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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Standard vs. Tall Rig

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/27/2002 : 19:27:41

Hi there,

I currently own a Catalina 22 and am now starting to shop for a C25. Can anybody tell me the pros and cons of a tall vs standard rig. Obviously the tall has greater area. Is there a difference in boom height, or overall handling of the boat. I intend to buy a swing keel

Thanks
Frank Gloss
fgloss@knology.net

Sailynn

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2002 : 21:27:05

Tall rig boom is lower and can be considered a head knocker if not carefull. Tall rig is more tender / reef early. Tall rig is faster due to greater sail area. Tall rig mast uses the same spar as the C27 therefore its heavier to raise if trailering. BTW mine is a tall rig fin keel. If I were trailering I would prefer the standard rig. My next choice would be for the wing keel.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2002 : 22:05:33

Welcome, Frank--you're about to become a member of a substantial club of people who've moved up to the 25 (but I'm not one). We have a standard rig and like it, but know people with tall rigs... The mast is one foot taller, and the mainsail luff is three feet longer, so when you do the math, the boom is two feet lower, which is substantial. If you're into racing or sail in very light air, the tall rig may be what you want. For family daysailing/cruising, I'd lean toward the standard rig--more comfortable and forgiving, with less tendency for weather helm because the main gains more area on the tall rig than the foresail. In 12 knots and above, the standard with a 130 (like ours) has all the sail you want for comfortable sailing (if not racing). But you mileage may vary...

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2002 : 14:18:50

Frank,

In strong winds, the standard rig C-25 performs fairly equally with the tall rig C-25, but in moderate or light winds the tall rig is significantly faster. Whether you race or cruise, it is usually nice to be able to get to your destination and out of the unrelenting sun more quickly. The low boom of the tall rig is a legitimate concern, but, if you have an inexpensive flattening reef added to your mainsail, you can raise the boom when you are cruising, so that you won't have to pay such close attention to the boom. On the other hand, when cruising, if the wind becomes light, it is nice to have the larger sail area of the tall rig to keep you moving.

In normal winds, there is no reason for any sailboat to have excessive weather helm, unless it has been poorly designed. The amount of weather helm on a sailboat is adjustable. My tall rig C-25 has a feather-light helm in normal winds. Like any sailboat, my helm gets heavy in very strong winds, when the boat is overpowered, but it is certainly no heavier-helmed than any other sailboat I have ever sailed.

Because the tall rig has a higher mast and more sail area, when the wind pipes up you have to reduce sail area slightly earlier than a standard rig, but it is not, by any means, tender. In most sailing venues, you will sail most of the time on any given day in winds that will not require you to reduce sail area. Although there are exceptions, on most days the wind will not vary so greatly in strength that you will be required to reduce sail area.

When I had a C-22, my wife and I could easily raise the mast ourselves, using muscle power alone. Whether you get the standard rig or tall rig, you and your wife will not be able to raise the mast using muscle power alone. You will either have to use a mast raising system, or you will have to enlist bystanders, for their additional muscle power, to help raise the mast. Therefore, I don't see that the additional weight of the tall rig mast is a significant factor in deciding which boat to buy.

Truly, both the standard rig and tall rig C-25 perform very well, and you will enjoy either, but I think the tall rig is more versatile. It has capabilities that the standard rig does not have, and no significant detriments.

In all honesty, if I were you, I would look for a C-25 in good condition, and be happy with either rig. They both perform so well that you will enjoy either one.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - Steve Milby on 05/28/2002 14:48:43

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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.