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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Buying a C-25

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Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2006 : 08:31:25

OK, found a boat - 1986 C-25. Had the survey completed, waiting for the results and but know what they are anyway since I was present for the survey. The biggie that came out of the survey was about 80% of the deck to include 100% of the cockpit sole registered "wet" on the surveyors moisture meter. The cockpit sole felt soft, but the rest of the boat felt solid despite the reading of the moisture meter.

My question is how big a deal is the top side "wet" issue. Not spongy, not rice crispy popping, solid enough to support my bulk of 210 lbs. without any notice of movement under foot. I understand that the cockpit sole will need to be replace this winter during the haulout and am not sure how much this will cost or what it will entail. I am guessing around $2,000???? The top side might be addressed by drilling holes and injecting "git-rot" or other similar product.

Please advise. Also, I'd appriciate some buy recommendations - like in buy or not buy.

Overall condition of the boat is average to above average.

S/V Prima Donna
1986, 15 HP Universal Inboard Diesel, Fixed keel, Hull # 5362

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 11:25:15

Can you provide a link or direction to the seller's website? If there is a website the experts here can give you more qualified responses. Or, provide pictures and more detail about the boat such as type of keel and where the boat is. Has it spent a lot of time in salt water, is it a disaster survivor, does it have a trailer, do you have contact with the owner?
With the little I know about this boat, I'd be inclined to pass on it unless the price made significant concessions. There are lots of C25's for sale. Perhaps your surveyor or the closest boat yard could quote you on repair cost.
Also, the topsides of the boat do not include the cockpit or deck. On a C25, the topsides would be from the waterline to the rail - the 'side' of the boat to the 'top'of the side.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 11:33:29

Hi Daren,

It would also be helpful to know where you are located, and where you intend to keep the boat ...

For example ... if the deck has high moisture readings already, AND you live in the Pacific Northwest (or a similar wet climate), you could be flirting with disaster. On the other hand, if the deck and cockpit floors are still solid, AND you are in Arizona, the moisture readings aren't quite as ominous.

Let us know ... there are a lot of sailors in this group who know a LOT about sailboats (I'm not one of them

), and they can give you some good advice.

Good luck, and welcome to the group!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 11:45:25

Don Casey has a book about repairing sailboat hulls and decks--that might just about be the title. It should give you an idea of the magnitude of your potential project. Your estimate for the cockpit might be in the right ballpark... Beyond that, I'd say there are too many variables for us to feel comfortable advising you on this one.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 11:56:32

Daren,
There are at any given time about 1000 Catalina 25s for sale. If you are looking for a reasonably priced boat that does not require structural repair I am sure you can find one. Any boat that has had structural repair will be very hard to sell, once you own a boat like that you will have a limited group of people who would even consider buying it and they will not be people who pay much money. If you are looking for a boat that you will never sell and the price on this boat is 3k or less then you may have found a great boat.

As to the moisture value; did you tap on the deck? Did it sound different in the wet places than the dry places? Moisture gages are very sensitive, possibly too much so. You did not provide any demographic info on yourself. I imagine all Seattle boats test wet and no Nevada boats test wet. What is your background and skill level at fiberglass repair? I have bought two Catalina 25s and have enjoyed updating them very much, I would not have enjoyed rebuilding them. As an aside, if I had a soft cockpit sole I would seal the cracks causing water migration, buy a beautiful teak grate and call it good. The boat would be worth much more than if I did a full rebuild of the sole.

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 11:57:17

Just thought I'd throw in some info in case anyone can give him more info before he gets back on here. I've been in contact with Daren from my website for the past couple weeks. It turns out he lives just a few miles down the road from me and he plans to sail on the Chesapeake Bay too. So, here in VA/MD we have humid summers, but it's not rainy like the NW or dry like AZ. He did show me some photos and it looks nice and well taken care of from what I could see in the pictures. It is also one of the rare inboard models. He also mentioned it is a fixed keel, not sure if a fin or wing, but he doesn't need to worry about the swing keel in the bay's salt water like me.

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Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 13:39:09

As far as I know, the boat has always been on the east coast and probably on the Chesapeake Bay. I don't know the owner, but I have met him twice. The boat does look good inside and out. Like any 20 year old boat, it will need some sprucing up. Getting back to the moisture issue. The surveyor did go a tap-tapping and a rap-rapping all over the outside of the boat - hull too. The areas that had moisture readings made a thud. The areas that metered dry sort of pinged. Like I said earlier, the meter showed wet and the wooden hammer gave a dull thud in those "moist" areas. On the surface, the deck did not seem wet or spongy or cracked - everything looked solid. There was no bowing or creaking when walking on the deck (top of cabin). The only real obvious problem area was the cockpit sole. Until I can have the cockpit sole repaired/replace, I would like to put a teak floor in. With regard to my level of experience in fiberglass repair? None, zip, nada.

Ultimately, I am looking for a boat to cruise around the Bay in for at least two years. I am just trying to figure out if this boat will work out for me.

Thanks for the feed back.

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 19:26:44

What do you mean by wet ? Wet as tested on the fiberglass or the wood core is saturated. If the core wood is wet I would consider leaving the boat alone. If we are just talking a glass moisture reading I wouldn't worry to much. Did he do a tap test on the deck for disbonding.

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Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 06:15:22

This is really frustrating. The boat seems perfect except for this moisture issue.....Crap.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 06:31:54

I'm almost positive that one of our members did a cockpit sole repair last year or this past spring and documented it on the forum with some pictures. I can't seem to find it in the archives though. Perhaps someone else can give it a try and point Daren in the right direction regarding the complexity of the project.

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 07:26:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 I'm almost positive that one of our members did a cockpit sole repair last year or this past spring and documented it on the forum with some pictures. I can't seem to find it in the archives though. Perhaps someone else can give it a try and point Daren in the right direction regarding the complexity of the project.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Dan (AKA "Happy D") had to re-core his cockpit sole. Here is a link to the thread where he talks about it: [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=12251&SearchTerms=sole"]Cockpit Sole[/url], and here is a link to his website where he details the repair: [url="http://home.wmis.net/%7Edhapp/cockpit/cockpit.html"]Cockpit Sole Repair[/url]

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 11:21:20

....and now the big question. Do you want to sail your new boat, or work on it?

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 11:56:18

If there is moisture in the decks, then all the teak rails and fittings, and all the deck hardware should be removed and caulked, to seal out the moisture. If the plywood inside hasn't been too wet for too long, it should be ok.

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Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 06:32:49

Well, for better or worse, I elected to buy the boat. Plan is to sail her to her new port, haul her out in November or December, get the cockpit sole replaced during the winter and asses the rest of the forward noted moisture between the glass.

Thanks for all of the input here on the forum. I a new sailor, poster, and DIYer. I am sure you all will be hearing from me more. This is my first boat and I am anxious, excited, and a bit nervous.

The boat is a 1986 25' Catalina with and inboard 10 hp diesel, hull 5362.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 07:30:21

The pleasure you'll get sailing her will be elvated because of the work you put into the boat.

Good luck, and if you do the work yourself (I would) then document it and publish for the rest of us. Please!

Paul.

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