A good practical sailor guide to the latest boats. The Catalina looked like the only one where the designers thought about maintenance and not just entertaining at the dock.
I talked to a captain in the Caribbean who had done some deliveries on the Jeanneau and said the amount of water pouring down the sloped side-deck to the rear from waves was a real problem. He hated the boat for blue water sailing.
I sold my Catalina 309 in 2023, which I enjoyed for 8 years. If I had the money and was younger I would take without hesitation the new Catalina 42. It offers the nicest and the best design of those 4. Thanks for the review, very well done.
Good honest opinion! What more could you ask for. The Catalina is the only one that’s close for me. I’m sure they’re all great for charter, day sailing, weekend cruises, and as you stated impressing the boss. I’d rather a used Caliber LRC, Little Harbor, Shannon or Contest of similar size any day! At least for what we’re looking for in a vessel. I would like our boat to be able to get us home safely. Whenever or wherever Murphy and his law show up. Thank you as always
77 years An old salt delivery skipper > The Benes & Jennies are looking cheap now ,Those angkers setups just horrible , Must have double rollers & separate stowage from the inside , The sloping side decks > Feet get wet REEF I like BUT the inside looking like from a IKEA store No Style , Cheap glued on panels & Structural frames (Still not glassing in the frames , & No main travelers OK for awhile but wear ??? . Looking like all the 'modern upgrades' are for cheaper build quality (Profits) Now that Catalina = NICE .
Never been a fan of the B&R rig. Self tacking jib sounds good but honestly I prefer traditional tracks. As someone mentioned these boat interiors all look like IKEA. Personally give me that Catalina any day. Thanks for the great reviews Tim
I went to the Annapolis Sailboat Show last fall and saw the latest generation of plastic boats. Ugly designs with IKEA interiors. That Catalina does break the mold of modern design though. That interior is a great blend of traditional woodworking and styling with modern touches like all that engine access. Thumbs up for the Catalina!
Awesome video! A boating channel finally got it right and the video walk-through matches the naration - when speaking about the galley, the video is on the galley; when speaking about the berth, the video is on the birth; etc. Well done!!
hmm... I look at this and wonder who these boats are targeted at. Way too expensive for most people and stuff like the wrapping and even double helm seem just gimmicks. What's the real amount of time that anyone really spends at the helm even during a passage?
I am a yacht captain out in California. I have numerous clients who usually live out of state. I take care of their vessels. Ironically, I have all the vessels you talked about. Only a few years older. First of all, the Beneteau Oceanis 38.1 is a no-go. The Jeanneau 379 is a bit better. The Dufour is very squeaky. They all sail decently. In a blow, they are not stiff. The Catalina is much better. Since I sail them, I get the luxury of knowing their characteristics. In lighter air, they all do better than the Catalina. But anything over 15k, the Catalina is more comfortable of a ride.
What continues to impress me about the Catalina’s is that they are sturdy, honest-built sailboats. When you directly compare the size and quality of the winches, the robustness of the standing rigging, number of stays and their thickness, the spars, solid lead keel, the larger hp diesel engine, and even interior finishes like the woodwork, lighting and plumbing fixtures, I feel that Catalina standards are a level above the other production boats. Also, the ergonomics of the interior cabin, the cockpit and the deck are very good and appreciated for live-aboard owners. And the Catalina sails very well. We have owned three Catalinas, the 320, 350 and have been living aboard the 445 for 3 years now, with several months in the Bahamas. Dollar for dollar, and pound for pound, the Catalina is a great boat for safe and comfortable coastal and regional sailing. It’s not the utmost explorer-grade boat to sail around the world and through the Arctic, but it is excellent for its design intent and intended market.
Call me crazy, but but miss my tiller. Better feel sailing and out of the cockpit when you are not sailing it's a much better use of space. Twin helm is just more stuff that breaks and needs to be maintained simple is always. more reliable
This video is real revelation, Tim. Thanks a lot. I learned a lot more in 17 minutes than thumbing through all the yachting mags looking at advertisements and checking out brochures. Some of the Europeans (Beneteau in particular) seem to have lost their way, or at least appear to have been designed by people who’ve forgotten about some of the real practicalities of cruising. You only have to check out the anchor situation on all of these boats to realise that Catalina is the one that got it right. And imagine designing a 40(ish) footer where it’s easy to check out all the fluid levels. Who would have thought??? Finally, the interiors of all the boats make it pretty clear that only the Catalina is going to last for 20 years or more without some major refitting. I don't have any problem with modern interiors, but what I do know from European campervans is that the laminates just can't handle wear and tear.
One thing Benneteau, Dufour, and Jeanneau won't have to worry about, if they are still in business, is competing with their own boats on the used market. Doubtful many will still be intact in 20 years. 1/3-1/2 million seems a lot for a daysailor, and 40' seems big for a daysailor. At this size point the capabilities should be a bit more than near shore, lake and bay sailing. The galleys are fine for dockside cocktails, little else. Black handrails in the tropics? Great idea, too many people use handrails!
My father had a dufuor 36 performance and the boat was very bad, with a lot of technical problems. The structure of the keel started to show a lot of cracks in the fiber glass structure. Also, the boat showed a lot problemas while sailing, with a very bad performance. And the boat was bought brand new and very well maintained. Therefore, I look at this brand with bad eyes! I suggest you guys to never buy a dufuor
I like the electric engine, the factory wrap, and the interior of the Catalina. That easy maintenance layout sings to me. I like that there was a Captain available to answer your questions, that’s wonderful. How much was the Catalina? 🥶
None of them are my cup of tea , prefer boats designed for a couple to cruise with 1 well sized head a small safe cockpit a well sized aft cabin you can stand in and change cloths a forpeak for tools maybe a workshop and if you have guests shove them in there an lock the door till morning , no windows in the side of the hull , plastic hatch's or dual wheels one is enough to break two would be heartache , backstays always same with chain lockers , a forty footer should have lots of room on deck to entertain an if someone gets obnoxious you can easily push them off the side an get on with life , also want a full keel with outside chainplate's and inside straps running down to keel stepped mast and while we are at it real wood inside not something that looks like it was on sale at walmart , if your paying half a mill after tax ect.. 3/4 of a mill those things aren't to much to ask for imho
Appreciate the critical comments, especially the flimsy floor of the Dufour. All the other 'mainstream' publications are just fluffery. I was told specifially and directly by a well known magazine exc editor they had to do an excellent review for a certain brand because they were the biggest advertiser. Break the mold and be plenty critical where its deserved. Catalina was by far the best of the bunch but that Jenn side deck had my eye, I hate crawling over coamings at my age.
The 410 is lovely at anchor, with headroom everywhere and no climbing over each other at dinner. Upwind in waves the boat handles well, but water indeed constantly runs down the leeward side deck to the helm position, several inches deep. It feels as wet as dinghy racing.
