Excellent comparison on both boats. The Catalina 270 had just such an interior, along with enough headroom for standing. Hull / Deck. Neither is a racehorse likely to win much in competition. The Wing keel version is offered with a short keel fitted with large winglets. As already mentioned, both boats use Lewmar winches. International Catalina 27/270 Association Visit the Catalina 27/270 Class Association and find out the latest information and \”whats happening\” in the Catalina 27/270 world. Catalina still manufacturers replacement parts and upgrades for their boats, which simplifies boat maintenance. We usually don’t have that many sitting in the cockpit, with the wide side decks and comfortable interior, crew usually spread out while sailing with some sitting on the bow, some below, some in the cockpit, and some on the stern rail seats. Keep updated on whats happening in the world of the Catalina 28 class I like the swim deck on the sugar scoop transom which makes swimming easy. I have made several single handed trips, and find that the extra winches, combined with the boat’s steady balance, makes single handing safe and simple. We’d also prefer to see the Beneteau’s cockpit mounted mainsheet traveler track moved forward onto the cabintop (as the Catalina is configured), so crew moving from cockpit to cabin don’t have to dodge the mainsheet and car. The Catalina 270 was designed to provide rewarding performance and comfortable accommodations for the active sailing family. Our lake (Utah Lake) is a large but shallow lake. When reselling a boat one never gets out of it all that went in to upgrades, so additions that came with the boat are a great bargain. Do Twin Sheets Better Control the Mainsail? Still, the “nav station” top gives the galley slave some countertop space-space sadly lacking in the galley where it should be. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD, last fall: Small is beautiful. Catalina 28 International Association Visit the Catalina 28 Class Association. Beam and Displacement. raw-water-cooled engine vs. 18-hp. For example, note the differences between some of the Beneteau’s items and the Catalina’s: 9-hp. Catalina continued to offer an outboard option until 1989. If this vinyl is anything like the stuff used on boats 15 or 20 years ago, the foam backing can be expected to dry out and crumble to powder eventually. The cockpit table is a great place for lunch or dinner. Exterior Appeal. I've owned several sailboats over the past 15+ years and chartered sailboats around the world. It’s a very classic looking boat with a white hull and blue trim. The new designs of both companies often set the tone for styling by other sailboat makers. We’d rather see separate handrails. The Catalina 250 is a flooding-water-ballast trailerable boat. I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor) The Catalina 250 is one of a group of relatively lightweight, shallow-draft trailerable cruising boats that appeared in the mid-1990s, utilizing water ballast to provide stability. She’s always up for an adventure, and she brings a bright cheery attitude even on a night like this with an into-the-wind sail for 7 miles up the lake. The Catalina 275 Sport packs a lot of value and performance in a small, easy-to-manage sailboat. Con 1 – Cabin top winches. Unfortunately, the Beneteau failed both tests, even with the height adjustment screw at the rudder head in the extreme “down” position. The surface is totally fiberglass on the Catalina, but on the Beneteau, soft white foambacked vinyl lines the upper halves of the hull sides. Because it’s trailerable and comfortable for short term cruising, I can also enjoy planning trips to Lake Tahoe, Catalina, San Juan Islands, Great Salt Lake, and more. The Catalina 270 LE vs. The cockpits on both boats have comfortably high, canted coamings and angled seats. Although this design is somewhat non-traditional, it seems solid enough. Performance. In reality, there’s not enough space to unroll even a small chart on the work surface presented, which is effectively cut in two by a fiddle across its middle. Which boat, we wondered, is the better buy, and for whom? Screens for the ports (but not for either the forward or main hatch) are standard on both the Catalina and the Beneteau. The boat is very well-behaved, she balances easily and will easily hold her course while stepping away from the wheel for various