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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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A Good Laugh (for me at least)

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southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/03/2006 : 13:46:04

I'll share something that happened that is funny to me (hopefully a laugh for you all as well).
A friend of mine was showing his 1979 Catalina C-25 swing keel the other weekend to a potential buyer that had drove in from out of town to look at his boat. By buddy has only owned this boat for about a year and a half and during all of this time has never tried to raise the keel (everyone around here with a swing keel just lets them act as a built-in depthfinder, if you know what I mean). Now keep in mind that he is only asking 3 grand for this boat and she is in really good condition, but like all sailboats (old and new) could use a few minor repairs. Don't we all know what kind of boat to expect when looking at one that costs 3k (she isn't going to be perfect). Anyways, the potential buyer (who has just started sailing with a friend a few months ago and is looking for his first boat) is going thru this boat with a fine toothed comb and picking her apart. Now I don't have a problem with someone thuroughly inspecting the boat, but come on man, don't expect a 10 grand boat when we are asking 3 for her. This guy spent 15 minutes (literally) inside the quarter berth snooping around. OK to the point, my buddy and I are sitting in the cockpit while this guy begins to crank on the keel winch. We are both looking at each other thinking "I hope it works". The guy gets the keel raised all the way up and the winch releases. Now I have never had the experience of this sound, but I felt like I had just lived thru a minor earthquake. The buyer, who has VERY little experience with sailboats looks at us like HOLY S*@T, what was that. My buddy quickly ran down into the cabin to explain to him that the keel has FALLEN back to the down position. I was laughing so hard that I had to remove myself from the boat. The look on the guys face (still sticking in my head by the way) when he thought he had seriously done something wrong was just too much for me to handle

!
Again, not much of a point here, and maybe you had to be there but I almost died laughing. My buddy quickly informed the guy that a swing keel service at our marina costs $135 and we would take care of that if he wanted us too. Needless to say he did not buy the boat, but the sound, experience and sheer laughter was well worth it.
Report on the sell. She sold three days later for $3250 and my buddy has just bought a 28' Beneteau that we are bringing down from Annapolis in two weeks. We are loosing a C-25 owner but I have a feeling he will continue to hang around the forum due to all of the fond memories a C-25 can give.

GOODBYE "WINDSONG"
HELLO "EVEN KEEL"

Puravida,
Zach

southern cross 1982 C-25
TR FK #2867

Edited by - southern cross on 04/03/2006 13:49:46

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 15:33:33

Wow--I can't say I had the same reaction while reading that, but I also don't laugh at car wrecks... The sound you describe, which happily I have not heard (except when a nearby sailboat hit a rock while on a fast reach one day) is the sound that has sunk several C-25 swingers (multiple times for one that I know of). I take it the boat was in the water at the time--was it taking on water afterward? It's very possible that some damage was done to the front of the keel trunk. Hope not, for that buyer's sake.

Edited by - on

southern cross
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Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 16:22:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Wow--I can't say I had the same reaction while reading that, but I also don't laugh at car wrecks... The sound you describe, which happily I have not heard (except when a nearby sailboat hit a rock while on a fast reach one day) is the sound that has sunk several C-25 swingers (multiple times for one that I know of). I take it the boat was in the water at the time--was it taking on water afterward? It's very possible that some damage was done to the front of the keel trunk. Hope not, for that buyer's sake.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Nope- no water just a loud noise, we had it inspected and the winch repaired before putting her on the trailer for the new owner. Like I said, you might have had to have been there, I don't know that I would compare it to a car wreck though? Just one of those unexpected things that happen that if you can't laugh at you might grow old and gray a little early.

By the way Dave, I have posted with you in the past. My wife has family in Noank and I have spent a good bit of time up there. My father in law was just in town this ast weekend and i was telling im there was a guy on the forum from Mystic. My father in law has done a ton of sailing up there. He was telling stories of summer's on his 28' Hunter and a small Laser that he used to run around on, I think he enjoyed talking last night about his times in Noank.