I get the twin helm, but I wonder how many people consider the long term maintenance challenges associated with the steering system and rudders. As a single helm, monohull owner of a 24 year old vessel currently undergoing rudder bearing changes, I'm thankful there is only one!!
I agree. But then, having gone to a wider boat with two helms, If you took them away and gave me a single wheel in the middle, I would more sad than I will be when I have the extra maintenance issues with two wheels. I'm afraid it is just what comes with changing styles (widths) of boats. And having had an older C&C that would wipe out downwind with those skinny rear ends . . . Don't want to go back there either.
I own a 2019 Catalina 425 (S/V Goody2Shoes). Love it! She carried me and my wife on a 1,900 mile blue water passage. She did not disappoint. The boat sails well, is comfortable and easy to handle. Meets all my expectations which is really saying something in that I was very close to buying an Outbound 46 when I made the decision to buy the 425. She's not an Outbound but she's great!
Love the new channel Tim. Out of those 40 footer, the more traditional Catalina cabin is by far the winner for me. (I can’t stand the IKEA woodwork on the Jeaneau) Twin helms…? yes please!
I have a friend who is an “old salt”, and when I mentioned to him that the Catalina was the nicest boat at the show, he gave me a really weird look. He basically said if Catalina is the nicest boat, then that doesn’t speak well for the current state of production boat building.
I agree. My husband and love Catalinas, but when we visited their booth at Annapolis we were not impressed with the build quality. The layout though was the best of all of the boats featured here.
The Catalina was the best looking of this bunch, but I still like boats with a single helm wheel, I do not need 2. The older Catalina-Morgans are still what I judge all other boats against
I stopped the video at the Dufour's lack of anchor rode (chain) hatch. Our boat (2008 Bavaria 50) had an issue of the chain building up on the slope that was intended to deflect the incoming chain into the chain locker. This caused the chain to jump off the vertical windlass wheel and start running out. While hoisting the anchor we used to have the locker hatch open and with a broom stick handle kept pushing the build up down to prevent the "runaway". The boats had no anti-chaffing provision on the shrouds either for the jib sheets. The self tacking jib doesn't allow for a jib > 100% Another thing that boggles my mind is the motor controls (throttle/shifter) at knee height. Makes docking into tight berths a real cardio exercise of squatting down/standing up and also from a safety perspective the looking up/down while docking is an issue.
Wrap is cool. An easy fix of a docking boo boo. Serious off shore seas are not what these boats are about. A boarding stern wave will go right into the cabin. Excellent presentation ! I tend to skim Practical Sailor because it is too wordy. Your presentation is less wordy with all the info ! In a RUclips world where people must make money by how long the vid is, you hit the right pace. I don't have to speed up the playback speed. I like the Catalina wood. Some may call the others Clorox bottles. None have teak trim or hand rails on deck. Too bad
I kind of liked the Jeanneau... until I saw the Catalina! What a well thought out , and easy to live with boat. Well done, Catalina! As for wrapping a boat, I can't help but being concerned with longevity in general, not to mention how it would hold up to the inevitable docking mishaps. I can imagine it looking pretty crappy after a couple of years.
We were at the show and It was definitely a multi-hull show. I (as one person mentioned) was shocked at the amount of windows built into the hulls. They will be great at the dock but can’t wait to see them in a few years when they start to leak. Wondering your thoughts…
Apologies for being a snob here. But crawling on these boats myself, I am floored at how little one gets for the money. The Benetau and Jeneau look as if built by Ikea. For half-million, I’d expect much more. I have a 2022 Hallberg-Rassy, and the build quality is drastically better, for just a bit more money and hassle on import. The Catalina, however, is a standout.
Catalina has been making great boats like this for many years, going back to the 400. I absolutely hate the Ikea look below in the first three. I haven’t looked at the specifications data on them but would be willing to bet the Catalina is heavier than the other three also.
The Catalina was my hands down favorite. The others look like slip-queens that shouldn't be taken to sea. Not being able to wash the anchor chain is ridiculous ... who'd thought that would ever make it past the junior designer? Thanks for another good video!
Walked through a ton of boats at Annapolis last fall and was mostly disappointed. Like the earlier commenter said, who are these built for? I’ve heard people say boat builders are primarily targeting the chartering fleets, which would explain the liveability/partyability emphasis. For a while, the goal of having a nice “apartment” inside has ruined the boat’s lines, high freeboard, slab-sided, flat sheer line… now, is the goal of having giant party-capable cockpits even intruding on sailability? (no backstay, hence limited mainsail range)
Try right reverse maneuvering or aborting a bow first docking with a twin rudder boat with no bow thruster…the slightest current or crosswind change (gust) and it looks like a 15 year old parallel parking…it can be done but the charter companies almost always have you dock at the fuel pump and a local hops on board to take the helm-it just saves the damage and frustration 😇
Another great video. Best of the bunch was the Catalina with all the easy access for maintenance. Love that all electric was available. Wish we could have seen one. Twin Helms look "cool" but really for most sailors they are just something else to go wrong, more to maintain.
Nope on that first benny. Hate the ikea interiors on these boats. Who's buying these? I still don't get the redundant helms. Twice as much to go wrong weight an space?
It’s funny to see all the new sailboats today with twin helms, massive beam, and giant cockpits for entertaining. Our boat has all of those things too… (Catalina 400). Gerry Douglas introduced the 400 in 1994 (30 years ago!). He was ahead of his time!
Beneturd, Junkneau , Dufus, and Crapalina, sad, truly sad. Honestly if the literally gave me one free and clear, I’d sell it without ever setting foot on it, the way modern boats are going is just sad to see
Never thought of wrapping a boat, but seems interesting in one example. Arksen has amazing aluminum yatchs (85), but paint the aluminum, somehow, feels me wrong. Wrapping that shell, at the other side, seems fine. Extra-protection and easy to change. Interesting idea.
The old Dufour 35 didn't have backstays, it was a pain. The fuller on the Dufour is a speed furler, great bits of kit and the anchor looker has been made that way so the chain doesn't bunch up etc. The difference between Catalina and the other boats is she is made with the owners in mind the other three boats are made mostly with the charter market.
It's a pity the Sirius 40DS wasn't there (only on the west coast/Seattle right now for shows). This German boat completely blows away anything else in glass (or it's class!). Alternatively, look at Alubat or Allures in aluminium. I had a C36 but I wouldn't have taken her much through the Caribbean - even outside, just the Bahamas maybe. You can see the Catalina is directly of that lineage. The old Clearwater/Largo manufacturers are very nearly finished. Glad to see that my friend Ed Massey is still around.