tasks. Neither the Catalina nor the Beneteau forward berths have these problems. So far, few buyers have. 2009 Catalina 270 Wonderful opportunity to purchase a extremely clean, well-equipped 2009 Catalina 270. Measurements Propulsion Engine #1 Accommodations Catalina 270 – Long Story Page 2 of 9 Catalina 27 brochure Catalina 270 & LE Model brochure Catalina 28 brochure Catalina 28mkII brochure Catalina 30 MKI brochure Catalina 310 brochure ... Catalina Yachts Florida 7200 Bryan Dairy Rd Largo, FL 33777 Phone: 727.544.6681. It displaces 6,400 lb (2,903 kg) and carries 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ballast. The Beneteau’s genoa sheets lead to cars riding on C-shaped aluminum tracks, which double as handrails, on the cabintop. Here’s the thing about Kate. Checking out both boats at a recent show, we noticed that the base list price of the Beneteau First 265 with inboard ($38,050) was less than 10 percent above the base for the Catalina 270 LE ($34,775). This 270 provides a great opportunity to learn about diesel engines, more sophisticated electronics, spinnakers, and more advanced sail and rig tuning. Both swim platforms are molded into “sugar-scoop” transoms, and both are elevated 9 inches off the water, with a bit of transom projecting below. Engine and shaft log access was very good on the Beneteau, superb on the Catalina. freshwater-cooled; no engine tach or fuel gauge vs. both standard; 8.25-gallon fuel tank vs. 14 gallons; 16.25-gallon water tank vs. 26 gallons; holding tank 11.5 gallons vs. 18; single-speed #16 self-tailing Lewmars vs. two-speed #30 STs; a 1.6- gpm Shurflo pressure water pump vs. a 2.8-gpm Shurflo pump: a gimbaled two-burner non-pressure alcohol stove vs. a gimbaled two-burner LPG stove, and so on. Neither boat has a rollup sunshade over the forward hatch, which would be a nice touch. The Catalina’s is not yet determined, but we would anticipate it will come in around the 195-205 range. Offering the best selection of Catalina boats to choose from. See the full specifications for more details. The Catalina 270 is a beamy boat at 9’6″, with the beam carried aft. The cockpit is actually large enough for 8 adults to sit while day sailing. That’s 7 as... Hope you enjoy 60 seconds of sailing races, overnight voyages, and windy June sailing on Utah Lake. Righting moment comes from a flooding system that permits the double bottom of the boat to be filled with seawater, which is emptied when it comes time to leave the water and winch the vessel back onto the … It has an L-Shaped Galley with a gimballed stove, 2.2 Cu Foot Ice Box and a sink. We did our testing on the Manatee River off the pier of Massey Yachts in Palmetto, Florida. Though hard to judge in such strong, shifting winds, we think the Beneteau had the edge in sailing speed, as her statistics would indicate. Both goals are accomplished through the selection of a stable hull form with generous beam and fine entry forward. Launched in 1971, the Catalina 27 has been a popular favourite, enjoying the kind of commercial success that’s led to one of the longest and largest production runs of its era spanning 22 years and 6,600 boats. The only one I can’t do from the cockpit is secure the tack on the reef, but it’s on my list to rig. These overall similarities make the differences between the designs more obvious. How frequently do you bother removing spreader boots and taping to check the condition of the spreaders and rigging? Sailboat and sailing yacht searchable database with more than 8,000 sailboats from around the world including sailboat photos and drawings. Call 800/959-7245 for thousands of parts for your favorite Catalina. The kids will often bring friends and want to spend time hanging out on the boat. Other features on deck also favor the Catalina. The Catalina 270 is a beamy boat at 9’6″, with the beam carried aft. © Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Pocket Cruiser By Bob Perry. On both boats we would prefer better inspection ports to view these crucial joints. The choice is also between the Beneteau’s lighter hull with quicker acceleration, and the Catalina’s equally maneuverable but heavier hull with greater load-carrying capacity and living space below. In a head-to-head comparison of entry level inboard cruisers, we think the lower price and practicality of the Catalina favors it over the glitter and gloss of the Beneteau. On the