[C320-list] FOR SALE: Catalina 320 Sailboat

[Karl Mielenhausen via C320-list]

Reluctantly, we have decided to sell our 2000 Catalina 320 sailboat. Silver
Lining has served us well but it is the right time to have someone else
take her on new adventures.
We wanted to offer her here before we list her with a broker. Asking $
52,000. Located in New Bern, NC
Please pass this along to anyone who you think may be interested.

For more info, go to this link...
https://tinyurl.com/C320H690

Karl and Elaine Mielenhausen
252 649 4978

[pat reynolds via C320-list]

Karl and Elaine,  Thank you for your dedication and service as Commodore and members.

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

Seems like many boats on the market recently. The economy, or are people just aging out and/or losing interest?

My cruising club has dwindled to no one. Many quit in their late 70s or even 80s. Others found the escalating costs of marinas, insurance, parts and labor to be too much. (Pickleball is free!)

Younger people don't join because they're aren't retiring at 55 anymore due to the cost of living. When they have the time to cruise, they are already in their late 60s. They're opting for little powerboats so they can putter around in the canals.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of pat reynolds via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 10:19 AM
To: c320...@catalina320.com <c320...@catalina320.com>
Cc: pat reynolds <lora...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] FOR SALE: Catalina 320 Sailboat

[David Nolte via C320-list]

Yes, Karl, sorry to hear that and thank you both very much for all that you did for the fleet!

David Nolte
Beach House 00004
Severna Park, MD

David Nolte

[SARA SCHROEDER via C320-list]

I'm seeing the same thing up here in the Pacific Northwest.

I run a sailing program in which we teach a sailing course with 60 students each year. I need 8-10 skippers who are willing to help teach both in-class and on the water. We all use our own vessels. Last year I was able to recruit three new "younger" skippers who did an amazing job! I lost all of them this year as they are selling their boats due to the rising cost of moorage and upkeep. One of them was in a partnership and they couldn't make it work financially even with two people.

It's sad what's happening as the divide between between who can afford to stay in the game and those wanting to get in the game is widening. Given my current skippers and I are aging, we're talking about the future fate of the program. No boats = No course.

Sara
Wandering Star
Seattle
#707/2000

[Phil Dubiel via C320-list]

Purchased my 320 at the age of 70...4 years ago. It's a great hobby. I
teach sailing on Tuesdays and club racing on Wednesdays. I'm doing
everything I can to stay in shape. I plan to sail well into my 80s. Then
the grandkids can have the boat...if they take me sailing with them.

[Karl Mielenhausen via C320-list]

Aging out.
Less upper-body strength.
Thankfully my reactions are still good enough for pickleball!

Karl

[Greg Flanagan via C320-list]

Good luck with giving it to the grandkids. I offered mine to my children, Erin (41) and Tom (39) and they don’t want it. “Too costly to dock and maintain “. I will probably be selling next year.

Greg
Hoop Dancer #1076
Sidney, BC

> On Mar 31, 2026, at 3:44 PM, Phil Dubiel via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Purchased my 320 at the age of 70...4 years ago. It's a great hobby. I

[David Nolte via C320-list]

Hi Phil,

Where are you located? I am truly curious to hear where you are doing that.

(in future emails please sign off with your Boat name, year, and location. Please see below ;-)

Best,

David Nolte
Beach House 0004
Severna Park, MD

David Nolte

[Phil Dubiel via C320-list]

I figured the dock fees and upkeep would still be mine.

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

Yes, yes and yes!
Dave Hupe 
1994 C320 #32
Holland MI 
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

On Tue, Mar 31, 2026 at 11:58 PM, Jack Brennan via C320-list<c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: Seems like many boats on the market recently. The economy, or are people just aging out and/or losing interest?

[Greg Flanagan via C320-list]

Pretty generous Phil. I hope they use the boat and take you out frequently.

Best,

Greg

> On Apr 1, 2026, at 2:13 AM, Phil Dubiel via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> I figured the dock fees and upkeep would still be mine.

[Troy Dunn via C320-list]

I remember in 2018 that a lot of the marinas on the Chesapeake were
starting to struggle with this issue. COVID came along and suddenly
everyone bought a boat. Now reality is setting in for those boat owners
and the trend is just picking up where it left off… we were having similar
issues with the fly fishing club I belong to and I hear similar stories
from many outdoor clubs. At least for the sailors…our primary source of
movement is the wind?

Troy Dunn
Hull #514

[Brian Hill via C320-list]

Hi y'all,

This will be my first post ever to the Catalina 320 group. I am, as of
December 9, the proud owner of *Knot to Worry.* I have already solved a
couple of problems that were found during inspection and started outfitting
her with fancier life jackets, tools, etc. I am grateful to the chain of
people that kept *Knot to Worry* in good enough condition for me to take
her over. The brokers handling the sale were professional and
straight-shooting.

