Blue water sailboat - Catalina 36 - Episode 159 - Lady K Sailing 

I knew an owner that made a few trips on his Catalina 36 Mark II many times from Norfork to Bermuda, and at over 80 years old. Though, he wasn't alone, as he reminded me, not to do it alone, if I try it. Loved his Catalina, but crossing oceans it's not what she was designed for. But Bahamas, and Caribbean, of course. RIP my friend Les.

I've been binging your channel for a few months. Just wanna say that solo Lady K is the most kino era! Feels less like "oh another couple trying to look cool on the internet", and more "it's like I have a buddy who does this and he's showing me what it's like!"

Sam Holmes goes all over the World in his Cape Dory 28.

I’m currently prepping my Catalina 42 Mk2 to cruise the Caribbean & do a Trans Atlantic. Any well built vessel is capable with a decent skipper, and the right prep. Adding additional fuel, redundancy in filters, auto pilot, rudder/steering/sails/ground tackle. The internet makes it sound as if you aren’t sailing in a 35,000 lb. full keel, canoe stern boat, you’re gonna die! Great channel BTW!

Love your channel. Thanks for this episode. I do like the Catalina 36 and have wanted one for some time. I presently have a 1989 O’Day 322. I bought the boat in late 1998 to start a sailing school in Vancouver. One must have was a dedicated aft cabin and I could only find that on bigger boats that were out of my price range. Then I found the O’Day. She’s really been a great boat. Have you thought about doing an episode on the 322? It’s a great boat for the Caribbean. She carries 60 gal of water in two tanks, draws 4’2” and has a really well laid out large interior for a 32. In fact my wife and I are currently living aboard in Campbell River, BC while we wait for a house to be built.

We are new to the Catalina 36 world (mkII) but in the short time we've had her on the Chesapeake I've been mightily impressed with her predictable performance and her construction. While that stretch of water is equivalent to inland for the most part, we've been in some significant chop and wind and the boat brushed it aside without a problem - confidence inspiring. A bit like yourself I'd struggle to take her across an ocean, but we are going cruising through the caribbean with a young family next year and I have no concerns at all for that purpose. While the interior will never set the world alight, the practical use of space is excellent for live aboard - modern boat cockpit design has improved substantially for short handed sailing, but below deck I've found that modern equivalents from Hanse, Catalina, etc haven't substantially improved the usable space (IMO they are much more wasteful of that extra space caused by the beam being carried to the transom). Thank you for posting this - was wondering this out loud myself the other day!

Patrick Childress (RIP 2020) sailed around the world on a Catalina 27 (modified for the task). Webb Chiles on a Moore 24 and an 18 foot open yawl. In my opinion it comes down to seamanship over boat design. Amel designs boats for a common man to cross an ocean, someone with proper knowledge and seamanship can cross an ocean on a common boat,

Thanks for the information. Good to know when trying to keep things safe.

Thanks for these great episodes. Your a wealth of great knowledge. I currently own a 2006 Catalina 36. It’s a great boat as you said. I have also owned two Hunters that were very comfortable and would buy one again if the right one came along. With that being said hands-down my Catalina 36 outperforms them under sail. Also the quality of the Catalina I feel is better.

I just bought a Catalina 36 MkII out of Etobicoke. Thanks for your channel. 😀

My definition has somewhat changed since I started sailing a little over a year ago. Back then I believed the hardcore hype that a TRUE bluewater boat had to have a full keel first and foremost. After getting a little wiser and now owning a Baba 30 I would certainly consider a boat with a skeg hung rudder but that’s as much as I’ll slide on an Atlantic crossing boat. My boat is one of the few true bluewater boats in the 30’ range weighing in at 12,500lb (5k is ballast) with a full keel, solid fiberglass hull, 80 gallons of fresh water, she’s cutter rigged, and has a decent 4.75ft draft. She is a typical full keel boat though, with zero steerage in reverse or anytime you aren’t moving a couple knots… lol.