I am a firm believer in an adjustable back stay and an ability to sail down win at 150 plus TWA with boom well out. Also back stay can help control rig movement in long offshore downwind crossings. No back stay is a deal breaker...
Love the Catalina with the proper anchor locker and the lead keel, Tim. Can you speak about cast iron ballast/keel in Beneteaus? Oxidizing cast iron turns me off. Can you tell me why I am wrong? Thank you!
I understand the "IKEA style" production boat comments vs the Catalina, but those vessels cost HALF. The new Oceanis 37.1 is 184.000 Euro. Is the Catalina really twice as nice? Although the Dufour pricing became ridiculous, nobody will buy them. (WoW, new sailing vessels with TWIN HELM? LoL, who is this guy in 2024?)
Next time, also show how much cubic ft. there is, inside and out, for storage......I get real lacking sense with these boats....oh and p.s., you didn't give us the price of the Catalina...
I sailed on a Jeaneau 410 for a couple seasons. Nice performing hull. Easy neutral helm. Tight and dry cabin. But the walk around deck…sure, it does make it easy to move from the cockpit to the side deck. It also makes a nice pit from which to operate the winch. What I didn’t like was losing a nice wide place to sit outboard to the side of the helm. It also had only a notional seat abaft the helm, just enough for one butt cheek. If I were considering a Jeanneau 410, I’d instead go for the Beneteau 40.1. Same hull but better helm space since it lacks the walk around feature.
Beneteau: no back stay, & no traveler, no thank you. Not a fan of flush hatches. Looks great now, but I like having that lip to keep it a little drier inside. Interior not impressed, looks like an IKEA. A small IKEA. Jennenau: A step up from the Beneateu but that side deck is no bueno. Many of the things I don’t like about Beneatau carries over too. Interior is marginally better than the Beneteau. Dufour: Not impressive at all. That helm design looks weak. Outboard shrouds suck. Yeah you give up 2 holes in the deck for multiple holes in the sides. No Anchor locker sucks too. Who thought black handrails is a good idea? Have they ever grabbed black metal that has sat in the sun all day? The deck is spacious sure, but the access it terrible. The interior looks terrible. Galley layout is designed by someone who has never cooked, yet cooked at sea. That sole is a hazard and looks like trash. 3 heads on a 42ish foot boat is stupid. Not every cabin needs it own head on a boat this small. And a wrap? Really? That looks nice now. In 5 years it will look like garbage. Oh & it wont be cheap to redo. Yeah I’ll take gelcoat or paint please. Catalina: Not my favorite manufacturer or boats but frankly the best of the bunch here. The boat is laid out much better. Would likely be more enjoyable to sail, How is the drainage on that line pocket in the cockpit floor? If money wasn’t an object & if I was looking at a new boat in this size I’d be more interested in an IP 439 or HR 40C, but then again, they are much more expensive boats. And funny enough they don’t have a twin helm which to me on a 40ish ft monohull is a bit gimmicky. For my part I’ll keep with the old boats. Much more bang for the buck.
No way would I have a 40 footer with electric aux power only. In a day sailer maybe. For a live aboard boat It would be nice to have both diesel and electric, but if I have to have only one it'll be diesel for me. I think the best power setup might be the one that Leo from Samson Boat Co installed in Tally Ho. Twin electric motors for short range power-on-demand, like for entering slips or narrow channels, and a diesel for longer range or more speed if needed. And with the diesel running, both electric motors double as generators too. Something like 10 kilowatts worth. That ought to charge the batteries quick, fast, and in a hurry! 🙂
From the first time I saw the "walk-around" sloping deck on the Jeanneau, I thought of the consequences of burying the lee rail. Seems like a very bad idea. Steering from the low side is best for comfort and visibility, and the helm seats seem well set up for that, but having wet feet (and legs!) is not fun..
I'm just starting to look to buy my first boat and I'm deadset on the 38-43 foot range because Ill likely be solo sailing around the world and these new boats show me that though some of the interior design ideas can be innovative, the build quality is not sufficient or hardy enough for real sailing and longevity when compared to some of the older (maintained) designs. Seems getting a second hand boat can not only be cheaper but more practical as well these days. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.
Practical Sailor used to ignore new boats. There are other magazines that take plenty of advertising dollars from the boat builders. A new boat that features the latest design gimmicks isn't "practical" for me. Going "electric"? How dopey.
I would not criticize Beneteau for lack of backstays. These boats rarely leave marinas, and if they leave they usually motoring. Besides why do you need backstay for a joke in-must furling sail? This sail dos not have any roach or shape, and bringing it dow not the shrouds will not make any difference on performance. And fo real blue water sailing you would need running backstays anyway. Catalina is definitely better and stiffer boat, but no-one mentioned, that only Catalina from this bunch, has tabbed bulkheads, not just glue-in in the channels, like Benetau and Jennaeu. Jeanneau and especially Beneteau are for different crowd, who almost never sail and prefer sit in marinas or on mooring and motor between. And how you can sail with in-mast furling main anyway. About quality of Dufour. My marina neighbor get brand-new Dufour last year and in 4 month he has list about 1000 lines long warranty repairs. The cockpit teak table delaminated, quadrant was not not screwed to the rudder post and rotated loosely, front air conditioner did not have enough coolant and run all the time. The list goes on and on. It is for $400+K boat. Self-tacker jib is a treat with properly sized main with boom-brake. You do not care about backed-up jib and focus only on main. There is a good idea to rig self-tacker jib preventers (like i did ) to prevent to go side by side with awful clicking sound when it hits the end stop. And for the light winds cruising code 0 will do the trick. So Catalina will be good for ocean, Beneteau is good to sip champagne in marina and Jeanneau and Dufor fit in between. Choose your sailing preference.
The last boat would be the only one of these we would have an intrest in. Still looking for that five year old 50 footer. To use as a third retirement home. Great Video.
Ok you lost me now. There are so many great boats available for under 30k (yes they are going to be older) and that’s where my budget puts me. Even when you get above 80-100k im out. Sure partly because I just don’t have that kind of money but…. Why spend that when you can live the lifestyle and even get a boat that is built stronger and has more charm then any new sugar scoop modern yacht and not spend anywhere near the 150-200k
For the first 3 boats, It looks like you went to IKEA and a boat show broke out😱 German rigged mainsail sheets👎, raked spreaders👎self tacking jib👎, dual rudders (crab pot line catchers)👎, aft access to going forward👎 no anchor locker👎, sail drives👎 fisher panda👎, engine throttle at your ankle 👎, tight engine access 👎, engineered wood floor panels👎, Garage side access to the engine 👍, teak/holly floors👍, real wood joinery interiors👍, exterior chain plates👍, practical/clever folding salon table👍, enclosed stern transom👍, outboard storage plate👍, inboard shrouds👍, flippy cockpit bench👍, line catcher locker👍, garage/3rd berth👍, access to daily service items👍, Dual helms(meh), swim platform (meh), sloped side deck(meh), chaise lounge(meh), Wrap 🤔, Only the C445 would be better than the C425. I tend to think of natural split in these midsize new boats at the 1 head vs 2 head models, with some overlap. Once you get to 45’, there’s another category.
