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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Is the Catalina 25 right for me and which keel		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Mike Tyler
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts
Initially Posted - 12/13/2005 :  16:47:18  Show Profile
I am new to your forum. I am interested in the Catalina 25 or 250 and I thought it would be a good idea to ask for opinions from other owners.

Here is my situation. I have been sailing for a number of years and recently I have sold my Hunter 36 and I am looking for a smaller boat. I have a dock at my house but only have about 2 feet of water at low tide. There are several shallow areas between my dock and open water with about the same depth at low tide . My brother's Catalina 22 swing keel can float at the end of my dock even at low tide.

I want a boat that I can single hand, that has a roomy cockpit for day sailing, that I can cruise the ICW in, that can be trailered to the FL Keys or for maintaince, and that can sail near shore from Charleston SC to the Hilton Head area. The boat will be in salt water at least 9 months a year. I would like a boat larger than a Catalina 22. My concerns with the wing keel is its ability to go to weather and difficulty getting the boat off sandbars when I go aground with the wing keel especially in sand or mud. I am concerned with the safety of the swing keel off shore, but it seems to other wise be a good for the choice shallow water and sandbar issue as well as trailering. I also suspect that a swing keel may go to weather better than a wing keel.

A traditional fin keel would not let me keep the boat at my house in tne water.

Have any of the members of the forum had to address similar concerns and what has been their experiance with the swing keel vs. wing keel regarding sailing performance, soft and hard groundings, keeping the boat in a tidal creek with relatively shallow water at low tide.

Any information and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mike
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jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts
Response Posted - 12/14/2005 :  10:53:29  Show Profile
Gosh, Mike, it sounds like you have just described the C25SK design specs.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay
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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts
Response Posted - 12/14/2005 :  21:45:36  Show Profile  Visit Douglas's Homepage
So Im interested in what you consider off shore. The C-25 swinger is as good a coastal boat as any. Sounds like you have enough experience under your belt to keep yourself out of trouble. You want to trailer, you want to put her in a mud slip. I dont think you could go wrong with a swinger . Maintenance isnt to bad if you take good care of the pivot pin area and cable . Good suport group, parts still available, resonable price.
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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 12/15/2005 :  08:16:18  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
Two feet at low tide is going to be tight but probably doable. If we all keep up with the fuel emissions and keep global warming going, with ice melt, you'll be at 2.5 feet in no time.


Your looking at the right boat though!

dw
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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts
Response Posted - 12/15/2005 :  13:44:20  Show Profile  Visit JimB517's Homepage
The wing draws 2' 11" The boat can sit level on the wing when aground. The fin draws 4' That said, you would be better off with the swinger. The swinger points a little better than the wing.

If you go to the 250, the water ballast with centerboard is also an option.

Both trailer well. I like the 250's sugar scoop stern and the interior has a lot of nice features. Lots of room and light.

I think the 25 sails better, expecially in heavy weather. Also, you can pick up a 25 swing from $2000 to $5000. You'll have many more options for headsails, cruising chutes, spinnakers etc on the 25.

Do your annual maintenance on the cable and ball and enjoy.

These are boats that cruise 1, 2 or 3 pretty well. More people than that it gets crowded. I wish I had a boat with standing headroom. Get a pop-top model.
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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts
Response Posted - 12/15/2005 :  13:46:18  Show Profile  Visit JimB517's Homepage
Oh yeah, check out my website for all the places we've gone in my C25

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/indyIII.html
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.