Catalina 323 vs 1979 O'Day 28 — Comparison
1979 O'Day 28
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Catalina 323 | 1979 O'Day 28 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Catalina | O'Day |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 1979–1985 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | USA | USA |
| Designer | Gerry Douglas | C. Raymond Hunt |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) | 8.53 m (28.0 ft) |
| LWL | 8.84 m (29.0 ft) | 7.01 m (23.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.25 m (10.7 ft) | 2.84 m (9.3 ft) |
| Draft | 1.75 m (5.7 ft) | 1.37 m (4.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 4,763 kg (10,501 lbs) | 2,722 kg (6,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,814 kg (3,999 lbs) | 1,089 kg (2,401 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 46.0 m² (495 ft²) | 31.0 m² (334 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 21 HP | 10 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 76 L (20.1 gal) | 38 L (10.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 151 L (39.9 gal) | 57 L (15.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 5 |
| Cabins | 1 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Catalina 323 and 1979 O'Day 28 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Catalina 323 is a 2000s design by Catalina from USA, while the 1979 O'Day 28 is a 1970s offering from O'Day from USA. The Catalina 323 was penned by Gerry Douglas. The 1979 O'Day 28 was designed by C. Raymond Hunt.
In terms of size, the Catalina 323 measures 9.75m (32.0ft) overall with a beam of 3.25m, compared to the 1979 O'Day 28 at 8.53m (28.0ft) with a 2.84m beam. The Catalina 323 is 1.22m longer than the 1979 O'Day 28. The Catalina 323 displaces approximately 75% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Catalina 323 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 16.51 and 46.0 m² of sail area. The 1979 O'Day 28, with an SA/D of 16.16 and 31.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Catalina 323 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Catalina 323 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 1979 O'Day 28 has a comfort ratio of 18.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.81. The ballast ratios are 38.1% for the Catalina 323 and 40.0% for the 1979 O'Day 28, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Catalina 323 provides 6 berths in 1 cabin with 151L of water capacity and 76L of fuel. The 1979 O'Day 28 offers 5 berths in 1 cabin with 57L water and 38L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1979 O'Day 28 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Catalina 323 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Catalina 323 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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