The Catalina just wins for ease of maintenance and design. Plus the floor compared to one of the other boats, nothing is done badly on the Catalina, you won’t get as nice of an interior as a Beneteau however you will get a much better designed ocean going boat. the Catalina win hands-down. The engine access just sells me all day long. I’m not that mechanically inclined. However, you do need to be able to do some routine maintenance.
Informative if somewhat sparse on experience. I would think practical sailor would try to get a highly experienced Voyager to helm their channel. It is entertaining though
Tim, external chain plates are the way to go. Catalina has kept some stowage on the interior hull walls that a plus. The main concern is that these newer designs are in fact designed for the the people that suffer from Thalassophobia. I am not saying one can not take these boats into white water oceans with 3 to 10 meter waves, especially at close intervals. I learn to sail on one of these boat hulls designed for racing. I can honestly tell anyone they slam extremely hard.These light displacement boats are not sea kindly at all like a heavy to moderately heavy displacement sea kindly hull. The roomy cockpits and interior comes at a sever loss of the ability to store spare parts, tools, extra sails, 3 to 6 months provisions, larger fuel and water storage tanks. All of these are extremely important to ocean voyaging sailors. They are not designed for long remote voyaging but rather to for island hopping and weekend or day sailing. Jim Rodgers
I have a boat without backstay. Never been an issue. When running down wind, rarely is it exactly on my stern so running slightly off isn't a problem. When want to be closer to directly on back I drop my main and run my headsail or spinnaker only. As for the boats featured the only one I would consider is the Catalina. The others are not designed for owner operator/cruiser. One of my favorite layouts ever is Catalina 400. You get twin helm and center lined aft cabin.
Only would be interested in the Catalina. Looks modern, but somewhat traditional. Even the helms are closer to each other. The engine maintenance touches are very nice, intended for a sailor. No talk of tankage on any, though the one with 3 heads will stay close to a pumpout. The other three, well they will be charter boats to remain within 10 miles of land entertaining people on board. Too much plastic for my taste.
A sloped deck is not desirable for us northern sailors. Lake Superior in September can give you frosty decks in the morning and trying to walk on a slope frequently goes badly.
Very interesting bunch of ideas but nope, I wouldn't beta-test any of those four boats. My biggest gripe is with wrapping yachts. I've used wrap, it looks nice but is not very durable or resistant to damage. It's a 'disposable' item. Using wrap on a huge boat is high end consumerism gone insane imo. Good luck with wrap lasting 8yrs. Cheers. Liking the channel & especially the intro very much.
Half a mil for Darfour and you get uneven floors , Ikea cabinets, and a stinky boat😂 What’s worst is that first three boats all have blue water certification .
I wish Yanmar would either cut some inspection ports into their covers over the belts/pullies or, better yet replace the opaque cover with a clear perspex cover. This would facilitate both pre-trip inspections and trouble shooting engine problems.
I prefer the more conventional exterior looks of the other Catalinas to the 425 - I am not a fan of the rectangular windows, the plumb bow and the straight angle on the bow end of the coachhouse. But you can tell from the interior why it is such a joy to own a Catalina. The other boats look ugly and poorly made to me. As others have said, they seem to be marketed to pretend weekend sailors with lots of money who never turn the engine off.
Big fan and great videos but the audio on your Practical Sailor videos could greatly be improved. Maybe in need of a better mic or acoustic room. Not sure how to describe but sounds a bit hollow, or closer to tinny vs bassy almost like the mic is too far away and you’re speaking loader to compensate. You may want to analysis it sooner than later as you put a lot of research and effort into your content for your video collection. Maybe try a clip on mic or external mic if you’re using the camera mic.
Saw a few at the Annapolis show and thought oh, IKEA is making boats. I think it's cute you are worried about the galley at sea for a boat that is maybe a coastal cruiser. I can't imagine crossing an ocean in any of them or being in any kind of rough weather. I'm a pass on the lot.
Saw the same boat at a different boat show in Florida could not wrap my head around half a $1 million for the less than amazing fit and finish of the boat. Don't understand it at all puzzling. Dufour has some issues.
Catalina has a lot of positives for maintenance and longetivity, but makes big performance sacrifices. A 6-ish foot fin keel and slab reefing would be a good start towards attracting people who want a sailboat, not just an intracoastal cruiser.
Don’t like twin helms! The Catalina was very nice but needed chain plates on the outside , it was more traditional than the other three, sailboats should never be so modern that the insides look like power boats , I think people purchase sailboats to enjoy and experience the power and timelessness of wind and sails , this also makes most sailors a little bit salty for the layout and design of they boat ? What do you think ??
The Dufour, Benneteau and Jeannau are not targeted at anyone doing blue water cruising. They are built to sit in a marina and offer a pleasant outdoor sitting space for entertaining with occasional coastal passages The new Catalina did not look well built.
Clearly the Catalina is the better boat if you actually want to leave the dock. I’ve owned both Catalinas and a Benetau and the Catalina was the only one of the four that I would consider.
That Catalina was what every other manufacturer is failing to do. ❤
A good practical sailor guide to the latest boats. The Catalina looked like the only one where the designers thought about maintenance and not just entertaining at the dock.
The Catalina is the only one I’d even consider. The others are varying combinations of ugly and impractical.
I talked to a captain in the Caribbean who had done some deliveries on the Jeanneau and said the amount of water pouring down the sloped side-deck to the rear from waves was a real problem. He hated the boat for blue water sailing.
David, I too looked at that as a Crystal Meth Designer.
I sold my Catalina 309 in 2023, which I enjoyed for 8 years. If I had the money and was younger I would take without hesitation the new Catalina 42. It offers the nicest and the best design of those 4. Thanks for the review, very well done.
Good honest opinion! What more could you ask for. The Catalina is the only one that’s close for me. I’m sure they’re all great for charter, day sailing, weekend cruises, and as you stated impressing the boss. I’d rather a used Caliber LRC, Little Harbor, Shannon or Contest of similar size any day! At least for what we’re looking for in a vessel. I would like our boat to be able to get us home safely. Whenever or wherever Murphy and his law show up. Thank you as always
77 years An old salt delivery skipper > The Benes & Jennies are looking cheap now ,Those angkers setups just horrible , Must have double rollers & separate stowage from the inside , The sloping side decks > Feet get wet REEF I like BUT the inside looking like from a IKEA store No Style , Cheap glued on panels & Structural frames (Still not glassing in the frames , & No main travelers OK for awhile but wear ??? . Looking like all the 'modern upgrades' are for cheaper build quality (Profits) Now that Catalina = NICE .