I recently purchased a Pearson 386 and absolutely love it. Next couple of years I plan to sail it all around Lake Ontario with the goal of going to the Caribbean and some day get to the Mediterranean. I do believe she could handle it.

That was a really good yarn. Keep 'em coming!

Just came from your most recent video to this one, its a darn nice boat that ive added to my wants list for retirement.......so many to choose from

I love your channel. I nearly bought a C36 last year to sail the islands. For my purposes of island hopping and my budget, the C36 seemed perfect. Would I sail it across the Atlantic? Sure.

Owned, including a transpac (CA - HI), my 87 Catalina 34. I love it.

I really like these episodes, you should consider doing a series on some of your favorite locations to sail. Maybe it's a certain island in the Bahamas or maybe some famous routes In the Pacific.

Great video!!!

Not sure I would feel comfortable beating to windward for an extended amount of time (Days or Weeks) in the C36, but traveling in the right direction crossing oceans I would have no worries with this boat. I heard of a few that have crossed the Pacific and are now in Australia. Depends on your comfort level for this boat.

Yes. Yes I would.

No, for me personally an integral keel and skeg hung rudder are a must, I'm preparing my chined corten steel Van De Stadt 34' with the 1.8m fin keel and selden fractional performance rig for a solo Atlantic crossing from Cape Town SA to the Dutch Antilles in early 2022, just paid the best part of 6.5K$ for a Hydrovane auxiliary rudder self steering windvane, how about an episode on the VDS 34' with all it's different hull materials, keel, rudder and rig configurations including the Dehler optima 34' (VDS 34') Theyre a great little blue water (even high latitude capable) boat if built from aluminium or steel, I have 360 litres of fresh water in 2 stainless tankes, along with another 125 L in gerry cans on deck, 180L diesel in one stainless tank and another 125 on deck, 420Ah house bank, 100Ah fridge/freezer/windlass battery and 80Ah crank on 2 Victron mppt's and 555 watts of solar, DVSR and high output alternator, karver reaching gennaker, 120% genoa brand new from Ullman, 3 slab reefs in my main and a storm staysail on a dyneema removable solent stay (hanks). We've got 17.7 knots SOG surfing off Aghulhas with 30 knots up the bum and big following seas in excess of 3m breaking. She doesn't roll a lot like a round hull, tracks superbly, points higher than 35°(with the solent staysail) and She can surf, average around 7 knots SOG in light airs and will do 9 to 10 reaching in 20+. She'd actually make a great little Cape to Rio boat

Another great video. I would like to see a video on the Grampian design in particular G2-34.

We have a Hunter 37.5 (in small part to you Hunter video) which slightly exceeds some of the notes you make about the C36. Love the boat and plan to take her South next year but Blue Water she is not. Big storms, tall seas and the like are not the issue. Surviving a full speed collision with a semi submerged shipping container is. These types of boats can survive storms (not comfortably) but can not take a hit.

Would love to hear your review of the Pearson 323 one day. Thanks Love these make and model overviews.

Just picked up a c34mk2 😁. Better fit for my marinas and I prefer the aft head for Vancouver Island rainy days. Cheers!

Great work breaking down the good decision points. Myself, I'm researching swing keel boats for sailing close to the wind when keel is down deep and many advantages of raised keel for shallow anchorage and river/canal traffic. We are in Europe so the French and German canals to/from the Med are important short cuts like the ICEW on the USA East coast. Then, someday if possible, how about your comments on aluminum built boats like AluBat ONVI 42ft? They are hard to find and in demand. Thanks.

Sea kindly. This is a subject that many boat reviewers often fail to discuss. It is perhaps the most required characteristic of any ocean crossing sailboat. A sea kindly boat will suffer less damage and abuse its crew less than than flat bottomed pounders. Many much older boats from the CCA era were of such design. If the boat was sound and had an easy motion at sea I would have no problem sailing a Cat 36 across an ocean. But I have never sailed on one. I did sail a lot on a Cat 38 but that boat was an S&S design if I recall correctly and from a different era. It was a comfortable boat in a wide variety of conditions.

