Continued C34 Production?

[Paul Blumenfeld]

While I like my C34 and this board I wish they would come out with a 37 1/2 LOA.  My marina and others allow 3ft over the size of the slip.  Since the C34 won't fit in a 30' slip I'm in a 35' slip which would berth something 3 ft larger for the same price.  The C380 needs to be just a few inches shorter.  The 'Admiral' would like a big centerline aft cabin and would then spend more nights at the islands.

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

The c350 is 36'5'' and the c36 is 37'9''. Either of those would fit.

[Paul Blumenfeld]

I don't find the C36 a big enough difference to change boats.  I like the C350 but it doesn't have the large aft cabin like the C38x's.  The front berth isn't bad but the Admiral doesn't like it.

There just isn't a perfect boat so in the meantime I'll keep enjoying the one I have!

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

when we were buying we looked at both the 36's and 34's and as nice as the 36's are, there was just something about the layout of the 34's that appealed to us and we preferred the aft haed.I don't think you'll get "bang for the buck" than the c34

[Stu Jackson]

and the world's LARGEST V berth.

[Ron Hill]

and the Mk I's very large head!! ....  along with excellent engine access!!   

[lazybone]

Well would an end to Catalina's production of the 34 be good or bad for owners and the association?
Does it matter?

[Stu Jackson]

Most likely...

The two sides of the possibilities:

1.  Boats gain greater value because they are one of the best boats of it's size, easy to singlehanded, perfect for a couple, all the stuff already written in FAQs, boat builder is still in business, parts always available, etc.

2.  People avoid interest because it's an "old" design, no longer in production, it's not "cool" to have an "old" boat - of course, missing the point

No reason for the company to NOT stop production if people are buying other boats with maybe not such great sea keeping abilities, bigger boats make more $$, etc.

Either way, so much is directly proportional to how well your boat is kept up and maintained.  Ours is 21 years old, as are many others, and in wonderful condition with upgraded systems, thanks a lot to this website and its contributors.

[waterdog]

I just bought a 19 year old boat.   The fact that they are still in production didn't make a bit of difference in purchase decision.    There is a big difference between a two year old MKII and and nineteen year old MK1 even if they are basically the same boat.    I was comparing to other boats of similar price and vintage.    Having a strong association and a resource to draw on had a big appeal.   So value is probably more heavily influenced by the number of boats out there and their popularity and involvement of the owners.  Long term availability of parts etc is more dependent on size of the production run than anything else.

Now if you own a very new MKII it's probably a different deal.   The latest model Beneteau or Hunter or whatever that is still in production might have a slight advantage over a discontinued Catalina.   But in five years it won't make a bit of difference.   It's the boat that matters.   Look at a ten year old Hunter and it looks like a dated design sitting next to a C34 ten years older. 

If Catalina is still in business, it probably doesn't make a bit of difference if the model is discontinued.   

[Roc]

I think the bottom line comes to profits.  Ultimately, a company is in business to make money, if they don't, they're out of business.  A company is going to put resources into products that would generate the highest profit with items that consumers want.  There would come a time when volumes of a particular product are not big enough to sustain the effort, and it makes more sense to commit resources toward another product (i.e. 320, 350?).  Maybe the orders for a C34 while still coming in, are at the point where Catalina feels they should target more effort in other sizes.  I work in the consumer products business in a very large company that makes products you use everyday.  Even if an item generates $1-2MM a year (a lot for us!), that might not be worth supporting and it's delisted.

The other thing I noticed is over the past several years, boat builders created a product line that had models available in one foot size increments.  That's when boat sales were flying through the roof and the company was able to sustain such a varied offering.  From what I see now, things have been softer, so builders may need to scale back.  I can see Catalina adjusting their line by updating it with the '0' models (310, 320, 350) and separating the sizes with more than just a one foot increment.

I'm interested to see what models will be shown at the upcoming Annapolis show.  I think last year, the C34 was not there.

I certainly would feel bad if the C34 would float no more in the Catalina product line.  But I am sure glad I got one when I did because she's such a wonderful boat to sail!

[Larry Robertie]

Roc,

At the Newport show this past weekend the Catalina's that were there were the - 440 Morgan (butt ugly, in my opinion), 42 with a Pullman berth, 387, 350, 320, 309, and surprisingly... a 28!  The presentation was put on by a broker, Eastern Yacht Sales, not Catalina.

I agree with waterdog's assessment that discontinuing production on any given model probably will not affect resale value for existing boats.  It's a different market, but I do think the new boat market, regardless of make/model, influences sales for used.  In fact, last year I had gone to the Newport show and sat with a salesman, going over the numbers for a new 310.  I had every intention of buying one, but after looking at the cost it was about 12% higher than I had anticipated.  Not huge, but enough to give pause.  Just as a "safety" measure I asked what else he had in slightly used and was pointed to Ruach.  I made an offer 1/2 hour after stepping on her.  Probably would have made the offer from the dock had the admiral not been with me.

As for what Catalina is going to do, I think it more beneficial that the company and it's brand does well.  Capital is a finite commodity and, as you suggest, a good company will put their capital to work on products that earn it the highest internal rate of return.  That's just good business sense.

[DougP]

 
As much as I would like to see the C34 remain in production, I'm much more concerned at seeing a financially sound Catalina.
I keep wondering how many new boats bought in the past 5-10 years were paid for by tapping home equity. If that resource continues to tighten and/ or shrink I suspect new boat sales could be impacted quite a bit.

[lazybone]

This summer, we visited a couple of Catalina dealers, and neither of them were too anxious to quote or even discuss the C34.  Neither of the dealers even included the C34 in their pricing lists and model comparisons and summaries.  In both cases, the C350 was the model being "pushed."  While not actually saying so, the strong impression being communicated was that C34 production was about to end.  Has Catalina announced any plans to discontinue the C34? 

Maybe someone else with a better memory can fill in the blank but I can't remmember the last time I saw a 34 at a boat show (Atlantic City, Annapolis & Philly) and I've been going for more than a few years.  I don't think Catalina ever "pushed" our boat.

[David Arnold]

I purchased a new 34 at the Newport Boat Show in September of 2004 which is the last time I saw a 34 at that or any other boat show I have gone to.  I liked the interior volume of the 35, the salon of the 36 but overall the best bang for the buck was without question the 34.  I have no regrets and anytime I go to a boat show I look at other boats and nothing measures up (in my eyes) to the 34.  Great Boat!

[Wayne]

This past April at the Strictly Sail at Jack London Square (Oakland) both a 34 and a 36 were represented.