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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Here's some questions...

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StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/23/2006 : 15:53:06

Do any of you C25 owners use a dinghy?

What kind do you use?

Whilst sailing where is it, towed, davits, foredeck?

I just inherited an 8'6" Avon inflatable and am considering my options. Your help is appreciated.

BTW, we are planning a 2 week cruise in the Sea of Cortez and a week long sail around Catalina Island if that helps?

Fair winds,

Andy, Breakin' Wind, 1984 C25 SK SR

Edited by - StSimon on 07/23/2006 15:54:39

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2006 : 21:20:04

Andy,

I built an 8' plywood pram as a dinghy for my C-25 when circumstances call for having one along. I prefer to tow it a boat length or so back, but wrestle it onto the foredeck before going out on big water.

Having said that, I think you'll find other sailors prefer inflatables over rigid dinghies about 10:1. So if you've already got an inflatable, I'd say use it until you have a good reason to do something different.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2006 : 21:51:56

My 8'6" Achilles roll-up (with wood floorboards) is pretty heavy for hoisting aboard--towing is much simpler. Your mileage may vary... But if you have a little ouboard and tow, be sure to remove the outboard--for towing efficiency and to protect the outboard from the potential flip.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 00:12:41

The Avon is a Canadian built boat, similar construction standards as Zodiac.
Yours weighs about 60LBs inflated, and is a good choice for a foredeck tender.

I have a 10' Zodiac which I tow with a bridle and painter. Bridle has a float and painter is floating line. I have my painter attached to my port aft deck cleat. (opposite of OB)

I prefer to have my tender about 6' behind my C25 so it can ride in my wake where there is less drag. I don't know if the preceeding statement is scientificly factual. However, my observations are that my tender makes more sound being towed than my C25 makes sailing and and consequently that the tender is quieter when being towed close.
Also, the tender bounces less and rides higher on a short leash. Without taking any measurements, seems like closer offers less resistance.

Would like to hear a report and see pics of your Sea of Cortez trip.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 00:16:59

I use an 8' Livingston which is a twin hull with floatation fore and aft in the seats. I tie it for three lengths back and then pull in close for docking. It is the safety escape for the month long cruise in the San Juans. Installed WM wheels for launch and pulling up on a beach. Kids have a very difficult time to ever get it over. Have carpet glued on top edge to protect C25. Very stable and can handle load. 4hp outboard can be used on the C25 to get us back to harbor. Use fender to tie along side. Tows with a bridle.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 01:02:36

Thanks for the responses...

I was hoping someone would give me the thumbs up for davits. I have been considering the Martek davits. They seem like a logical solution. What say yee?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 06:23:41

On a 35' boat!

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 06:52:39

even that is a bit small in my opinion for Davits Frank.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 08:08:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 I prefer to have my tender about 6' behind my C25 so it can ride in my wake where there is less drag. I don't know if the preceeding statement is scientificly factual. However, my observations are that my tender makes more sound being towed than my C25 makes sailing and and consequently that the tender is quieter when being towed close.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Agreed on the noise--they tend to slap the water--also when you're at anchor in a breeze. You can adjust the painter so the tender is riding on the front side of your stern wave (if you're moving fast enough to generate one) where gravity helps to move it along, reducing drag.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 18:15:33

35' too small?

I recall a Hunter 25.5 that was fit out with these and more.

Why wouldn't you want davits if they fit? It would reduce the drag of towing.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 22:49:20

If you want them get them.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2006 : 08:16:14

I prefer towing alongside when towing in relatively calm conditions. I once moved Capt. Jim's 39' Morgan that way the length of the Patchogue river to a haul out facility. It was more fun than work partly because I wasn't sure we could pull it off. Drew quite a crowd along the waterfront.

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

duanewolff
Master Marine Consultant

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50022 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2006 : 21:12:32

Never had the need for a tender, let alone Davits. I've also never seen them on anything smaller than a 35. The guy docked across the way from me would use my boat as the tender....