I'm considering a Mk I. Thanks for the info

Got the 34 mkii. No complaints just smiles. West Coast. Did well around pt conception downwind in the afternoon. Said screw it let's see what happens and not go to Morrow Bay

I can tell you one thing more Beneteaus have crossed more oceans than any other boat in the world . Sailing Bacchus home sailed from UK to New Zealand across Atlantic and Pacific 361 no Issues ,so did See the little things 361, and a 351 has sailed the Atlantic many times wining the Ostar race from UK to USA in norhtern atlantic Plymouth to Newport single handed

Actually, most Catalina 36 MKII's are closer to 20,000 lbs. Also, the wing keel version on the 36 only has a draft of 4'3".

Great episode ❤

I always hate the guys on forums who answer the "blue water" question, with "depends on the condition of the boat and the skill of the sailor". Yes, we know that already dude. We know that a skilled sailor can sail a San Juan 21 across the Pacific. What people are asking, is a boat, properly equipped, capable of an ocean crossing without a major disaster under normal conditions?

hmmm, i guess I would consider it given the right time of year and a good weather window. it wouldn't be my first choice by any stretch

I sail a SS catalina 38 with the tumblehome sides . It has 8 shrouds 4 on each side very thick . It is an IOR boat from 1982,16500 lbs. I would go any where with this boat but would bring along storm sails and add a stay sail to it.

Australian build clansman 30 🤟 love the videos!!!! Keep up the amazing work

As many have said in the comments loads have crossed oceans in Beneteau and other production boats but for real assurance I would want an integral keel and skeg hung rudder. Older boats such as a Tayana are geared for this but in new boats they are impossible to find

I have seen many mentions of Endeavors but never a real dedicated show on them, would love to see one.

Very interesting. I’d like to see an episode on the island packet IP31 from the mid ‘80s

While I was at a marina in east Florida four years ago, my two next slip neighbors were both 90s Catalinas 36 Mark IIs. One, original owner. Both had factory installed control lines led aft and winches. Love the lines, and the cabin layout, including that aft cabin, was great. One of them went from Florida to Bermuda, and back a few times. The walkthrough transom was another nice feature. I would say, low end blue water, but and excellent island hopper. Wish I had one.

I think a better question is: "Would you cross the *Pacific* in this boat?"

I just purchased a 1/4 share in a 1985 Newport 27. I would love to see you make a video on that boat. I'm on the west coast and it is docked in Marina Del Rey.

I ownwd a C30 and crewed on a C36 on Lake Ontario which had the same Westerbeke 3 cyl. I personally found the engine in the 36 to be under-powered when in foul weather

Thank you for your videos. The Cat 36 is on my short list. My wife and I will be moving aboard and sailing the Bahamas down to the BVI’s and up the east coast. I have also been strongly considering the Cat 42/425. How would you compare these two vessels for my listed sailing grounds? Thanks again!

Catalinas were designed primarily for the waters off Southern Ca. They excel at coastal cruising the Channel Islands. However, they will also be found cruising all over the world. Not a lot of tankage for long trips but the hull, keel and rigging strength is quite adequate to hold together in heavy weather. You never hear of these boats losing their keels. They sail well and point high. They can definitely do blue water safely if set up properly. The "Catalina Hall Of Fame" has many 36s that have done some serious offshore sailing. Having sailed our C30 for over 10 yrs and our C36 for 6 yrs in S Ca, I can say that although they look similar, the 36 is a much stronger and more capable boat. For these waters there is not a better boat for the money, however, if I were to plan extended offshore sailing, particularly Tradewind passages, I would look for something with more tankage, stowage and better tracking ability downwind. You don't need a tank to sail offshore.

