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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

weight distribution

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vamanos
Deckhand

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1 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/21/2006 : 22:25:42

#1 I recently purchased an 84 Catalina 25. The following are all on the starboard side: the 80 lb Honda 8 hp, 16 gallon water tank, double battery box. I have yet to put in the second battery and fill the H2O tank. I am worried it will list. Is it designed for this set up? Should I mount one of the batteries on the port side?

#2 The motor has an alternator. The wire is connected to the electrical panel but the connector to the motor is lost. The wires are the same color. How do I tell which is - and +? Will I do damage if it is backward?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 22:41:21

I would interface with a tech on the motor wires. You could take digital pictures, post them, go to the tech shop and look at them on line. Maybe they will be able to tell you. You do not need to hook up the motor wires if you don't want to, you must be pull starting now anyway.
As for all the stuff, it is all there on several thousand Catalina 25s so its ok, (its in different places on several thousand other Catalina 25s so it must not be all that critical). Welcome, have fun with the boat they are excellent values.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3492 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2006 : 05:54:26

My boat has the 2 battery setup, holding tank and a 9.9HP Honda on the starboard side. I have yet to fill up the holding tank with water but having been sailing and the fact that the boat weighs ~4500lbs, I would not think that filling the water tank is going to make such a significant difference. Putting the battery on the port side (what's that weight ~35 lbs) really would not alter things that much since the weight is negligible compared to the motor and the holding tank at full capacity. For right now, I would just attend to probably the other top 10 things that you will want to address on the boat and put this issue on the backburner. Chances are that as you get use to using your boat, the weight distribution issue will not be as much a concern as it seems right now.

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2006 : 11:00:34

We have a 1985 Catalina 25 that has an 8 horse Mecury starboard, the water tank is full now, and we have dual battery setup under the starboard settee. If the boat lists I sure can't tell, and if my 200 lbs makes it list when I am sitting on the starboard side, at least I can't tell cause I am on board.

Edited by - cat1951 on 06/22/2006 11:01:46

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2006 : 15:06:47

They all list. Do what you can to load weight to port. I moved my batteries to the port side. Not a very big deal once you're sailing, you can easily put your mobile human ballast wherever needed.

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StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2006 : 09:39:43

Vamanos,

I too have an '84. My OB is a Honda 9.9. When I got her she had no wiring from the motor to the batteries. I put a 2 pin deck connector just above the Garhauer motor mount and went to the local Honda dealer and got the male end of the motor plug setup. (The female part was still mounted on the motor) I wired it all up then filled the garbage can full of water (no place for muffs) and fired her up. VOILA !!! We had power.

Now to answer your question... I don't know. Sorry. However I am going to the shop to work on the bottom today so I will try and remember to look at the wiring. As I recall it may have been marked or something. It seemed to be a non issue at the time.

Good luck on the new to you Catalina. It's amazing what you can do to these boats if you have the time/energy/creativity/cash-flow. And I do mean you need all the above.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2006 : 11:22:23

I think you’re supposed to get the boat on her lines by loading beer on the slack side. The more she lists to one side, the more beer it takes to level it out. This is why it makes sense to have the waste tank and the beer stored on the same side of the boat. This way, as the level of beer goes down, the level in the waste tank fills up and it keeps the boat balanced out.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2006 : 12:03:55

I like the way you think...it's not often that you come across a level headed guy.

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StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2006 : 20:44:59

My 9.9 is wired with the negative in the front with the vertical plug and the positive in the back with the horizontal plug.

At least that's what I think they are. I'm assuming the red wire is positive and the black wire is negative as in an automotive application.

Good luck.

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2006 : 09:35:59

I think the outboard mounted to starboard was part of correcting the list - to port - in earlier models. Our 1980 has the ob to port and even with a full water tank and all gear loaded to starboard she still has about 1 or 2 degrees of list to port. As has been noted in earlier threads on this topic, there's a lot of fiberglass in the galley on the port side. It helps to put the cooler to starboard and drink stout instead of Bud light.

Edited by - on

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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.