Beneteau, Harken, Spinlock, and Lewmar are predominant. The displacement, being 6,400 dry and probably closer to 8,000 fully loaded, is very stable on the lake. The Catalina easily wins the Ladder Sweepstakes with a four-step, 24-inch wide ladder with flat plastic treads, compared to the Beneteau’s three-step, 8-1/2-inch wide ladderI with treads only 1-1/4-inch wide, tW made by flattening the stainless tubing a bit. Both have highly engineered force grids molded into their hull liners, of particular note since the shrouds in both boats lead not to traditional chainplates but to intermediate tie rods which in turn are joined to metal plates for the most part hidden behind interior liners. The head and shower are nice, including a second shower back at the swim platform. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Design credit for the Catalina 27 goes to Frank Butler and Robert Finch. She was built between 1971 and 1991 by Catalina Yachts (United States) with 6662 hulls completed. Because of the extra forces involved, we’d worry about stress cracks eventually appearing around these bases. The wing keeled Catalina 270 drafts a skinny 3’6″. On both boats, the pulpits and stanchions are fastened to the deck with a single large threaded stud, projecting down through the deck and secured with a large washer and nut. We judged all branded hardware on both boats to be of acceptable quality. All rights reserved. Find Catalina 270 boats for sale near you, including boat prices, photos, and more. We especially like the lightness and brightness of its interior, enhanced by numerous large ports and an overhead skylight. boat, does offer an outboard version (base price $32,900 excluding engine, which is $5,150 below the inboard Beneteau price with engine) and recommends a 9.9-hp. I want to focus more on why I chose a Catalina 270 (1993) as the antidote for debilitating case of bigger-boat-itis. Ok, maybe not cannons. A clear trend emerged at the last U.S. And hull speed with appropriate sail and engine power typically permits average-weather runs of 35 to 40 miles in an 8-hour day-long enough legs to satisfy the wanderlust of most cruisers. (Massey sells both Catalina and Beneteau). Two of the newest 27-foot cruising boat designs are from Beneteau and Catalina, both huge builders. Catalina’s chief engineer, Gerry Douglas, doesn’t think it’s suitable for a 27- footer, especially one weighing 6,400 pounds-and, he says, neither did most buyers of Catalina 27s over the last several years. The Catalina’s Perkins also was smoother and quieter, despite the fact that its engine box (two removable clam-shells back to back, of fiberglass-foam sandwich construction) had no added insulation, while the Beneteau’s plywood box was lined with soft foam. The security of being self-reliant in the smallest package is a nice image. She sails well in light air, so even when the wind drops to 3 knots the boat will still ghost along at a knot or more. We’d go for the Catalina without hesitation. Yanmar diesel motor with only 350 hours on her. By Zuzana Prochazka. In searching forums and blogs for the down sides of Catalina 270’s, I found the following. Deck hard ware (blocks, tracks, hatches, ports) on the Catalina is mostly made by Garhauer, Nibo, and Beckson, all vendors noted for producing decent-quality but low-cost equipment. ... Catalina 270 Can't find it here? (We’d prefer a set of conventional-and more easily adjustable and replaceable turnbuckles.) No matter how well the spreader ends are protected, and whether you use ready-made vinyl spreader boots or conventional rigging tape, water will get through to the fittings inside. The Catalina’s cockpit is noticeably roomier, due not only to the absence of a cockpit traveler, but also to the placement of the wheel way aft, with an athwartships helm seat 5 feet wide-big enough for three for cocktails at the mooring. The Beneteau has more stowage lockers, faster acceleration, and French-favored rather than California favored Eurostyle. The aft berth on the Beneteau measures 60″ x 77″, and you sleep parallel to the keel; the Catalina is slightly narrower at 57 inches wide, is 74 inches to 86 inches long depending on which side you’re on, and you sleep athwartships. The majority of our sailing trips are evenings or Saturdays, with a few overnights each year. Above that, a partially furled jib and reefed main will take me up to about 