Proud new owner

[R.B.]

Hi Everyone. Just thought I would say hello. I purchased a new 2005 350 at the Toronto Boat show yesterday. I traded in my CS27 and will hopefully now have enough room for our family of 5. Since this is only the 2nd year it was available in Canada, we did not get to see this boat at last year's show. We were pleasantly surprised with this boat. We were considering the Tartan 3400, Beneteau 373, and Hunter 38. In the end we chose the 350. Now I can't wait for spring

R.B.

[Tim April IV]

Way to go! You will really enjoy your 350. Have you figured out a name yet?

There is a great community of owners and access to lots of information here. The email interchange (see the link on the C350 homepage) is also rather lively.

Bet you can't wait for the weather to turn.

Enjoy!

[LONGHAWK]

Welcome aboard!
The joy is just beginning. I'd love to hear about your experiences and sailing area. I sail on the Gulf Coast. I believe too that this forum and the emails are extremely useful. You will find hints that save much time (and possiblyprevent errors by seeing how others have done things).
The boat sails well.
Enjoy!
Sam
LONGHAWK # 173

[R.B.]

Thanks for the welcome! No we are still in the process of coming up with a name. We are still making sure we have all of the options that we want installed.

Anyone have any stories of taking delivery, only to realise that they are missing something?

-R.B.

[Mike Aston]

Your candidate list was very intriguing.
I think the Beneteau 373 looks a little tight in the forward cabin. but not much wrong with her otherwise.
I suspect the Hunter would be a nice boat to sail, and probably better than the C350 in light air, but much more expensive than the C350 and the accomodation is about the same.
You have to fall in love with the Tartan 3400. When I saw her I automatically calculated whether I could afford her, the fact that her internal volume is about 2/3 or less than the C350 did not seem important. With scads of carbon, a great sail handling system and a self tacking jib, and a hull not too far removed from the fast C&C designs, I think she is pointing to where a lot of boats will be in a few years time.
But at a base price of $15,000.00 more than the C350, before you add little details like, windlass, fridge, instruments, etc, it is very pricy.
Thankgoodness, the boat show is ended and I can get back to my boat and remember the great sailing I have had in her.

[R.B.]

Mike,
Yes it was a hard decision to make. Two years ago the 373 had 3 cabins and we fell in love with the model ( We have 3 kids ). Last year we fell in love with the Hunter 38 and went for a test sail on Lake Ontario the day the reminants of hurincane Katrina came through. Winds steady at 18-20 gusting to 25 with large swells. It was a great day. The Hunter had alot of sail area, sailed nice, was very stable, but also pricey. We came to this year's boat show with the idea of either the Hunter 38 or the 373. But then we saw the other boats. In the end the layout and price sold us on the Catalina although the Beneteau dealer made their price and options extremely attractive. By the time I was done dealing, they had already sold 3 373s half way through the show. The Tartan was the tough one. Beautilful boat inside and out. Wood work, equipment, fit and finish were great. Also the handling and sailing were apparently amazing. But in the end, the boat was too small and moving up in size in the Tartan line was too expensive.

I notice you sail out of Georgian Bay. We sail on Lake Huron maybe we'll see each other on the water.

-R.B.

[Mike Aston]

Maybe we shalll bump into each other in the North channel (metaphorically speaking)

[rrdimattia]

Just got home from this year's show and for the second year in a row my wife has fallen for the CatalinaMorgan 440. Anyone out there have any experiences sailing her? We still love our 2006 Catalina 350 but we find we are spending enough time aboard her to justify more living space.

Ralph DiMattia
EGINDA II
Williamsburg VA
rrdimattia@hotmail.com