I am looking at setting my sites on a 36 Catalina MK1 instead of a Nonsuch 36. I am concerned with the difference in engine size. Typically a Nonsuch has a 52 hp Westerbecke. The boat I am looking at has a 2009 21 HP.
Cruising down south on this retirement yacht I am concerned it would be underpowered.
Your thoughts would be appreciated
Thanks Larry
It depends on what conditions you anticipate. I'm guessing that 21HP would be ok for relatively calm sea conditions, but would be very much underpowered in moderate chop. I had a Catalina 30 with 21 HP and in bad weather, had difficulty making headway. The C36 is a much larger boat, so undoubtedly would be underpowered in demanding conditions.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
I have the M25 on an 1984 boat. I recently had to motor most of the way (directly into the wind) from San Diego to Channel Islands harbor in Southern California (150 miles). I ran with the engine at only 1600rpm and for a few hours of the journey the seas were about 5 feet and disturbed. The boat trucked along fine and took it in its stride. There was plenty in reserve for those moderate conditions.
Duncan McNeill
1984 Catalina 36 #178
standard rig fin keel M25
Channel Islands
Our M25 gets our MK1 moving, in most conditions, at about 6 to 6.5 Kts at the beginning of the season when the hull is clean. Not quite max hull speed (which, under sail, is 7 to 8 kts), but good enough for our purposes.
We did have one day this summer going against very heavy chop and wind all day where the lack of power was disappointing, knocking us back to maybe 4 kts. Whether extra horsepower would have made much difference I can't say.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
Hi Larry
We limped along for a couple of years with an old (5000 hour) 23 Hp Universal Kubota, which began to overheat if run at more than 2000 rpm after about 15 minutes. I'm guessing we were using about 15 Hp tops. We just had to plan well, sail better and be more patient.
We've since installed a new 25Hp Beta which feels really grunty to us! :-) We considered going bigger, but rejected the idea on account of cost and inconvenience remodelling the engine bay. 21 Hp will probably be adequate, but not spectacular.
S.V. Wind Star
Rob & Margie Kyles: Auckland ,New Zealand
Mk I Hull #105 1983 Std Rig, Std Keel