We have a 1978 37.5 Endeavour, have just pulled her out and made every update that we were recommended to do by yard and Survey. New bottom job, got rid of one thru hull, and added one for a secondary electric (independent battery, and thru hull ) bilge pump. New Raymarine radar complete with wind direction, auto pilot and all the bells. We have the original Perkins and we have kept her in tip top shape. New sails and lines. New paint everywhere ( awl grip 2000). repacked the shaft and bought new VHF and two hand held radios. What am I missing ? We will be leaving in a few weeks for a month run towards the keys to try her out. We do not have davits so we are working on stowing out 12foot dingy with 20 hp motor on deck???? Then we plan on living aboard for a few years or until we cant manage, we are fat old (62 years years) fairly fi,t avid, weekly/ short term (weeks aboard at a time) sailors. Reply and we will become loyal Patrons :) Thanks Kathryn Miller SV The Bayview Cafe Panama City FL

Kinda curious to hear what you think of the Pearson vanguard. I have a 1965 model and think she handles beautifully on blue water. I know they are famous for circumnavigation but I sometimes question the rig when facing 30 foot or higher swells

I would. But only after I became very familiar with the boat. I would have a robust steering vane system, with a lot of spare parts, and a bullet proof roller furler for the jib. I would think nothing of going up one size bigger than the size recommend. If I didn't reinforce the hull and rigging, I would sail very conservatively, like some of the voyagers I am following on RU-vid. I would avoid putting extra stress on the hull any way I could. And I would pick my crossing time very carefully. By reading about ocean voyagers for decades, I have learned that the most important part of the boat is the tiller nut. And no. I don't mean a piece of metal. If I decided to keep the boat, I would probably reinforce it. Just about everyone I watch has moved the chain plates to the side of the hull, if they weren't there already. This is a move I would certainly copy.

Get a kick of of these ...captains....Lost all nav on the way to Nassau...C'mon 100 miles from Miami...you can't miss it. Wait until GPS gets shut down....and to think all these old salts were merely landlubbers until the advent of GPS. haha For crossings we were still using sextants on the big container ships until sat. nav arrived in 1979.

Older Leopard Catamarans used to be delivered across the ocean under sail. Newer ones are delivered across the ocean on a cargo vessel. The newer one’s hulls flex considerably more and it’s arguable they are not designed to go across open ocean. This could be an interesting all be it controversial topic for an episode. It rings true to your explanation of reinforcement in hulls and your definition of blue water sailing vessels. Thoughts?

Totally agree with you. I'd be willing to take one as far as the Turks and Caicos, maybe even as far as the BVIs. And once I was there, I'd probably start talking to myself about how I might as well carry on to Sint Marteen for a case of Guavaberry Liqueur, and gee, St. John's isn't that much farther, and Martinique and Guadaloupe not much further than that, and before I'd know it I'd be in Grenada wondering what happened. But while I'd probably be perfectly happy to lose four months sailing a Catalina 36 down to the Windward Islands, I wouldn't spend one week sailing from Norfolk to Bermuda at gunpoint. A whole lot can happen in seven days and hundreds of miles from shore....

How about an episode about the old Newport 30 MKII? Love to hear what you have to say about the old Gary Mull design and the following version by the house design team

Love the channel! Could you do an episode on Bruce Roberts 345. There is almost nothing on YT about the boat or it’s history. Tbh it was a struggle to find out much about BR.

How about Nordic 37? I'm looking for a boat that can get me to the Azores, Northern Europe/Scandinavia and back through the Caribbean. I completed my Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising course on a Catalina 36 out of Granville Island. It was a 5 day liveaboard course cruising in the Strait of Georgia with a total of 5 people on board. This has become my minimum standard (if budget allows) when boat hunting to have the aft cabin.

coastal cruising and island hopping would we great, give me the Catalina 38 S&S for offshore and making an ocean crossing. all of their holding tanks are really small for the task

I sailed a 1985 36 Catalina for around 2 years. It was NOT my boat but we sailed it every day and did do some cruising with it like west coast of Florida down to the keys and dry Tortugas. It was a great boat for that. I sailed it to get my experience i needed to get my boat and I don't thank we ever had to fix her she just worked very well. She only drew 5 feet so I don't know where you got that 6 foot draft from we rean her around almost every day. She was tide bound and until we had hight tide she was not going out the Chanel so we know exactly what she drew. I loved her but we did not want to sail her in any kind of weather. For that reason we were stuck in the dry Tortugas for 7 days longer than expected. But other than that its was a great sailboat.

