It easy, they have the brand on the side. Try from a couple hundred
yards.

Sorry, Gary. You dug your grave, now you can dig your way out. The
Catalina's looking nothing like the euro styled Beneteau. In fact
everyone here has had a strong for or against opinion regarding the
style of my boat inside and out. It does not look like a Catalina in
any way and no one, except you has ever suggested that they do.

Catalina makes nothing like them.
Debatable.

Go ahead and TRY to debate it. What Catalina between 30 and 40 feet
offers the performance of the 35s5? None. In fact, some might even use
the S&S designed Catalina as the ONLY design that sails anything like a
First series 35s5. You haven't sailed them so you're just talking out
of your arse.

There were only two Tartans in my search $79k and $114k, and one
Sabre
at $119k. There were dozens of benehuntalinas!

Of course. Do you know ANYthing about boats and builders? Tartan is a
tiny builder compared to Beneteau. Beneteau is the largest sailboat
builder in the world. Catalina and Hunter are also good sized builders.
Do you even know that Beneteau has a premium brand well above anything
that Tartan builds? I looked at and sailed a 1988 Tartan 34, which
could have been mine for about 65K. That's what people are paying. The
Tartan 34 had lesser fit and finish, a smaller cabin, a horrible helm
and a beautiful classic exterior...which did not help it to sail as
well as the 35s5. Experience compared to your "magazine knowledge."

Just facts.
Catalina 27 - the most popular boat in the world. Over 7000 built and
they have even circumnavigated!

I'm the former owner of a Catalina 27. Owner her for 5 years. She was
fun and cheap to own. But I wouldn't confuse or compare one, or
anything Catalina builds, with the First series Racer/Cruisers from
Beneteau. They look nothing alike and have much different types of
performance. The mid 80's to mid 90's First series were also built to a
higher standard. You COULD compare to the Oceanus line to Catalina on
the other hand, though most would agree that most of the Oceanus line
outsails the US Catalinas as well.
I wonder if you can figure out why the largest sailboat builder in the
world also makes some of the fastest cruiser/racers for the mid market?
I doubt it, especially if you think this....

http://www.ays.com/new/C3614.jpg

looks like this....

http://www.carrybit.de/img/35s5-spin.jpg

Don't see a difference in coach roof, hull or rig???....ahh well. Enjoy
your Catalina 27. Mine was a 1973 with Atomic 4 called Yoda. She cost
me just 5K....a bit less than the tax on my 1st 35s5.


RB
35s5
NY