I'm replying to this thread to inject some positivity, and request more. It
may be true that a certain generation of people are aging out who were well
off enough to sail, were intelligent and responsible enough to take on
skippering a keelboat, and wanted to learn the ins and outs of maintaining
their boats. But let's hope more newbies will rotate in! I am not yet at
all confident of handling *Knot to Worry.* I have sailing experience, but
on dinghies, not keelboats, except as crew. I have been getting some
lessons, and I am still making newbie mistakes and learning from them, so
the lessons are critical.

There won't be more Catalinas made. I'd like to hope that our 320s are
going to become treasured as prime examples of what Catalina could do. The
320 is in a sweet spot. Big enough for about 3 people to comfortably sleep
aboard. Small enough for one person to be in control. High-performing
enough to be really fun! Forgiving enough to be casual and enjoyable with
friends.

Where this adventure will lead me, I don't know, but I hope it will lead to
things that I can't now anticipate. I liked your post, Phil!! 74 and being
a leader. I am 63 and retiring soon at 64. To maintain fitness, I'll just
put the plug in that kettlebells are a blast, and it is pretty easy to stow
one or two in a lazarette.

Best to all of you,

Brian Hill
*Knot to Worry* 2005 #1052
Stones Marina, Nanaimo, BC <== beginning July, 2026, when I plan to move
her from the previous owners' slip in Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle

[Justin Cherry via C320-list]

Brian thank you for bringing the cloud-break to this thread!

Congratulations on Knot to Worry!

I too purchased my first 320 in November 2025: 1995, Hull #249. The 320 is a wonderful boat to sail & I daresay a delight to work on: I have singlehandedly installed a new cutlass bearing and propeller (Thank you again, Troy, for the magnificent set of Association Loaner Tools!), performed an impeller, anodes & filters swap and changed the fluids. And with the assistance of some resourceful Association Members, I replaced some of the interior cushions as well (Thank you!).

She’s still on the hard in Kenosha, WI until the beginning of April, when she will make the journey to Sturgeon Bay & will take her place alongside her little Flying Scot “cousin”. We are looking forward to many years of Door County & Great Lakes adventures.

I am very pleased to be part of this community of kind and helpful people. I hope everyone has a great 2026 on the water!

JC
MadameX
Hull #249

[Sivan Cotel via C320-list]

Brian and Justin, thanks for your positivity!

I, too, purchased my 2000 Catalina 320 only recently (last summer). Hull #682, “Fermata” is continuing her life on Lake Champlain and I’m thrilled to be part of the next generation of sailors. I’m in my 40’s, and we’re excited to have our 5-year-old growing up on the lake and being able to invite friends out for day sails and overnights on the water. I never grew up sailing myself, but in the last decade fell in love and I hope to share that with as many folks as possible.

Sailing may be changing, absolutely. The generations, and the economy, and the sad death of Catalina itself, and a million other things. But all hope is not lost! I race on Wednesday nights on another 320, owned by other members on this forum from the generation before me. On our racing crew, we have folks ranging from their 20’s to their 60’s and everywhere in between. The younger folks are learning from the graybeards, and all of us are having a blast.

The dream continues!

Sivan Cotel
Fermata, Hull #682
Lake Champlain, Vermont

[Babak Minovi via C320-list]

Long time sailor, six-year owner--the last three with a Catalina
320--Adding my bit to the optimist club.

The last year has been rough on sailing community in the DC area with a lot
of turnover in our marina. But on the positive side, the higher
availability of used boats will help bring in more of the young blood that
was priced out of teh market during the post-pandemic boom. Looking forward
to many years of sailing ahead!

Babak Minovi
Romance
#720
Chesapeake

[John Kivel via C320-list]

Hey Everyone,
I also purchased my 320 last year. We bought it in Manitowoc WI and our first trip was 400 nm to Tawas MI.

I’ve been sailing close to 30 years, my biggest boat previously was a Capri 18.
I’ve found sailing the 320 to be pretty easy so far.

Docking that big beast, on the other hand, took some practice!!!

Great boat so far, major investment this winter (standing rigging, running rigging and electronics). Next year is Genoa, year after that is main. . . Unless something else comes up to take priority.

Congrats on your boats - I hope we all get our money’s worth out of them!

John Kivel,
Ann Arbor, MI

> On Apr 2, 2026, at 1:20 PM, Babak Minovi via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Long time sailor, six-year owner--the last three with a Catalina