Puravida,
Zach

Edited by - southern cross on 04/03/2006 16:27:44

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 18:40:38

As you no doubt know, it's a great sailing area--the protected Fisher's Island Sound, nearby Block Island, Watch Hill, Shelter Island, Long Island Sound, the CT River,... People from all over New England keep boats here so they can jump off to those and other destinations. Trouble is, now that I'm widowed, my C-25 might not be the best way (for me)to get to those places--she might be going "on the block" this summer. Many guys here love to singlehand and even cruise alone--I'm just not one of them. I'm thinking I'll end up getting a little boat like a Laser or Beetle Cat so I can keep sailing--"real" sailing on the river outside of my back door... and going over to the Dark Side

for exploring this wonderful area. I'm designing (through a builder) the potential boat now.

So, there's an actual "good laugh" for the rest of the membership--a Master Marine Consultant goes the way of Darth Vader!

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 18:47:11

for exploring this wonderful area. I'm designing (through a builder) the potential boat now.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
A stink pot? You're building a stink pot? Oh, Dave, please say it ain't so!

Edited by - on

Waterboy
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USA
204 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 20:49:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by southern cross
 We are loosing a C-25 owner but I have a feeling he will continue to hang around the forum due to all of the fond memories a C-25 can give.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The fellow may no longer be a C-25 owner (or sailor), but methinks even ex-Catalina owners still lurk. This is still, by far, the best sailing forum I've found for my own needs. Which reminds me, I owe you folks $20 or $40.

Regarding the dropped board, I'm reminded of the admonitions of my YMCA summer camp counselors to Not drop the big (for a ten-year old) steel centerboard on the old wooden X-boats plying Half-Moon lake near Eveleth, MN. That lake looks soooo small now.

Edited by - Waterboy on 04/03/2006 20:52:20

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 21:15:22

I gotta laser II for sale!

Really cheap, with trailer and all the bits-n-pieces.

Paul

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 21:59:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 I gotta laser II for sale! Really cheap, with trailer and all the bits-n-pieces.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sorry--just a simple Laser (I), and no trailer needed or wanted--I live on the water.

And JB... It won't be too stinky--I'm figuring a Honda 135 (the 4-cylinder Accord engine), and at 23 knots cruising speed, it'll use under 4 gallons per hour. At 5 knots, I'll only hear the water on the hull--almost like sailing. The boat will be a "down-east" style--sort of a mini-lobster boat with a soft-top and good-sized cuddy cabin. Considering the amount of time I've cruised at 5 knots under howling power in the C-25, it could be an improvement. But I will figure out a way to keep sailing!

Then again, it ain't over till it's over...

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2006 : 07:05:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 The boat will be a "down-east" style--sort of a mini-lobster boat with a soft-top and good-sized cuddy cabin.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sounds nice, Dave, I look forward to seeing pictures!
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 I gotta laser II for sale! Really cheap, with trailer and all the bits-n-pieces.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If you're serious, Paul, please send me an email, because I know someone that would probably like to buy your rig.

Edited by - on

PZell
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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2006 : 08:43:46

Don't let 'em make you feel bad about a MV. If I could get away with it on the home front I'd have one for the winter around here. From time to time I spot a nice medium sized one that looks cool. Don't need one of those 30mph things, a displacement at 10k would be fine.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 13:41:19

Thanks, Paul... Actually, I already have a nice little 18-footer outside with a Honda 50 for patrolling the area. Passage is in a marina a couple miles down the river, closer to the big water. The change I'm considering will consololdate the two and eliminate my marina costs (except storage). But I'll still be sailing something!

There will be pictures (if Jim B. doesn't make Spike remove them from the forum)!

Edited by - on

Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 18:48:25

Yeagh, i am the new beneteau owner, I have been own the beneteau forum and all those guys are to worried about whose pecker is the smallest to help anyone out. I do believe the subjects discussed here can be cross-referenced and will be an avid C-25 member for sometime. To all you have helped...thanks, Frank...thanks for the sails, Gene.... for the deals, burning file...for the future!

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 18:51:05

Paul shoot me an email about the laser - my daughter is two and I can play with it until she's ready

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 22:47:14

Duane... Are you familiar with the Laser II? It's a 2-man racer with a jib, spinnaker, trapeze, etc... Neat boat, sorta like a slightly smaller 470, but not quite like the regular Laser, which offers an optional, smaller "radial" rig that's good for kids.

Edited by - on

Champipple
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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 06:56:20

Yeah Dave - Like I said I can play with it until she is ready

Edited by - on

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