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rickkun · 19-03-2010, 08:18

In my search for a boat I have noticed that Catalina 38's are often priced at or below the cost of a Catalina 36. Does anyone have any thoughts as to why this might be?

Cruisingdad · 19-03-2010, 08:22

38 and not 380?

I owned a 380. Just looking for clarification.

Brain

rickkun · 19-03-2010, 11:53

On yachtworld the 38 ft catalinas in the 1981-84 range sell for 39-42k. 36ft catalinas 1981-84 are around 45-48k. there must be an explanation. I'm not sure what the difference is between 38 and 380.

Cruisingdad · 19-03-2010, 13:19

THe 380 is the later model. Sorry, I have no direct experiene with the 38.

**Jim Cate** · 19-03-2010, 13:32

G'Day Rick,

The Catalina 38 was a knock-off of the earlier Yankee 38, designed by S&S in the early '70's. From memory, Frank Butler bought the hull molds from Yankee Yachts when they succumbed, made a few changes to meet his corporate image (changed the skeg mounted rudder to a free standing spade for one), designed a Catalina style interior and started selling them. The design stems from the early IOR rule, has the typical exaggerated tumblehome of the era, longish overhangs and a pretty sheer line. Quite a nice looking boat as I recall, if one likes tumblehome.

I never sailed on a Cat 38, but the Yankee 38 had a good turn of speed and great balance as did most S&S designs. Certainly would not have the interior volume of a newer design, though.

Hope this helps, mate.

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Church Point, NSW, Oz

Tom Spohn · 19-03-2010, 15:28

Surprisingly both boats are very close in lwl, beam, and hull speed. The 38 weighs 2000 lbs. more and carries a bit more sail. Just eyeballing the specs. I would say the 36 sails a bit better.

Sail Calculator Pro v3.53 - 2000+ boats

cal40john · 19-03-2010, 18:44

The bit below from the Yahoo Cal group has more to do with racing and maybe something to do with the boat I have.

At least 3 of my friends have bought (other) IOR boats for cruising, and they all report no problems with handling. Probably due to not putting up a spinnaker in 25 knots of wind.

They're talking about a Yankee 38, same mold as Catalina 38. Big time Congressional Cup racer.

John

Below is an excerpt from:
Yahoo! Groups

> I recall that as the wind built on the spinnaker run, she became
very unstable, and started a rolling action. Jim at the helm, was
spinning the wheel back and forth trying to stay under the spinnaker.
The Cal 40 was completely solid under this condition and began to
surf. The Yankee just dug in deeper and deeper.

svHyLyte · 20-03-2010, 06:58

The yachts have previously be discussed at some length. See http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ons-35570.html and http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...8-a-13780.html

FWIW...

clockwork orange · 20-03-2010, 07:29

I just recently read an article by Larry Pardey where he talked about several different inexpensive older production boats he had encountered out cruising and he liked this boat a lot to the point that he would own one.If i can remember where i saw the article ill lead you to it.
Steve.

S/V New Sensation · 22-03-2010, 09:44

I owned and sailed a Catalina 38 for about 10 years. Great boat. Definitely does not have the interior volume of the Catalina 36, but as has been mentioned it was a International Off shore Racing (IOR) design that had a Catalina interior put in it. The IOR stern does make it a handful down wind with the chute up. Largely this is the imbalance of a smallish high aspect ratio main and a very large spinnaker. Under cruising chute or head sail never a problem. Up wind always easy finger tip control. The Catalina 38 was very comfortable and easily controlled even when over powered upwind. Since both ends of the boat are fine it doesn't have a lot of reserve buoyancy in the ends you want to keep weight centered. Bigest problem for longer trips was the small water tank (35 gal I think).

rodney_k · 22-03-2010, 12:03

I owned & lived aboard a 1985 model year C-38 for 5 years. I absolutely loved that boat. Very fast upwind but could be a roller in a bit of breeze downwind. The rolling downwind could be controlled & almost eliminated by not sailing too deep. We found the boat to be sturdy. She put up with SF Bay's windy weather and N. California's rough offshore conditions with out a single break down in the time we owned her. As far as sailing better than a C-36, just isn't so. Having sailed aboard both boats, the hull shape and extra displacement makes the C-38 motion much better in a chop. As far as speed, PHRF ratings in N. Cal are in the range of 141 to 138 for a C-36, and 117 for a C-38, at least a 21 second per mile advantage for a C-38, at least in the minds of the N. Cal PHRF board.