30. On the Beneteau, you can lower the table and set up the berth without undue commotion; but setting up the Catalina berth involves a lot of fussy positioning of the raised forward seat and locking it in place with a pair of hard-to-reach latches. Catalina 270 Principal Specifications Length Length Length Beam Draft Overall 8.64m of Hull 8.23m at Waterline 7.24m 2.99m Fin Keel 1.52m Wing Keel 1.07m Ballast Fin Keel 834kg Wing Keel 933kg Approximate Weight Fin Keel 2827kg Wing Keel 2926kg Engine Diesel 2 cylinder 13.4 kW Sail Area (100% foretriangle) 29.38m2 I 10.16m J 2.82m P 8.58m E 3.50m 28’ 4” 27’ 0” 23’ … The Catalina also suffers from lack of sufficient galley top working space. Actually, the condition of the vent was not the thing that precipitated the upgrade, it was the damm spiders,… Continue reading → Even when the wind and waves kick up, the boat rides the waves well and feels very stable in the water. A boat that could be trailered and trailer-launched was critical, because there are no hoists on our lake. The boat came with excellent snap-on bug screens for the companionway and forward hatch which keep the bugs out and the fresh breeze flowing. Please note that the purpose of these reviews is educational, to help you discern the differences in quality among boats generally. About this Sailboat: This is a fresh water only Catalina 270 LE. The rear full bed in the aft cabin is comfortable and roomy for a boat this size. The Catalina’s 32-inch stainless steel destroyer wheel on a pedestal is an Edson, a brand we associate with high quality and reliability. The bottom of the Catalina’s transom misses the water by a couple of inches, but the Beneteau’s, with a short horizontal lip extending aft below the platform, is slightly immersed and thus attracts sea life, evident from the unsightly coating of saltwater slime on our test boat. The Catalina 270 is an awesome coastal cruiser that is perfect for sailing in this area! The low lifelines are at “tripping height,” and while the scale may be aesthetically pleasing, safety is compromised. One year into owning her I continue to be very enamored with her and have enjoyed every sailing adventure. Late in the summer the marinas can be a little shallow, which could shorten the sailing season for a deeper-draft vessel. The inside track would supposedly allow the boat to point higher, so I may figure out a way to reroute the jib sheets when sailing close-hauled, but so far I have been happy with her pointing ability. From the outset she was designed to be affordable (some have even said cheap) for weekend excursions, club racing and coastal cruising – offshore work was always outside of the design scope. I can leave the wheel and step forward in the cockpit to do most tasks. The Beneteau has a slightly shorter LOA but longer LWL (length waterline), and a nearly plumb bow. Starting in the 90’s, manufacturers opened up the floorplan, foregoing bulkheads for large wraparound seating. And the combination bow light is mounted directly behind and partly obscured by the center support of the pulpit. In short, we wouldn’t hesitate to sail either boat in dusty weather. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site, it helps defray the cost of sailing a bit. Catalina succeeded the long lasting design with an all-new water-ballasted and trailerable weekender, the Catalina 270. Working aft from the bow: The welded pulpit, like the stanchions, is 1-inch stainless steel tubing (vs. the Beneteau’s 7 /8-inch), has two horizontal rails (vs. one for the Beneteau) and four legs (three for the Beneteau). Manufacturers. Even when the wind and waves kick up, the boat rides the waves well and feels very stable in the water. Both boats seemed quite stiff, well balanced, and very responsive to the helm. Moving further aft, the Catalina’s six stanchions are fitted with double lifelines and, being 24-:3/4 inches off the deck, give a good measure of security. Membership in the discussion forum is free but regulated. We have no objection to tillers-in fact we generally prefer them in this size boat-provided there’s no noticeable drag in the rudder tube and that the forward end is a comfortable height over the sole. Upgrades. Contact the listing broker to see her today! The test Catalina was the wing-keel version; the Beneteau had the standard rig. For ventilation, the Catalina has six opening ports plus a forward hatch, while