Capt. Rob wrote:


It's really amazing that folks like Gary have the guts to yap about
boats they never sailed and probably never even stepped aboard.
Sure, I've never ridden in a Ford or Chev either.
Even
sadder is the comment about dealers. What dealer has a hard time
telling the differences between Catalina and Beneteau First series?
It easy, they have the brand on the side. Try from a couple hundred yards.
The first clue that they are not the same is that the First series are
substantially faster.
Catalina makes nothing like them.
Debatable.
They don't look
alike, and they certainly don't sail alike. Gary suggests that the
Philip Stark interior with it's curved surfaces, deco coach liner and
honeycomb bulkheads is in the same league.
Tacky. Trailer park. Common. They all have curved surfaces. Honeycomb
started with Rangers and Soverels back in the mid 70s.
I would hope that a dealer
would know that the Beneteau's are better sailing boats, even today.
Debatable.
But in the case of my 35s5, did you know that it cost 40K more than a
Catalina 36 new?
My quick research (which you can duplicate) on Yacht World:
All Catalinas, Hunters and Beneteaus between 34 and 36 feet and 1990
-1992 indicated these price ranges:
Catalina: $21k - $94K
Hunter: $49k - $85k
Beneteau: $59k -$129k (all the beneteaus over $88k were the Oceanus
series starting with the 350) The 35s5 ranged from $60k - $88k
Did you know that it was priced slightly higher than
Tartans and Sabres in 1990?
There were only two Tartans in my search $79k and $114k, and one Sabre
at $119k. There were dozens of benehuntalinas!
Not only has Catalina and Hunter never
built a boat like the 35s5, but the new First series boats will also
outsail any Catalina or Hunter by a wide margin.
What dealer doesn't know this? What dealer doesn't know about the
chainplate arrangement on a Beneteau? Rod rigging? Fractional rigs? The
unique hunter rigs? The Beneteau solid hulls? Gary must meet some
ignorant dealers...and they appear to be teaching him well.

RB
35s5...former owner of a Catalina..when I didn't know any better.
NY

Gaz
Without any nasty comments. Just facts.
Catalina 27 - the most popular boat in the world. Over 7000 built and
they have even circumnavigated!