Never been a fan of the B&R rig. Self tacking jib sounds good but honestly I prefer traditional tracks. As someone mentioned these boat interiors all look like IKEA. Personally give me that Catalina any day. Thanks for the great reviews Tim
I went to the Annapolis Sailboat Show last fall and saw the latest generation of plastic boats. Ugly designs with IKEA interiors. That Catalina does break the mold of modern design though. That interior is a great blend of traditional woodworking and styling with modern touches like all that engine access. Thumbs up for the Catalina!
Awesome video! A boating channel finally got it right and the video walk-through matches the naration - when speaking about the galley, the video is on the galley; when speaking about the berth, the video is on the birth; etc. Well done!!
hmm... I look at this and wonder who these boats are targeted at. Way too expensive for most people and stuff like the wrapping and even double helm seem just gimmicks. What's the real amount of time that anyone really spends at the helm even during a passage?
I am a yacht captain out in California. I have numerous clients who usually live out of state. I take care of their vessels. Ironically, I have all the vessels you talked about. Only a few years older. First of all, the Beneteau Oceanis 38.1 is a no-go. The Jeanneau 379 is a bit better. The Dufour is very squeaky. They all sail decently. In a blow, they are not stiff. The Catalina is much better. Since I sail them, I get the luxury of knowing their characteristics. In lighter air, they all do better than the Catalina. But anything over 15k, the Catalina is more comfortable of a ride.
Looks like its pretty tough to find a Blue Water boat these days
What continues to impress me about the Catalina’s is that they are sturdy, honest-built sailboats. When you directly compare the size and quality of the winches, the robustness of the standing rigging, number of stays and their thickness, the spars, solid lead keel, the larger hp diesel engine, and even interior finishes like the woodwork, lighting and plumbing fixtures, I feel that Catalina standards are a level above the other production boats. Also, the ergonomics of the interior cabin, the cockpit and the deck are very good and appreciated for live-aboard owners. And the Catalina sails very well. We have owned three Catalinas, the 320, 350 and have been living aboard the 445 for 3 years now, with several months in the Bahamas. Dollar for dollar, and pound for pound, the Catalina is a great boat for safe and comfortable coastal and regional sailing. It’s not the utmost explorer-grade boat to sail around the world and through the Arctic, but it is excellent for its design intent and intended market.
Call me crazy, but but miss my tiller. Better feel sailing and out of the cockpit when you are not sailing it's a much better use of space. Twin helm is just more stuff that breaks and needs to be maintained simple is always. more reliable
This video is real revelation, Tim. Thanks a lot. I learned a lot more in 17 minutes than thumbing through all the yachting mags looking at advertisements and checking out brochures. Some of the Europeans (Beneteau in particular) seem to have lost their way, or at least appear to have been designed by people who’ve forgotten about some of the real practicalities of cruising. You only have to check out the anchor situation on all of these boats to realise that Catalina is the one that got it right. And imagine designing a 40(ish) footer where it’s easy to check out all the fluid levels. Who would have thought??? Finally, the interiors of all the boats make it pretty clear that only the Catalina is going to last for 20 years or more without some major refitting. I don't have any problem with modern interiors, but what I do know from European campervans is that the laminates just can't handle wear and tear.
Obviously not intended for deep ocean sailing, they look like harbour yachts for parties too me. That Catalina though 👌🏻
Within 10km of the marina most of the time too I reckon. =)
One thing Benneteau, Dufour, and Jeanneau won't have to worry about, if they are still in business, is competing with their own boats on the used market. Doubtful many will still be intact in 20 years.
1/3-1/2 million seems a lot for a daysailor, and 40' seems big for a daysailor. At this size point the capabilities should be a bit more than near shore, lake and bay sailing. The galleys are fine for dockside cocktails, little else. Black handrails in the tropics? Great idea, too many people use handrails!
My father had a dufuor 36 performance and the boat was very bad, with a lot of technical problems. The structure of the keel started to show a lot of cracks in the fiber glass structure. Also, the boat showed a lot problemas while sailing, with a very bad performance.
And the boat was bought brand new and very well maintained. Therefore, I look at this brand with bad eyes! I suggest you guys to never buy a dufuor
I like the electric engine, the factory wrap, and the interior of the Catalina. That easy maintenance layout sings to me. I like that there was a Captain available to answer your questions, that’s wonderful. How much was the Catalina? 🥶
I like that catalina, well thought out layout for someone who actually sails.
None of them are my cup of tea , prefer boats designed for a couple to cruise with 1 well sized head a small safe cockpit a well sized aft cabin you can stand in and change cloths a forpeak for tools maybe a workshop and if you have guests shove them in there an lock the door till morning , no windows in the side of the hull , plastic hatch's or dual wheels one is enough to break two would be heartache , backstays always same with chain lockers , a forty footer should have lots of room on deck to entertain an if someone gets obnoxious you can easily push them off the side an get on with life , also want a full keel with outside chainplate's and inside straps running down to keel stepped mast and while we are at it real wood inside not something that looks like it was on sale at walmart , if your paying half a mill after tax ect.. 3/4 of a mill those things aren't to much to ask for imho
Appreciate the critical comments, especially the flimsy floor of the Dufour. All the other 'mainstream' publications are just fluffery. I was told specifially and directly by a well known magazine exc editor they had to do an excellent review for a certain brand because they were the biggest advertiser. Break the mold and be plenty critical where its deserved.
Catalina was by far the best of the bunch but that Jenn side deck had my eye, I hate crawling over coamings at my age.
The 410 is lovely at anchor, with headroom everywhere and no climbing over each other at dinner. Upwind in waves the boat handles well, but water indeed constantly runs down the leeward side deck to the helm position, several inches deep. It feels as wet as dinghy racing.
Also why no solar instead of a generator?
I get the twin helm, but I wonder how many people consider the long term maintenance challenges associated with the steering system and rudders. As a single helm, monohull owner of a 24 year old vessel currently undergoing rudder bearing changes, I'm thankful there is only one!!
I agree. But then, having gone to a wider boat with two helms, If you took them away and gave me a single wheel in the middle, I would more sad than I will be when I have the extra maintenance issues with two wheels. I'm afraid it is just what comes with changing styles (widths) of boats. And having had an older C&C that would wipe out downwind with those skinny rear ends . . . Don't want to go back there either.
To clarify, the Catalina has twin helm wheels, but they both control the single rudder. The boat has just one rudder.