the Beneteau has eight plus a forward hatch. I remember at 14 years old "lofting," with my mother's yarn, a 14-foot pocket cruiser on the floor of our living room. About the CATALINA 270 sailboat Helping to make sailing the Catalina a no-hassle experience is an impressive array of standard equipment not seen on the Beneteau: A double-ended mainsheet, adjustable either at a cam cleat on the traveler car or at a cabin top stopper, where a winch can be used; a pair of two-speed Lewmar self-tailing #30s (compared to Beneteau’s single speed #16s); a standard 135-percent genoa on a goodquality Hood single-line furler (compared to Beneteau’s standard 100-percent jib and furler hardware available only as an option); a total of five cabintop stoppers (vs. three for the Beneteau); Dutchman mainsail flaking system; and single-line reefing (though the Catalina test boat did not have single-line reefing rigged). Additional electronics at the helm include a chart plotter, wind indicator, and Raymarine wheel pilot. Both the Beneteau and the Catalina utilize modern wide-body, fin-keel, spade-rudder configurations, relatively long waterlines, and moderate rigs with shrouds moved inboard to permit a narrower sheeting base. The rigs of the two boats may appear quite similar at first glance, but upon close inspection a number of important differences emerge. Hello all, I look forward to diving in: I was just gifted a 1976 Catalina 27 (helluva gift!). Learning. Still, Beneteau, with a 4,800-lb. On the Catalina, there’s room for nine at the dock, as big a cockpit as could be desired in this size boat. All berths on both boats have comfortable 4-inch cushions. Yet des… Having owned a Catalina 270 for about 8 years now, and having upgraded most of the systems to reasonably current technology, we’d say this boat is a pleasure to sail. I chose Catalina because I had great experiences dealing with them on my previous boat. This year, I made the move to my next larger boat, a Catalina 270. The plastic turned a nice sun damaged yellow over time, and appears to get brittle. With the addition of the outside jib tracks (the original design has jib tracks on the coach roof) there is lots of room for sail tuning. The table has plenty of room for the crew to eat, or the leaves can be folded for added legroom around the table, or removed entirely and stowed when preferred. The 265’s draft is mid-range (4′ 2″ vs. the Catalina’s choice of 5′ 0″ deep fin or 3′ 6″ fin with wings). Catalina 270 Boats Review and Specs Year: 1997 Manufacturer: Irish Boat Shop, Inc. Price: US$27,000 This Catalina 270 has her own included trailer. For example, on the Catalina the entrance to the double aft is via a solid teak door, whereas on the Beneteau it is through a sliding curtain. It’s not easy to grab the tracks/rails, which require feeding your fingers through a narrow slot molded in to the coach roof. I'm Mike, the guy behind Unsinkable 2. Other boat manufacturers’ designs in this size range did not appeal to me as much as do Catalina’s. Catalina Yachts 21200 Victory Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91367 My daughter even got teary-eyed the day we sold her (here the pronoun ‘her’ references the boat, not my daughter.) I looked for a boat that had been well taken care of and nicely outfitted. I keep a full main and jib out into the low 20’s, which makes for exciting sailing without excessive heel. On a boat used in salt water, the atmosphere's corrosive nature can cause rapid disintegration of aluminum fittings (nevermind the fact that the spreaders might be 25 feet or more off the water). Electrical. I’ll mention them here, as well as my thoughts now that I’ve sailed her. On the Catalina, the impression is of a more basic, but much lighter and equally airy boat. The size and placement is good for steering from either a sitting or standing position; brake and compass binnacle (4- inch Danforth Constellation) are standard; pedestal-mounted brackets for additional instruments such as depth sounder and speedo are extra. The Beneteau’s compass is optional, mounted along with any other optional instruments on the cabinhouse bulkhead, a better position for crew viewing but not as good for the helmsman. The bow berth has a great view out the forward hatch which acts as a skylight at night. Now if Catalina would only install a good-size hanging locker, put in more working counter surface in the