New Vancover 36 - a big boys Contessa 32?

[Seven Spades]

Is this the boat many have been dreaming of or simply old fashoned?

Link

Seriosuly, it looks a very nice yacht. I partically like the inclusion of a pilot bearth. I can't tell from the photo if it has a wheel or tiller.

 

[johnphilip]

WANTED
LOTTERY WINNER TO FUND VANCOUVER 36. Sailing lessons offered in return for half share of vessel.

 

[stevebirch2002]

The guy seems to be steering with a wheel in the photo. Looks a great yacht....

 

[MoodySabre]

That would do for me!

It says in the description that it has a wheel.

Big bucks me thinks

 

[Steve_N]

But why do you say 'new' Vancouver 36, or am I missing something? The 36 was built (only 11 of them in fact) back in 1989 and the early 90s before being replaced by the 38.

 

[Dyflin]

According to the drop down menu it is indeed a new 36

 

[Steve_N]

So it is, indeed - my apologies.

"Today, an updated version of the Vancouver 36 is now available"

Reborn I guess..

 

[Salty John]

I've just run the numbers through my ratio calculator and she looks a seriously good cruising boat.
The displacement/length ratio is 390, somewhat heavier than the Contessa 32 at 300, up there with the Nic 31 (409).
Length to beam is a healthy 3:1, a bit beamier than the Contessa, about the same as the Vancouver 32. Ballast ratio is a 40%, again about the same as the Vancouver 32 and less than the Contessa; she will have some stability from her broader beam.
Definitely not an ultralight flyer then! A good solid blue water cruising boat, I'd say. Now, where's my lotto ticket?!

 

[Lizzie_B]

This is the real big boy's Contessa 32, and for a faction of the cost of the Vancouver!!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

For all the gen see www.catalina38.org

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Bajansailor]

The Catalina 38 - a big boys Contessa 32?

A very fine vessel indeed - and as you say, available in the USA for considerably less than a Vancouver of the same vintage.
Is yours the deep or 'shallow' fin? I am guessing you have 'shallow', for the Chesapeake.
I would think that 4' 11" should be plenty deep enough for most cruising, while that 6' 9" version must really be a witch to windward!
The deeper version might not be too happy though if she had to dry out while leaning against a wall...... the 'shallow' version would be much happier with that long flat keel.

Edit - For all Forumites - I just saw a link to the Cruising World Sailor's Sourcebook on the Catalina 38 website - hundreds of fine sailing vessels from pre 1998 described here.
Have a look at http://old.cruisingworld.com/ssbk/ssboandx.htm

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: The Catalina 38 - a big boys Contessa 32?

Mine is actually a 6 feet special done under Catalina's supervision before they started making the shoal drafts in FL.

So I get the best of both worlds, she is still a witch to windward (the nice deep rudder helps) and 6 ft is just about liveable with in the Chesapeake.
I have even been into Fairlee Creek (charted depth at entrance 2ft) with the help of some locals /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

They go downwind really well too.
Why I think they're a big boys Contessa is that if you look at the side profile drawings on the makers catalogues for both they are extremely similar in outline.
'Course the accommodation on the 38 is much more spacious.

They're still competitive and a C38 (Harp) has yet again won the SF Bay winter series. This year she won every one of her races (see www.415images.com click on sail)

A friend sails a deep fin version out of Annapolis but I haven't noticed any great difference in performance, But then that could be my superior sailing skills /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif (sorry Rob) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Actually the shoals are pretty close winded, but not quite as fast through the tack as the deep fin boats.

 

[Talulah]

We very nearly bought a Vancouver. The wife really liked it but a snooty salesman at the Southampton Boat Show put her off. ("I'm not sure your the type of customer we sell to." was the quote from the sales guy.) The same salesman was equally snooty at the following London Boat show so we bought a Najad instead. No regrets.

 

[davies]

Yes, Chichester folk can be a bit snotty. An old West Sussex guy once said to me "Chidister - that ain't Sussex, that's London!".