I own a 2019 Catalina 425 (S/V Goody2Shoes). Love it! She carried me and my wife on a 1,900 mile blue water passage. She did not disappoint. The boat sails well, is comfortable and easy to handle. Meets all my expectations which is really saying something in that I was very close to buying an Outbound 46 when I made the decision to buy the 425. She's not an Outbound but she's great!
Love the new channel Tim.
Out of those 40 footer, the more traditional Catalina cabin is by far the winner for me. (I can’t stand the IKEA woodwork on the Jeaneau)
Twin helms…? yes please!
I have a friend who is an “old salt”, and when I mentioned to him that the Catalina was the nicest boat at the show, he gave me a really weird look. He basically said if Catalina is the nicest boat, then that doesn’t speak well for the current state of production boat building.
I agree. My husband and love Catalinas, but when we visited their booth at Annapolis we were not impressed with the build quality. The layout though was the best of all of the boats featured here.
The Catalina was the best looking of this bunch, but I still like boats with a single helm wheel, I do not need 2. The older Catalina-Morgans are still what I judge all other boats against
American boatbuilders!! Let’s go! Great to see Catalina setting the high bar.
I stopped the video at the Dufour's lack of anchor rode (chain) hatch. Our boat (2008 Bavaria 50) had an issue of the chain building up on the slope that was intended to deflect the incoming chain into the chain locker. This caused the chain to jump off the vertical windlass wheel and start running out. While hoisting the anchor we used to have the locker hatch open and with a broom stick handle kept pushing the build up down to prevent the "runaway".
The boats had no anti-chaffing provision on the shrouds either for the jib sheets. The self tacking jib doesn't allow for a jib > 100%
Another thing that boggles my mind is the motor controls (throttle/shifter) at knee height. Makes docking into tight berths a real cardio exercise of squatting down/standing up and also from a safety perspective the looking up/down while docking is an issue.
Wrap is cool. An easy fix of a docking boo boo.
Serious off shore seas are not what these boats are about. A boarding stern wave will go right into the cabin.
Excellent presentation ! I tend to skim Practical Sailor because it is too wordy. Your presentation is less wordy with all the info ! In a RUclips world where people must make money by how long the vid is, you hit the right pace. I don't have to speed up the playback speed.
I like the Catalina wood. Some may call the others Clorox bottles. None have teak trim or hand rails on deck. Too bad
I kind of liked the Jeanneau... until I saw the Catalina! What a well thought out , and easy to live with boat. Well done, Catalina!
As for wrapping a boat, I can't help but being concerned with longevity in general, not to mention how it would hold up to the inevitable docking mishaps. I can imagine it looking pretty crappy after a couple of years.
Not a fan of the 'no backstay' decision. In addition to sailhandling issues, a backstay is a great place to grab in unsteady seas.
We were at the show and It was definitely a multi-hull show. I (as one person mentioned) was shocked at the amount of windows built into the hulls. They will be great at the dock but can’t wait to see them in a few years when they start to leak. Wondering your thoughts…
Apologies for being a snob here. But crawling on these boats myself, I am floored at how little one gets for the money. The Benetau and Jeneau look as if built by Ikea. For half-million, I’d expect much more. I have a 2022 Hallberg-Rassy, and the build quality is drastically better, for just a bit more money and hassle on import. The Catalina, however, is a standout.
Catalina has been making great boats like this for many years, going back to the 400. I absolutely hate the Ikea look below in the first three. I haven’t looked at the specifications data on them but would be willing to bet the Catalina is heavier than the other three also.
Glad you were able to talk to Ed Massey, the Captain is an expert on Catalina. I am compilating buying the Catalina 425,
The Catalina was my hands down favorite. The others look like slip-queens that shouldn't be taken to sea. Not being able to wash the anchor chain is ridiculous ... who'd thought that would ever make it past the junior designer? Thanks for another good video!
Great living in these spacious yachts while spending months on end island hopping the carribean Islands
Walked through a ton of boats at Annapolis last fall and was mostly disappointed. Like the earlier commenter said, who are these built for? I’ve heard people say boat builders are primarily targeting the chartering fleets, which would explain the liveability/partyability emphasis. For a while, the goal of having a nice “apartment” inside has ruined the boat’s lines, high freeboard, slab-sided, flat sheer line… now, is the goal of having giant party-capable cockpits even intruding on sailability? (no backstay, hence limited mainsail range)
Try right reverse maneuvering or aborting a bow first docking with a twin rudder boat with no bow thruster…the slightest current or crosswind change (gust) and it looks like a 15 year old parallel parking…it can be done but the charter companies almost always have you dock at the fuel pump and a local hops on board to take the helm-it just saves the damage and frustration 😇
Another great video. Best of the bunch was the Catalina with all the easy access for maintenance. Love that all electric was available. Wish we could have seen one. Twin Helms look "cool" but really for most sailors they are just something else to go wrong, more to maintain.
I was at the Miami boat show hands down the Catalinas were the best boats IMO.
My son is looking for a 45 foot cat. Reviews would be appreciated.I saqil a Catalina 28 MKii. Thanks Capt Farmer
Nope on that first benny. Hate the ikea interiors on these boats. Who's buying these? I still don't get the redundant helms. Twice as much to go wrong weight an space?
I like the easy access to the engine and other maintenance
It’s funny to see all the new sailboats today with twin helms, massive beam, and giant cockpits for entertaining. Our boat has all of those things too… (Catalina 400). Gerry Douglas introduced the 400 in 1994 (30 years ago!). He was ahead of his time!
Beneturd, Junkneau , Dufus, and Crapalina, sad, truly sad. Honestly if the literally gave me one free and clear, I’d sell it without ever setting foot on it, the way modern boats are going is just sad to see
Pretty boats....very livable at the dock on on the hook. Can't get over all the hull windows...are they 1" thick? Glassed into the hull?
Never thought of wrapping a boat, but seems interesting in one example.
Arksen has amazing aluminum yatchs (85), but paint the aluminum, somehow, feels me wrong.
Wrapping that shell, at the other side, seems fine. Extra-protection and easy to change.
Interesting idea.
The old Dufour 35 didn't have backstays, it was a pain. The fuller on the Dufour is a speed furler, great bits of kit and the anchor looker has been made that way so the chain doesn't bunch up etc.
The difference between Catalina and the other boats is she is made with the owners in mind the other three boats are made mostly with the charter market.
It's a pity the Sirius 40DS wasn't there (only on the west coast/Seattle right now for shows). This German boat completely blows away anything else in glass (or it's class!). Alternatively, look at Alubat or Allures in aluminium. I had a C36 but I wouldn't have taken her much through the Caribbean - even outside, just the Bahamas maybe. You can see the Catalina is directly of that lineage. The old Clearwater/Largo manufacturers are very nearly finished. Glad to see that my friend Ed Massey is still around.