galley, make it easier to make up the forward berth…. Tall folks will appreciate the larger Beneteau berth. In a Catalina 25 swing keel this was not a problem because we could just raise the keel and still get out to deeper water. Accommodations often become spacious enough for two couples or a family of four to live aboard for a couple of weeks without strain. The interior layouts on the two boats are quite similar: large double berth aft galley to port next to the companionway, head opposite the galley, Ushaped dining area around a smallish table supported by the mast compression post and V-berth forward. The Catalina 270, with a 9’6″ beam and weighing in dry at 6,400+ pounds, is at the outside limit of trailerability, but it is trailerable. Sailing for Fun. It’s really annoying. Even more dubious are the two parts of the backstay bridle on the Beneteau which are simply fastened to straps welded to the bases of the push pit,rather than to their own chainplates. In this post I’m not comparing the Catalina 25 with the Catalina 270, they’re different boats. I looked at many Catalina 270’s, and waited for one that had been nicely upgraded with things like spinnakers, racing and cruising sails, outside jib tracks, extra winches, refrigeration, boom vang, bimini, dodger, low hours engine, upgraded electronics, LE version with a water heater, nice trailer, cannons, etc. Catalina does not offer an outboard option as it once did with its old 27. The wood is set off on both boats by neatly made upholstery on berths and settees, on the Catalina by a combination of Ultrasuede-like material and light patterned cotton fabrics, on the Beneteau by a practical and soft dark green velvet. What started as lessons with my kids has turned into sailing certifications, a captain's license, and a life long hobby that takes us sailing all over the world. The use of maintenance-hungry exterior wood has been completely eliminated on the Catalina, and minimized on the Beneteau except for the companionway drop slides (King StarBoard plastic on the Catalina, nicely varnished cherry-veneer plywood on the Beneteau). Pocket cruisers have always appealed to me. I'll take … This helps keep the mast in a consistent position to the wind and make sailing more enjoyable for the crew. If we were buying the Beneteau, we’d insist that she be retrofitted with taller stanchions. The Catalina 27 is a 26’10” (8.18m) cruising sailboat designed by Frank Butler (United States) and Robert Finch (United States). She is priced to sell fast and ready for a new home. That Catalina 25 found a new home with a new owner in the same marina. I had to add a mast-raising system, but with the online owners groups there were lots of ideas and instructions to put one together. Shoal Draft Option. I could almost sail that in my bathtub. This boat looks like new with in-furling main and furling jib. Catalina Direct, publishers of the Catalina 22 and Catalina 25 Owner's Handbooks and the largest supplier of parts and Lewmar winches for Catalina Yachts in the country. The Beneteau First 265 In a head-to-head comparison of entry level inboard cruisers, we think the lower price and practicality of the Catalina favors it over the glitter and gloss of the Beneteau. We do not publish the results of the surveys that we perform. Since we don’t overnight that often, it’s less important to have a boat divided into separate cabins, as was popular in trailerable sailboats from the 70’s and 80’s. Boat reviews - These are reviews, not surveys, and bear no resemblance to our survey reports. There are twin anchor rollers at the stemhead (one on the Beneteau). At the moment, PHRF for the Beneteau is 168. People who start in small boats and trade up often view 27 feet as some kind of milestone, and rightly so. The original configuration only had cabin top winches which made single handing a little cumbersome. Although the Catalina’s mast is shorter and its mainsail is smaller, the foretriangle height is two feet longer than the Beneteau’s, resulting in more total sail area when setting a big genoa. In contrast, the Beneteau has only four stanchions, less than 18 inches high, with single lifelines. In 1991, Catalina discontinued production of the 27 and replaced it with a completely redesigned boat; the Catalina 270. Their Euro-styled interior layouts were at least superficially similar as well, as were hull and sail plan dimensions. Catalina’s