If you like them please get them, take tons of photos and report back. The only time I ever went anywhere that a dinghy was useful we lashed it to the deck and tacked the jib over the top of it. (inflatible)

dw

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2006 : 22:03:07

A guy across from my slip just left for a month and a half sailing around the great lakes. He is in a 25' Hunter (I believe) and he was towing a dingy. He has so much other stuff stapped to the topdeck the dingy would not have fit. Cheers.

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2006 : 23:31:14

Okay, I'm gonna lose all of my style points on this one! We tow a 10' portabote behind us. We have two dogs we love that go with us every weekend. And they have shore leave requirements. Which get me off the boat a few times a day for a good healthy walk

If we want to race, we leave it at our mooring. Otherwise 'Half Dose' is with us, equipped with a 4hp 4 stroke Yammy, a spare gallon of fuel, hiking sandals and oars. Yes, it makes noise and provides drag, but it hauls all of our weekend stuff out to the mooring,and has plenty of room for us and friends who need a ride home from a raft up. It also acts as a 'garage' as it holds our recycling crate and allows us to carry a jerry can of water. And going ashore also means I get to take cool pics of my boat.

The rep we bought ours from also uses one as his tender behind a Islander 36 in Puget Sound. I believe he rigs it to raise the bow of the dinghy to reduce drag. We towed ours behind us in the Puget Sound for a two week cruise and had no problems, but those are protected waters. Don't know how it would do on the open sea, but it can be folded down to the size of a surfboard.

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2006 : 08:56:33

I suppose I'll need to mull it over some more. I was afraid lashing it to the foredeck would interfere with the headsail.

BTW Duane, I like your new red stars

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2006 : 09:24:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by StSimon
 ...BTW Duane, I like your new red stars

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
But 50,000+ posts... Little too much time on your hands, Duane?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2006 : 10:13:00

Yeah, I put that on there so that I'd realize if I was doing admin stuff or regular stuff - kind of like a huge red flag. Unfortunately it didn't work because I replied to that as the admin...oops

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 11:37:31

I have towed a dinghy of some sort most of my sailing life and never had any problem in seas of 5 to 7 feet. sometimes refered to as the mother in law's cockpit, I tow about 15 ft aft where my current pal, a walker bay 8 works the waves smartly. The trick is to choose a tender that has a round (fore to aft) bottom, so that under tow the bow rises considerably. that's something the inflatables won't do and probably lends to their bad behavior when on the leash. The North Channel being so rocky, I don't think I would feel comfortable using an inflatable, which explains why there are so many deflated and retired ones behind the shed at Canadian Yacht Charters in Gore Bay.

Edited by - on

joegeiger
1st Mate

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USA
63 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2006 : 11:12:12

I have an 8' inflatable with a 5hp Nissan outboard. I don't think I could possibly cruise without one. The dinghy gives me freedom. If I have to go ashore after the launch service stops running I use the dinghy. If we pick up a mooring in Newport or Bristol for the weekend I use the dinghy. Sometimes I even use it as my own personal garbage barge until I can bring the trash ashore. On long trips I remove the outboard, attach the painter to the aft port cleat and tow it about 2 boat lengths behind. It tracks very flat with the outboard removed. I pull it up along side of the boat and wrap the extra line around the winch when I'm in tight spaces or need to motor in reverse. I'm paranoid about wrapping the painter around my prop. Cruising life without my dinghy would be much more restrictive.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2006 : 01:55:42

We have an 8' WM roll up that came with our boat. I prefer not to tow it in general but have on lakes and in the harbor. Kids get a kick out of riding there. Otherwise if its not sitting on the mooring while we are out its rolled up and put away. Ours fits in the space of a quarterberth. I have read from experienced Sea of Cortez cruisers that a dingy is needed. Better if it has wheels so it can be beached. Our boats are so small we are limited to small tenders but they prefer RIBS. I have read several accounts where a towed dingy is a liability when rough weather hits.

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2006 : 07:45:48

I tow a 7.5 ft Mercury inflatable with the inflatable floor. The outboard goes on the stern rail when towing. Haven't towed it in anything rough. I leave it on the mooring when I'm out for the day. I wouldn't want to be without one on a cruise.

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