I am a firm believer in an adjustable back stay and an ability to sail down win at 150 plus TWA with boom well out. Also back stay can help control rig movement in long offshore downwind crossings. No back stay is a deal breaker...
Catalina by far the most thought out and nicest below. It's the only boat that doesn't look like an Ikea boat.
The no back enclosure aft (stern) means those pissed Orcas can bite you instead the rudder.
I wouldn't go with those options.
Love the Catalina with the proper anchor locker and the lead keel, Tim. Can you speak about cast iron ballast/keel in Beneteaus? Oxidizing cast iron turns me off. Can you tell me why I am wrong? Thank you!
I understand the "IKEA style" production boat comments vs the Catalina, but those vessels cost HALF. The new Oceanis 37.1 is 184.000 Euro. Is the Catalina really twice as nice?
Although the Dufour pricing became ridiculous, nobody will buy them.
(WoW, new sailing vessels with TWIN HELM? LoL, who is this guy in 2024?)
Next time, also show how much cubic ft. there is, inside and out, for storage......I get real lacking sense with these boats....oh and p.s., you didn't give us the price of the Catalina...
I sailed on a Jeaneau 410 for a couple seasons. Nice performing hull. Easy neutral helm. Tight and dry cabin. But the walk around deck…sure, it does make it easy to move from the cockpit to the side deck. It also makes a nice pit from which to operate the winch. What I didn’t like was losing a nice wide place to sit outboard to the side of the helm. It also had only a notional seat abaft the helm, just enough for one butt cheek. If I were considering a Jeanneau 410, I’d instead go for the Beneteau 40.1. Same hull but better helm space since it lacks the walk around feature.
LOVE the electric option, very cool. Really, no Seaward, Tartan or IP ?
Pearson 35, Valkyrie III
Beneteau: no back stay, & no traveler, no thank you. Not a fan of flush hatches. Looks great now, but I like having that lip to keep it a little drier inside. Interior not impressed, looks like an IKEA. A small IKEA.
Jennenau: A step up from the Beneateu but that side deck is no bueno. Many of the things I don’t like about Beneatau carries over too. Interior is marginally better than the Beneteau.
Dufour: Not impressive at all. That helm design looks weak. Outboard shrouds suck. Yeah you give up 2 holes in the deck for multiple holes in the sides. No Anchor locker sucks too. Who thought black handrails is a good idea? Have they ever grabbed black metal that has sat in the sun all day? The deck is spacious sure, but the access it terrible. The interior looks terrible. Galley layout is designed by someone who has never cooked, yet cooked at sea. That sole is a hazard and looks like trash. 3 heads on a 42ish foot boat is stupid. Not every cabin needs it own head on a boat this small. And a wrap? Really? That looks nice now. In 5 years it will look like garbage. Oh & it wont be cheap to redo. Yeah I’ll take gelcoat or paint please.
Catalina: Not my favorite manufacturer or boats but frankly the best of the bunch here. The boat is laid out much better. Would likely be more enjoyable to sail, How is the drainage on that line pocket in the cockpit floor?
If money wasn’t an object & if I was looking at a new boat in this size I’d be more interested in an IP 439 or HR 40C, but then again, they are much more expensive boats. And funny enough they don’t have a twin helm which to me on a 40ish ft monohull is a bit gimmicky. For my part I’ll keep with the old boats. Much more bang for the buck.
No way would I have a 40 footer with electric aux power only. In a day sailer maybe. For a live aboard boat It would be nice to have both diesel and electric, but if I have to have only one it'll be diesel for me. I think the best power setup might be the one that Leo from Samson Boat Co installed in Tally Ho. Twin electric motors for short range power-on-demand, like for entering slips or narrow channels, and a diesel for longer range or more speed if needed. And with the diesel running, both electric motors double as generators too. Something like 10 kilowatts worth. That ought to charge the batteries quick, fast, and in a hurry!
🙂
From the first time I saw the "walk-around" sloping deck on the Jeanneau, I thought of the consequences of burying the lee rail. Seems like a very bad idea. Steering from the low side is best for comfort and visibility, and the helm seats seem well set up for that, but having wet feet (and legs!) is not fun..
I'm just starting to look to buy my first boat and I'm deadset on the 38-43 foot range because Ill likely be solo sailing around the world and these new boats show me that though some of the interior design ideas can be innovative, the build quality is not sufficient or hardy enough for real sailing and longevity when compared to some of the older (maintained) designs. Seems getting a second hand boat can not only be cheaper but more practical as well these days. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.
Practical Sailor used to ignore new boats. There are other magazines that take plenty of advertising dollars from the boat builders. A new boat that features the latest design gimmicks isn't "practical" for me. Going "electric"? How dopey.
I would not criticize Beneteau for lack of backstays. These boats rarely leave marinas, and if they leave they usually motoring. Besides why do you need backstay for a joke in-must furling sail? This sail dos not have any roach or shape, and bringing it dow not the shrouds will not make any difference on performance. And fo real blue water sailing you would need running backstays anyway. Catalina is definitely better and stiffer boat, but no-one mentioned, that only Catalina from this bunch, has tabbed bulkheads, not just glue-in in the channels, like Benetau and Jennaeu. Jeanneau and especially Beneteau are for different crowd, who almost never sail and prefer sit in marinas or on mooring and motor between. And how you can sail with in-mast furling main anyway.
About quality of Dufour. My marina neighbor get brand-new Dufour last year and in 4 month he has list about 1000 lines long warranty repairs. The cockpit teak table delaminated, quadrant was not not screwed to the rudder post and rotated loosely, front air conditioner did not have enough coolant and run all the time. The list goes on and on. It is for $400+K boat.
Self-tacker jib is a treat with properly sized main with boom-brake. You do not care about backed-up jib and focus only on main. There is a good idea to rig self-tacker jib preventers (like i did ) to prevent to go side by side with awful clicking sound when it hits the end stop. And for the light winds cruising code 0 will do the trick.
So Catalina will be good for ocean, Beneteau is good to sip champagne in marina and Jeanneau and Dufor fit in between. Choose your sailing preference.
The last boat would be the only one of these we would have an intrest in. Still looking for that five year old 50 footer. To use as a third retirement home. Great Video.