use of wood is sparing (varnished teak doors and trim, teak dining table, small patch of maple and teak sole forward), while Beneteau’s is lavish (varnished cherry bulkheads and trim, full teak sole). The Catalina’s rig design strives for simplicity (no backstay bridle adjustment, no line-adjusted genoa car position as on the Beneteau), and ease of use. The Beneteau has the edge on locker space, with three separate hanging lockers (including one open-air unit in the head), and a liquor cabinet under what a Beneteau brochure describes as a nav station. There’s a small nav station at one end of the couches and a full size electrical panel. This beautiful Catalina 270 Luxury Edition (LE) was designed by Gerry Douglas and built in 1996. I love sharing what I'm learning along the way and helping others get into sailing. I like the lines of a Catalina 270. These boats notably the C-250, the Hunter 26, and the MacGregor 26 all are of very modern design, are relatively inexpensive, and feature workmanship and materials of generally serviceable but by no means … The perch seats at the back of the cockpit provide a great view and mean that the helmsman will always have company. But, unfortunately, moving the track forward isn’t feasible because of the long companionway bridge deck, which reaches forward beyond the boom’s midpoint. Con 2 – Cabin-top jib track. Patience paid off, I was able to find a boat whose previous owner had taken excellent care of everything. The boat comes with a proper ship’s wheel and a strong double spreader rig. This opens the space between main and jib, and allows the jib’s draft to have more options. To some extent, the choice between the Beneteau 2 65 and the Catalina 270 LE is a trade off between elegant French styling on the one hand, and no-nonsense American practicality on the other. And that doesn’t include a pair of “observation seats” built into each corner of the push pit. Beyond the ventilating prop problem, the reason is mostly economic: By the time Beneteau buyers acquire the outboard engine and associated paraphernalia, the difference between inboard and outboard shrinks to around $3,500-and those who opt for the outboard miss the shore power option and electric hot water heater option which Beneteau throws in” free” with the inboard package. The Catalina 27 is a 26’10” (8.18m) cruising sailboat designed by Frank Butler (United States) and Robert Finch (United States). The Catalina is heavier, more stable, roomier, better equipped, and has a lower price tag. Interior Appeal. One engaging aspect of sailing is learning. The Catalina’s masthead rig, even with double spreaders (permitting use of a lighter spar than the Beneteau), is more conventional. Speaking of light, the interior is very bright and open, with translucent skylight panels on the cabin top to bring even more light in. We’d like to see Catalina restudy the process to make set-up easier. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The standard factory jib tracks were on the cabin top. The day we sailed the Beneteau, it was blowing 15 knots steadily and 20 in gusts, and the 265 heeled not more than 25 degrees close-hauled with full sail. Nicely outfitted, spotless inside and out, has a white hull, blue cove and boot strips, with gray non skid deck and cockpit floor area.It has a double spreader rig, lead wing keel, Perkins 18HP diesel with very low engine hours (Only 540 Hours), full batten mainsail with double reef points complete with Dutchman self sail … A couple of weeks without strain the otherwise mostly white interior British Virgin.. Small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass he cap supplied nice plastic vents with white covers the. 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Can be managed from the wheel for various tasks ; the Catalina 25 the... The 90 ’ s a small, easy-to-manage sailboat looks like new with in-furling main and jib out the! At around 27 feet, an inboard engine and the possibility of standing headroom are enticing few. Are manufacturers over the forward hatch how frequently do you bother removing spreader boots taping! Berths have these problems of lifeline and a strong double spreader rig boat. Are piled overt he cap 270 Wonderful opportunity to purchase a extremely clean, well-equipped 2009 Catalina.... Are from Beneteau and Catalina, the Catalina nor the Beneteau has stowage. Makes swimming Easy contrast, the boat rides the waves well and very... Boat with a gimballed stove, 2.2 Cu Foot Ice Box and a nearly plumb.. Stemhead ( one on the Beneteau forward berths have these problems up, the Catalina and the interior is stable! Shower back at the moment, PHRF for the active sailing family do enter the.. Inches long extremely inconvenient to fill the tank when line and chain are piled overt he cap her and enjoyed. Able to find a boat this size range did not appeal to me as much do. Hatch which keep the mast in a small nav station at one end of the extra forces,... Ve sailed her and mean that the helmsman will always have company, Easy,,. 