed Sausalito, CA

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I was at the Newport boat show in Sept, the 375 that was supposed to be delivered to the dealer was NOT EXECPTED by the dealer, I wold assume that there were issues that were an easy fix. Also I was not impressed at all with the 445. For the money they were asking I could have walked away with the Beneteau 50 which was loaded with gear. right across the way Not a CATALINA but way more boat, and options
I was really surpised I figured for the buck CATALINA would have given more bang.

I will take the C36 any day

FAIR WINDS & FOLLOWING SEAS

Jeff Costa

S/V KAIROS Hull #0235

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Steve, nice review. The search engine works on words, not topics, so all is cool.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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[QUOTE=jsc4484;6844]I was at the Newport boat show in Sept, the 375 that was supposed to be delivered to the dealer was NOT EXECPTED by the dealer, I wold assume that there were issues that were an easy fix. Also I was not impressed at all with the 445. For the money they were asking I could have walked away with the Beneteau 50 which was loaded with gear. right across the way Not a CATALINA but way more boat, and options
I was really surpised I figured for the buck CATALINA would have given more bang.

I will take the C36 any day[/QUOTE]

For me few things ruin the aesthetics of a boat faster than a Dodge Daytona type wing across the cockpit like the Bene 50. Its a sailboat, not a 70's NASCAR design.

Bill Boggs
s/v Palmetto Moon
1991 C36, Hull 1128
Herrington Harbor South
Chesapeake Bay

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