34 vs 36 choice?

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jimm22n
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Joined: 7/27/14
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34 vs 36 choice?
Hi Everyone, I’m Jim and I love to sail. I learned to sail in small day sailors; 420, Laser, and 14-17’ day sailors in Norfolk VA in the early nineties. I’ve had an FJ-14’, two fixer uppers Catalina 22 & 27 neither of which did I actually sail, and a very nice Catalina 25. Now I have a nice fiancée in my life and she wants, you guessed it, a sailboat! Our goal will be hanging out at the marina on the weekends and some local sails. We are in Corpus Christi TX. She and I hope to do “The Great Loop” in aprox 7 years when we both retire. I’m 6’3” and we want something big enough to be comfortable but easily controllable. We’d also like an aft cabin, walk-thru transom, and a wing keel for the loop should we actually go. My questions are what are the differences between and merits vs. negatives of the 34’ vs. 36’ models? Can a very nice one be had for less than 50k? Thanks, Jim
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jworth3
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I owned a 1988 Catalina 34 wing-keel (no walk-thru transom) for 4 years and now own a 1999 Catalina 36 Mk II.

The 34 was our first cruising boat, and we loved her. Did a lot of catch-up maintenance and some upgrades. We cruised her from New Jersey and up through LI Sound to Block Island twice.

We decided to look for another boat to get:

  • Lower engine hours (34's engine was ready for major overhaul/replacement)
  • Easier mainsail handling (roller furling or Dutchman)
  • Walk-thru transom

We felt that we'd rather put our money into a newer boat rather than put it into the older 34. Of course, the walk-thru transom was impossible for the 34.

We looked at Newer 34s and 36s. Actually found a late-model 34 that was beautiful, but she was way over-priced. Ended up with the 36, which we also love. Things we like:

  • Miss the beauty, but love no topside teak maintenance.
  • With the fold-up dining table, the cabin feels really spacious
  • Dutchman system works well, and at a fraction of the cost and no loss of performance of roller furling
  • 10% faster. We now do voyage planning at 5.5 knots, where the 34 we used 5.0 knots.
  • Wide, comfortable cockpit w/built-in table.
  • Stern seats

As always, your boat, your decision!

As to price, you can get a pre-1990 C34 in the 40s, but she may take a bit of work. C36s, except very old ones, will probably be over $50K. But don't take my word for it, do a lot of shopping!

Joe & Patti Worth
"Tehani"
1999 C36 MKII #1810
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

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rkibler
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After a year of searching for our boat, we settled for a 36 mkII.  Being 6' 3" myself, I was able to fit the forward berth better.  The 36 mkII has the forward head, which to me seems to have more room also.   The LOA I believe is only 22" different between the two.

Rob Kibler
s/v "Meander"
2003 C36 MKII #2124

jimm22n
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Thanks to you both and Hello to New Jersey! I grew up in North Plainfield. I’ve never cruised unless you consider 22 years on many different boats that started with USS... I plan on getting married next summer and purchasing a boat as early as next fall? We’ll see.

I had not considered the Catalina 34’ or 36’ as I was sure the Hunter 34’-37’ would be my boat. It has my 6’3” headroom but they all seem to be of “lesser quality” than the Catalina. I’ll be here reading up on what info is available. I’m fond of Catalina simply because they “seem” to be all around better boats than the Hunter. Thanks and I’ll be reading and learning.

Jim M
Corpus Christi TX

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rkibler
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We purchased our boat May of this year.  2003 36 mkII.  We searched for over a year to find the right boat.  To me, and I know this is subjective, the Catalina's we looked at were in better shape than the Hunters.  I am very pleased with the Garhauer hardware on the deck.  

After owning mine for two months.  I appreciate the resistance to dock rash the Catalina posess.

Rob Kibler
s/v "Meander"
2003 C36 MKII #2124

desl
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Joined: 6/26/14
Posts: 6

My wife and I just got our first real boat, a '83 Catalina 36. We also looked at 34s but here's why we decided to go for a 36:

Difference in cost was apparently nothing.
Difference in moorage in the places we want to be is nothing
The interior layouts are very similar but the c36 seems to carry more beam more places (I'm less prone to whacking my knees on everything).
Since we prefer to sleep in the dinette, the extra inches there really matter.

However, in our locality (SF Bay) the deals were on c36s and not c34s, so it was an easy choice. We picked up ours for 'stole it' money and are now fixing all the things it needs to be suitable for us (on a ~$7k budget).

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jworth3
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We looked at a couple of Hunters as we started to look for what ended up as our C34. We were immediately put-of by what we perceived as cheesy low quality. Felt like powerboats with masts. That said, you'll find people that love their Hunters as passionately as we love our Catalinas. It all depends on your needs, how well you get in touch with your real needs and how a particular boat meets those needs!

Joe & Patti Worth
"Tehani"
1999 C36 MKII #1810
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

knotdoneyet
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Posts: 253

Good chance that nearly everyone of us looked at a 34 and chose a 36.  The Galley was a HUGE difference between the boats along with storage.  IMHO, he 34 MKII seemed significantly overpriced.

In the end, the 36MKII that I bought is a lot more boat than a 34 or 34 MKII.

A Catalina 34 maybe, 36 no for 50K.

 

2000 C36 MKII 1825

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