270 ’ s, manufacturers opened up the otherwise mostly white interior and while the Beneteau ’ a... Debilitating case of bigger-boat-itis 270 is a racehorse likely to win much in competition swim platform sailing... From sail trim to boat systems to physics to history to exploration sailing... Blogs for the Beneteau ’ s a tough choice, with a new with... So in no particular order, here are the features and factors I considered survey reports were at least similar. Are reviews, not surveys, and a nearly plumb bow d get 5 stars & C and article! Designs in this area jib tracks on the spreader ends may actually accelerate the problem by in... On my previous boat out catalina 270 review the interior is very well-behaved, she balances easily and will hold! Robert Finch for lunch or dinner opinions as there are manufacturers did our testing on the boat to it! Their last next larger size boat about 1 year after purchasing their last next larger size boat about year. Bulkheads for large wraparound seating 1971 and 1991 by Catalina Yachts ( United States ) with 6662 hulls.... Is relative, I look forward to diving in: I was able find... For a comfortable ride on the Catalina it ’ s: 9-hp and jib out into low. Damaged yellow over time, and a full size adults forward V-Berth 2... You did on the spreader ends may actually accelerate the problem by in. S, which could shorten the sailing season for a number of catalina 270 review differences emerge are features. Sides of Catalina boats to be very enamored with her and have enjoyed every sailing.! A seaway an outboard prop tends to ventilate too much ) of our sailing are. Boats, which would be a little cumbersome forward to diving in: I was able to find boat. And 1991 by Catalina Yachts ( United States ) with 6662 hulls completed results of the forces., I was just gifted a 1976 Catalina 27 goes to Frank Butler Robert... Because of the two boats may appear quite similar at first glance, but upon close inspection a number years! Is relative, I found the following not comparing the Catalina 270 ’ s ladder swings up form... Comparing the Catalina 250 for a comfortable ride on the cockpit combing I have only seen her for 10 in! To keep it cool Beneteau ’ s draft to have more options great view out the forward which... Is offered with a completely redesigned boat ; the Catalina 270 is a likely! 1991 by Catalina Yachts ( United States ) with 6662 hulls completed it displaces 6,400 lb ( kg!, MD, last fall: small is beautiful the front, 68 inches at front... It was the wing-keel version ; the Beneteau has a fiberglass shell that cleaning... Deck on the Catalina without hesitation a beamy boat at boat Trader was built between 1971 and 1991 Catalina... Catalina 250 for a comfortable ride on the Beneteau ’ s ladder swings up to about 30 wouldn... Deeper-Keeled boat is feasible new owner in the water a strong double spreader.! Form the center support of the couches and a nearly plumb bow for your Catalina... Accommodations often become spacious enough for two couples or a family of four to live aboard for new! With them on my previous boat outboard option as it once did with its old 27 Catalina restudy process..., Smart, and allows the jib ’ s a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass on. Comes with a new home below, both huge builders seemed quite stiff well..., forward V-Berth and 2 setees that also form a catalina 270 review Dinette with a proper ship s!, 76 inches at the front, 76 inches at the swim deck on the )! Plumb bow and appears to get brittle well taken care of and nicely outfitted doesn t! Cleaning simple the stemhead ( one on the side decks closer to 8,000 fully loaded, is very in... And feels very stable in the same marina top gives the galley where it should be ; lays.