Another great job. Do you know what insurance company offers sea rescue coverage_ Thanks

I would cruise it across an ocean but it is too small for anymore than one person, over 40 ft for ocean sailing for me. fine build quality and amenities. good boat

Would be nice if you could zoom in on IOR boats and the design. I own Marionette wich is an 46ft IOR boat. And i love the history. In every harbour i visite there will be someone who knows her. And as a result you get the most amazing story’s.

We just crossed the Gulf Stream, West Palm Beach, Florida to West End, Bahamas in our 2020 Corsair 880 Sport Trimaran, with no issues and the Corsair is only 29 feet long, so anything is possible......

Great episode. I'd appreciate your thoughts on a Catalina 445...

I own a 1984 cat 36 here in NZ-i have not blue water sailed-only Coastal NZ-but it got here from LA-Hawaii-Tahiti-Raro-Noumea-NZ-then has done many Pacific Island trips over the years-Fiji-Tonga-Vanuatu-it flew thru survey last year and is CAT 1 certified -except life raft is currently out of date-I love it-but am way short on skills to head up Pacific at this stage-in fact probably never will-but coastal NZ sailing its brilliant -just saying !!

I'm current, I think. Cheers.

If you could go back in time, and buy a different boat other than Lady K which one would you choose?

Let's discuss a Marieholm IF

Would love to see an episode on my boat, the San Juan 21.

Love to see an episode about the Pacific seacraft 37... is it "Bluewater" 🤔

What do you think about the Catalina 380? Feels like a 42 and is quite a bit heavier than the 36. Falls very close on that line as well I think.

i've seen catalina 28's that have crossed to bimini no problem. hell, even a macgregor 26x has made the crossing. just need to pick a good weather window.

I love this channel, very informative. One suggestion - use a little less jargon (like 'IOR') to make it more accessible to beginners, OR consider explaining the terms with captions on the screen or in the description box.

If you do decide to do an episode on the O'Day 322 I would be happy to provide photos and video. In fact I also have sailing channel and a colab might be worth thinking about.

Ok so what's the general opinion on power vs sail? Larger power to be "blue water" capable vs sail? Although I follow your channel, and really enjoy your vids, my dream is to motor through the Bahamas on a 35-45' powerboat, for weeks/months every winter in retirement.

What do you think of a c&c redwing30? Capable? Not sure it’s ready for blue water

Look into these… 1976 Hunter 30 1963 Seawind 30 mk I

If its less than 18k, I'm staying close to shore. Crossing oceans is about mitigating risks, not taking them needlessly.

I have a Moody 422 , it has a bolt-on keel with a skeg hung rudder how would you rate it as a bluewater capable boat ? I don't intend to use it for high latitude sailing but expect it to circumnavigate.

Can you do a video on the Cal 40?

Interesting as always. Have you made an episode on a CS 36..?

I know you had already done an episode on hunters sailboat. Yes spoke lie about the 40, What do you feel that’s the passages are the same as the rest of the hunters or do you think their bills quality difference?

1981 Stewart 36.8 Boston boat-works Mark Lindsay Sailboat

If you do another video that mentions cruising The Bahamas, please mention that The Bahamas on Nov 9, 2021 for vaccinated cruisers, ended the requirement for getting a negative covid-19 test every 5 days while island hopping. That previous requirement for inter-island travel would have been burdensome and expensive.

Erickson 35 MKII thoughts??

I would depend on the CE rating. If CE is A then it is blue water.

Do one on the Catalina 30 🐙🐙🐙

I would like your views on the Hunter 26.

Tim: you mentioned you wouldnt cross an ocean on your boat not a catalina 36 but would you cross on an alberg 30 your dream boat as you mentioned?

cat 36' most definitely would go blue water with it. just need to mind the weather window time frame.

could ya do an Irwin 38cc , general info before i buy one

How about florida or usvi. I own now as of a few weeks ago. Selling a hunter Cherubini 37, for a Catalina 36 mk 2. My plans are too set sail in January ans not come back for @ 5 months . What’s ur questions ans thoughts.

