Catalina 400 v Catalina 38 v Island Packet 380

[Skipp Maiden]

Thinking of buying one of these 3 boats, mainly for Chesapeake Bay and often single handing. Definitely want in mast furling. Any thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks.

[FLLCatsailor]

Island packet is going to be the most comfortable, but least fun to sail. Catalina's are more fun to sail, but not as stoutly built as an island piglet...

[jeremiason]

I have owned three Catalina Sailboats, a C27, C36 and my current one a C470.

Any boat can be single handed with the right modifications.

As far as comparing a Catalina to an Island Packet I think you are comparing apples to oranges.

The boats are very different... The most obvious difference is Catalina sailboats are fin or wing keels, the Island Packet is a full or modified keel, adding more weight to the vessel. This means slower speeds in the Island Packet, but a better ride in rough seas.

The two Catalina designs you are looking at, in my opinion were not designed for long term cruising straight from the factory, but do well once modified. The Island Packet is, including more water and diesel tankage than those Catalinas.

IMHO, the newer Catalina Sailboats are built well and will handle most anything you throw at them. I just completed 33 months cruising on my boat with over 9500 NM logged. The boat performed very well!

If you are going to use the boat mostly for weekend stuff, I would suggest a Catalina. It will maneuver better in close quarters, have more cabin room, be considerably faster (Motor or Sail) and in generally will be cheaper to maintain.

They also have large owners groups with a wealth of knowledge.

Good luck!

[Highland Fling]

Originally Posted by FLLCatsailor

Island packet is going to be the most comfortable, but least fun to sail. Catalina's are more fun to sail, but not as stoutly built as an island piglet...

OUCH have you looked at or read about the serious issues IP boats have with their tanks AND their chain plates..............

stoutly built NOT

stoutly promoted and marketed OH YES....

caveat emptor

[bstreep]

For coastal cruising, I happen to think the Catalina 400 is the best boat out there. No boat is perfect, and certainly I wouldn't want to be on a long offshore passage on one. But, it's a GREAT boat for what it's designed to do: a cockpit that will party 15 that you can walk into, decent sailing, decent draft, a centerline aft palace (with an aft cockpit!), a decent guest stateroom. Really, a fabulously designed boat. All in 40 feet (going to 41+ gets expensive, quickly).

Comparing it to an IP is like comparing a car to a pickup. Designed for different things.

[SecondBase]

If you aren't buying new- Buy the boat with the better prior owner. The one who maintained, equipped, labelled and generally over-invested.

[Mystic38]

Agree largely with this...buy the boat with the best set of electronics and newest sails that seems to be well kept..

though catalina and IP begs the question why just them?.. within that range of hull forms/cabin space lay a huge number of very interesting boats... for Cheasapeake though..look to shallow draft.

although its so common for folks to toot their own vessle, for sure certainly i would buy a Sabre 38 again... to me the very best balance of comfort/speed/looks/layout/storage/tankage/draft/length and outstanding build quality.

Originally Posted by SecondBase

If you aren't buying new- Buy the boat with the better prior owner. The one who maintained, equipped, labelled and generally over-invested.

[Skipp Maiden]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

I have owned three Catalina Sailboats, a C27, C36 and my current one a C470.

Any boat can be single handed with the right modifications.

As far as comparing a Catalina to an Island Packet I think you are comparing apples to oranges.

The boats are very different... The most obvious difference is Catalina sailboats are fin or wing keels, the Island Packet is a full or modified keel, adding more weight to the vessel. This means slower speeds in the Island Packet, but a better ride in rough seas.

The two Catalina designs you are looking at, in my opinion were not designed for long term cruising straight from the factory, but do well once modified. The Island Packet is, including more water and diesel tankage than those Catalinas.

IMHO, the newer Catalina Sailboats are built well and will handle most anything you throw at them. I just completed 33 months cruising on my boat with over 9500 NM logged. The boat performed very well!

If you are going to use the boat mostly for weekend stuff, I would suggest a Catalina. It will maneuver better in close quarters, have more cabin room, be considerably faster (Motor or Sail) and in generally will be cheaper to maintain.

They also have large owners groups with a wealth of knowledge.

Good luck!

Thanks for your comments. About what I was expecting but just wanted to take advantage of your experience. Looking at several C400s now and they look like the most boat for the money and best suited for mostly Chesapeake Bay use.

[Skipp Maiden]

Originally Posted by FLLCatsailor

Island packet is going to be the most comfortable, but least fun to sail. Catalina's are more fun to sail, but not as stoutly built as an island piglet...

Thanks! Life is too short to not have fun!

[Skipp Maiden]

Originally Posted by bstreep

For coastal cruising, I happen to think the Catalina 400 is the best boat out there. No boat is perfect, and certainly I wouldn't want to be on a long offshore passage on one. But, it's a GREAT boat for what it's designed to do: a cockpit that will party 15 that you can walk into, decent sailing, decent draft, a centerline aft palace (with an aft cockpit!), a decent guest stateroom. Really, a fabulously designed boat. All in 40 feet (going to 41+ gets expensive, quickly).

Comparing it to an IP is like comparing a car to a pickup. Designed for different things.

Sounds like what I'm looking for. Thanks for your comments.

[sailorboy1]

Buy the boat that YOU like!

[Eder]

Originally Posted by Highland Fling

OUCH have you looked at or read about the serious issues IP boats have with their tanks AND their chain plates..............

stoutly built NOT

stoutly promoted and marketed OH YES....

caveat emptor

Arg! I just bought my IP460 recently and now find out from you its a piece of crap!