AYS - Catalina 36 - Cruising world article 1995

Catalina 36 Mark II
"Best Value - Midsize Cruiser 1995"
Cruising World - April 1995
v21 n4 p92(4).
Author: Richard Henderson and Quentin Warren
Winner: "Best Value - Midsize Cruiser"

. . . What Catalina has accomplished in the 36 Mark II is to take a popular sailboat and make it better, significantly without infringing on the new vessel's one-design eligibility, and without turning the original vessel into a fossil. The feat is especially noteworthy given the pressure put on so many high-output production builders to saturate today's market with unabashed novelty. In the case of the 36 Mark II, Catalina avoids the "new, totally different, previously unavailable" vernacular and replaces it simply and sensibly with "new and improved." . . .

Construction And Execution
Catalina hand-laminates the hull out of solid glass and the deck out of glass with a marine plywood core. As noted, the hull-deck joint is of the shoe-box variety, double fastened by means of adhesive bonding and thru-bolts. An aluminum extrusion running the length of the boat does triple service: It finished the detail, it carries a high-impact vinyl rub rail, and it serves as a washer of sorts for the thru-bolts themselves.

Both hull and deck are reinforced structurally by liners heavily bonded into place. The deck is stiffened by a rigid liner that doubles as a finished overhead for the cabin interior. The hull is stiffened by a molded element that is essentially a liner, but might be considered more elaborate than that because it incorporates major architectural components such as settees, lockers and cabinets, and is designed to accept all rigging loads including torque and compression. The main chain plates, for example, terminate at hefty stainless knees that are bonded to the hull and bolted right through load-bearing sections of the liner. The liner laminate is of variable thickness depending on the structural constraints of a given area.

In the bilge, transverse floors built up of double- and triple-glassed timbers carry the mast step and the keel. These floors strengthen the hull below the waterline, offering added protection against the rigors of pounding and grounding, not to mention good purchase for the keel and a solid foundation for the rig. The keel itself is manufactured by Catalina and consists of cast lead hardened with antimony and supported on cast-in number-316 stainless keel bolts. Boat Of The Year judges remarked that the washers on these bolts appeared a bit small but, that notwithstanding, the design overall has plenty of integrity.

Systems And Mechanical
The 36 Mark II is powered by a 30-horsepower Universal diesel located behind a removable companionway element. Access for routine service is straightforward. Included are a 55-amp alternator and a bank of two 4-D deep-cycle batteries rated at 215 amp-hours each. The electrical scenario is well done, with a marine battery charger built in for shore-based charging, a complete 12-volt DC onboard system with monitors, breakers and a distribution panel, and an AC dockside package that includes six outlets and dedicated breakers. There is no wiring in the bilge; instead, a network of bonded-in PVC tubular races is installed behind the overhead during construction and all conduit is messengered through this.

Freshwater storage occurs in three separate tanks, two aft and one forward. It is plumbed to a valved manifold within a central mechanical locker located in the galley, which makes servicing and troubleshooting exceptionally convenient. In addition to the freshwater manifold, the locker houses a 12-volt water heater and pressure pumps for water usage to the galley and to head and stern showers. All galley thru-hulls are ABYC-approved Delrin. Essentially, the boat is set up for easy systems maintenance - without shortchanging you on the scope of those systems in the first place.

Observations
The Catalina 36 Mark II garnered Best Value honors in Cruising World's 1995 Boat Of The Year Midsize Cruiser category because it impressed our judges with the high level of its execution at an inherently reasonable price. The boat is attractive below, airy and bright, with a sensible package of mechanical perks and workable accommodations. It is fun to sail, responsive and weatherly, with good control at the helm and an easily managed sail plan. And finally, it is born of a proven pedigree, and makes no attempt to break what more than 1,000 owners already consider a decent mold.

Specifications: Catalina 36 Mark II
LOA 36[feet] 4[inches] (11.07 m.)
LWL 30[feet] 3[inches] (9.22 m.)
Beam 11[feet] 11[inches] (3.63 m.)
Draft (std fin) 5[feet] 10[inches] (1.78 m.)
Draft (shoal wing) 4[feet] 5[inches] (1.17 m.)
Ballast (std fin) 6,000 lbs. (2,718 kgs.)
Ballast (wing) 6,600 lbs. (2,990 kgs.)
Disp (std fin) 13,5000 lbs. (6,116 kgs.)
Disp (wing) 14,100 lbs. (6,387 kgs.)
Sail area (100% std) 555 sq.ft. (51.56 sq.m.)
Sail area (100% tall) 601 sq.ft. (55.83 sq.m.)
Mast clearance (std) 50[feet] 2[inches] (15.3 m.)
Mast clearance (tall) 52[feet] 2[inches] (15.9 m.)
Ballast/Disp .44/.47
Disp/Length 218/227
SA/Disp (std fin) 15.7/17.0
SA/Disp (shoal wing) 15.2/16.5
Fuel tankage 25 gal. (95 l.)
Water tankage 84 gal. (318 l.)
Auxiliary Universal M-35 30-hp. diesel
Cabin headroom 6 [feet] 3[inches] (1.9 m.)
Designer Gerry Douglas, Catalina

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