Ok you lost me now. There are so many great boats available for under 30k (yes they are going to be older) and that’s where my budget puts me. Even when you get above 80-100k im out. Sure partly because I just don’t have that kind of money but…. Why spend that when you can live the lifestyle and even get a boat that is built stronger and has more charm then any new sugar scoop modern yacht and not spend anywhere near the 150-200k
For the first 3 boats, It looks like you went to IKEA and a boat show broke out😱
German rigged mainsail sheets👎, raked spreaders👎self tacking jib👎, dual rudders (crab pot line catchers)👎, aft access to going forward👎 no anchor locker👎, sail drives👎 fisher panda👎, engine throttle at your ankle 👎, tight engine access 👎, engineered wood floor panels👎,
Garage side access to the engine 👍, teak/holly floors👍, real wood joinery interiors👍, exterior chain plates👍, practical/clever folding salon table👍, enclosed stern transom👍, outboard storage plate👍, inboard shrouds👍, flippy cockpit bench👍, line catcher locker👍, garage/3rd berth👍, access to daily service items👍,
Dual helms(meh), swim platform (meh), sloped side deck(meh), chaise lounge(meh),
Wrap 🤔,
Only the C445 would be better than the C425. I tend to think of natural split in these midsize new boats at the 1 head vs 2 head models, with some overlap. Once you get to 45’, there’s another category.
Slocombe didn't need a dual helm with his 14 foot beam.... Is redundancy or double the expense
The Catalina just wins for ease of maintenance and design. Plus the floor compared to one of the other boats, nothing is done badly on the Catalina, you won’t get as nice of an interior as a Beneteau however you will get a much better designed ocean going boat. the Catalina win hands-down. The engine access just sells me all day long. I’m not that mechanically inclined. However, you do need to be able to do some routine maintenance.
Informative if somewhat sparse on experience. I would think practical sailor would try to get a highly experienced Voyager to helm their channel. It is entertaining though
Tim, external chain plates are the way to go. Catalina has kept some stowage on the interior hull walls that a plus. The main concern is that these newer designs are in fact designed for the the people that suffer from Thalassophobia. I am not saying one can not take these boats into white water oceans with 3 to 10 meter waves, especially at close intervals. I learn to sail on one of these boat hulls designed for racing. I can honestly tell anyone they slam extremely hard.These light displacement boats are not sea kindly at all like a heavy to moderately heavy displacement sea kindly hull. The roomy cockpits and interior comes at a sever loss of the ability to store spare parts, tools, extra sails, 3 to 6 months provisions, larger fuel and water storage tanks. All of these are extremely important to ocean voyaging sailors. They are not designed for long remote voyaging but rather to for island hopping and weekend or day sailing. Jim Rodgers
Still satisfied with my jeanneau 39 performance 2009. And when hearing the prices I hope to sail it for still a long time
I have a boat without backstay. Never been an issue. When running down wind, rarely is it exactly on my stern so running slightly off isn't a problem. When want to be closer to directly on back I drop my main and run my headsail or spinnaker only. As for the boats featured the only one I would consider is the Catalina. The others are not designed for owner operator/cruiser. One of my favorite layouts ever is Catalina 400. You get twin helm and center lined aft cabin.
Only would be interested in the Catalina. Looks modern, but somewhat traditional. Even the helms are closer to each other.
The engine maintenance touches are very nice, intended for a sailor. No talk of tankage on any, though the one with 3 heads will stay close to a pumpout.
The other three, well they will be charter boats to remain within 10 miles of land entertaining people on board. Too much plastic for my taste.
A sloped deck is not desirable for us northern sailors. Lake Superior in September can give you frosty decks in the morning and trying to walk on a slope frequently goes badly.
Very interesting bunch of ideas but nope, I wouldn't beta-test any of those four boats. My biggest gripe is with wrapping yachts. I've used wrap, it looks nice but is not very durable or resistant to damage. It's a 'disposable' item. Using wrap on a huge boat is high end consumerism gone insane imo. Good luck with wrap lasting 8yrs. Cheers. Liking the channel & especially the intro very much.
Half a mil for Darfour and you get uneven floors , Ikea cabinets, and a stinky boat😂 What’s worst is that first three boats all have blue water certification .
I wish Yanmar would either cut some inspection ports into their covers over the belts/pullies or, better yet replace the opaque cover with a clear perspex cover. This would facilitate both pre-trip inspections and trouble shooting engine problems.
Only the last one didn't look like IKEA did the interior... A yacht needs proper woodwork.
I would love to see you talking about
Sirius DS and Contessa 32
I prefer the more conventional exterior looks of the other Catalinas to the 425 - I am not a fan of the rectangular windows, the plumb bow and the straight angle on the bow end of the coachhouse. But you can tell from the interior why it is such a joy to own a Catalina. The other boats look ugly and poorly made to me. As others have said, they seem to be marketed to pretend weekend sailors with lots of money who never turn the engine off.
Big fan and great videos but the audio on your Practical Sailor videos could greatly be improved. Maybe in need of a better mic or acoustic room. Not sure how to describe but sounds a bit hollow, or closer to tinny vs bassy almost like the mic is too far away and you’re speaking loader to compensate. You may want to analysis it sooner than later as you put a lot of research and effort into your content for your video collection. Maybe try a clip on mic or external mic if you’re using the camera mic.
Saw a few at the Annapolis show and thought oh, IKEA is making boats. I think it's cute you are worried about the galley at sea for a boat that is maybe a coastal cruiser. I can't imagine crossing an ocean in any of them or being in any kind of rough weather. I'm a pass on the lot.
Saw the same boat at a different boat show in Florida could not wrap my head around half a $1 million for the less than amazing fit and finish of the boat. Don't understand it at all puzzling. Dufour has some issues.
Catalina has a lot of positives for maintenance and longetivity, but makes big performance sacrifices. A 6-ish foot fin keel and slab reefing would be a good start towards attracting people who want a sailboat, not just an intracoastal cruiser.
What's the point of having dual aft cabins when you'll have to use one of them to store all the junk you'd normally put in the lazarette?
Don’t like twin helms! The Catalina was very nice but needed chain plates on the outside , it was more traditional than the other three, sailboats should never be so modern that the insides look like power boats , I think people purchase sailboats to enjoy and experience the power and timelessness of wind and sails , this also makes most sailors a little bit salty for the layout and design of they boat ? What do you think ??
The Dufour, Benneteau and Jeannau are not targeted at anyone doing blue water cruising. They are built to sit in a marina and offer a pleasant outdoor sitting space for entertaining with occasional coastal passages
The new Catalina did not look well built.
Clearly the Catalina is the better boat if you actually want to leave the dock. I’ve owned both Catalinas and a Benetau and the Catalina was the only one of the four that I would consider.
humm is there a wrap for the bottom? instead painting, just wrap it and be done, would it be cheaper?
The Catalina looks like the way to go! Thank You for sharing!
You didn't mention that Beneteau bleached interior looks disgusting
Practila sailor = Mt. Vcatalina, Catalina sponsorship showing ;)
I actually wouldn’t mind an electric motor in place of the diesel engine.
The catalina was instantly recognizable as a boat. The others were awful.
Catalina wins this one. The no back stay is a big no for me, so as the no anchor locker. Who came up with that one?
Half mil for a 40' coastal cruiser? Are you kidding me?