You are reasonable about all this. The Catalina 36 is a very livable boat for limited use, which in reality, is what most people do anyway. It has limited tankage, but overall a very pleasant boat. I have a "Bluewater boat" but it involves tradeoffs. With a keel-stepped mast, heavy solid fiberglass construction, overbuilt by most standards, great tankage, external chain plates and a full keel, she is not made for easy close in maneuverability and at 37 ft LOA, she weights about 20,000. Skookums were made to cross oceans, but not a great choice for a coastal cruiser.

I’m going to be buying a boat very soon to travel the world I was wondering your thoughts on Hans Christian.

Hey lady K how about a Beneteau First 42s7!

Can you do a show on a Nicholson 35, are you acquainted with them? Thanks

Airways learn something, thanks!

Title-blue water sailboat-Catalina? Hmmm. Bit of a contradiction. While it’s true, a not so great sailor, could probably take a true blue water vessel across a rough ocean, and survive. The reverse is also true great sailor can take a non-Bluewater sailboat across the ocean, proven by many sailors including Eric ans Sven. Sven builds and takes these tiny little sailboats across the ocean, and Eric Aanderaa takes a small sailboat through crazy North seas during storms. ( incredible channel for intense sailing) I’ve been searching for a good boat for the last year, and would like to find a boat that was built much stronger than I’ll ever put it through. I like overbuilt, not “ just enough so it works” Recently watched a video on Kraken boats- and I think the owners name is Bill ( he’s in all the videos). Somewhere he has a list of the eight or nine criteria that would make up a true blue sailing boat 1. An integrated Keel-no Bolt-on keels. Hull and keel one piece To me this makes sense 2. Full skeg hung hung Rudder. Protect your steering!!!! And you’ll have to research his videos to get the rest of his list Something that I’m curious about -are there any unsinkable boats out there ? like a Boston whaler ?These boats cannot be sunk but you can’t take that across the ocean it’s too small (maybe Sven could , lol) why aren’t sailboats made this way ? Unsinkable? so in the worst possible conditions , you’ve lost your sails, your mast broke off , you could at least secure your hatches go down below and ride out the roller coaster storm in your submarine unsinkable boat . seems to make sense . I imagine the cost would be too high for most. But shouldn’t safety be the number one priority? Your life is worth more than that. In my search I was looking for something comfortable to live in, and travel. however I’ve re-defined my search criteria and now I’ve started looking at older boats. Many of them have been over built or built with the proper materials and seem stronger built ? ( if they are in good shape 30-50 years after construction-should say something about the quality ) Can Lady K do an episode of some good older boats? I have difficulty sorting out the nicer newer fluffy stuff (Jenneau’s or beneteaus) and overlook the 40 year old (Tayana?) hard to sort out which is a better deal for the money. Great channel Lady K. Love your material. (Need some more sailing vids, when’s your next big trip?). Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Do you think an Island Packet 31 would make a better blue water sailboat than a Catalina 36?

Odd one for you bayliner buccaneer 270 need pics or anything let me know

Interesting video. Good question too. My answer is no and this is why. Pthe two things I look at carefully are the capsize, and comfort ratio. 20-30 is considered coastal crusing and the Catalina is very low at 23+ on the comfort ratio and above 2 on the capsize formula. Your Hughes 35 much better suited in both areas at 28+ and 1.81. My Colombia 10.7 is 29+ and 1.87 and I plan on crossing oceans with her. You also mentioned the Amel 54. I was surprised to find this boat is only slightly better suited than yours and mine and doesn't technically make the cut either but as you mentioned Brian had be doing it for years. If I ever upgrade I'll go for a CSY 44. You turned me on to this boat and it's well within the bluewater 30-40 range. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I want one someday. Love you chanel, I watch every video!

Catalac 10M :-) Solid, skinny cat built in the UK for the North Sea

I would like to see something on a Irwin 30 Citation 1977