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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Living aboard a C25/250

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/21/2006 : 14:29:36

Hi folks,

I have seen messages go by in the past discussing the practicality of living on a C25. Well, I am about to find out what that will be like, sortof.

No, I am not divorced.

I got a contract that is far enough away from where I live to make commuting impossible. So I am moving my boat close to the work, and will live on my C250WK 4 nights a week, then go home for the weekends.

Yes, I am nuts. Next question.

Oh, I will have one of my dogs with me.

Yes, I am REALLY nuts. Next question.

Yes, I do really love my boat. (The dog is pretty cool too.) :-)

So, I am writing today to ask for advice, other than advising me not to do it. (Which would probably be the best advice.) I have stayed on my boat for a week up in Seattle this summer, but that's it.

The boat is still stock, except for a GPS that I intalled. Top of my list is shore power for lights and heat. Then comes some sort of refrigerator. I don't cook much even when I live in a house. I don't know whether I can actually cook breakfast on the butane toy that came with the boat, any comments from anyone?

Oh, and I am giving myself a present for putting up with all this, and getting a real mattress modified to go in the V-berth, so sleeping will be more comfortable.

Any other comments, suggestions, or expressions of sympathy from you folks out there?

Should make for a good magazine article for me to write for Small Craft Advisor someday... :-)

Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 15:16:54

Poor dog...

Edited by - on

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 16:05:53

I lived on a Precision 21 for 7 summer months then a Capri 26 for 7 summer months here in CO. The biggest issue was laundry, and if you're going home every weekend that should be covered.

As for cooking, find a couple of decent restaurants in the area, and you're set there as well. I had a 1-burner alcohol (non-pressurized) stove on the P21, not a problem for cooking 1-pan or 1-pot meals. Just have to be creative, and you can find a lot of good recipes on camping sites. The CP26 had a 2-burner alcohol stove (pressurized), even easier with that (once you get 'em fired up).

My only issue would be: will the dog be ok on the boat all day, or can you bring him/her to work with you?

Jim
CP25 #183
Team Short Bus

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 16:23:19

Oh heck, I would never leave the dog in the boat all day alone. He will be with me, or staying with some friends (actually the folks that bred him).

Thought I better answer that one quick, before someone has the Humane Society on me or something.

He loves the boat, loves the car, loves everything but being left behind.

Kevin

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 16:40:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My only issue would be: will the dog be ok on the boat all day, or can you bring him/her to work with you?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Funny. That's the first thing I thought of too. Dog People say the darndest things.

Kevin - I could easily live four days a week on my C25. I have a good two burner stove and a BBQ and an assortment of coolers. I like to cook (and eat) so I stock my boat with cooking essentials (spices,coffee, snacks & etc) then stop at the grocery store on my way to the boat without buying more than I expect to eat for two days. I don't buy anything that I would not be prepared to readily eat as a leftover meal. Keep bare minimal amount of food in the cooler. Keep it simple.
One of my favorite cruising essentials is a sturdy folding camp chair. I can set it up in the cockpit,cabin,dock and the beach.
Another big favorite is my laptop which I use mainly for watching movies.
My dog loves our boat, so when we have those three and four day weekends we're all happy.
One guy on a C25 is like a kid in a backyard fort.

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 18:05:29

On a slip or on a mooring?
On a slip, pros, dock power, easy access to facilities, con, privacy somewhat limited.
On a mooring, lots of privacy, but harder to get back and forth and no shore power etc.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 21:24:55

On a slip, with shore power and water. -Kevin

Edited by - on

dblitz
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 21:31:46

So how about a picture of the dog??
I don't know what type of C-25 you guys have, but the one I have doesn't have space to stow anything if you're gonna sleep in the vberth except for the quarterberth next to the inboard, which is awkward if you have to get to something way back in the stern. Awkward as in you're gonna hit your head every time you try to get in there to get something out and everything that's up forward has to come out to get to the stuff in back.
So how/where does everybody store their STUFF?

Edited by - on

saribella
Captain

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USA
286 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2006 : 21:39:15

If I had to wake up for work on my boat, the wind better be down or I would never make it. Of course I would also have to blame the dog for convincing me to choose sailing over work ............good call Kevin!!! Wait. Did that defense work for David Berkowitz?? Hmmmmmmm

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 01:31:46

Kevin,
Are you coming up to Seattle? If so, I've got a slip you can use (well, rent) on Lake Washington, with power and water. Let me know ASAP, we're going to cancel the slip this weekend. We pulled our San Juan out of it today, and our lease is up on Saturday. If you can use it, we can continue the lease while you're here, and cancel it later.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 09:58:12

David, no, I am not coming to Seattle. I live in a rural area south of Forest Grove, OR, and I will be doing some work in Camas, WA. In a few months I will likely move to Washington, but I have to sell my house first, and it is going into the slow season for selling rural property. Thanks for the slip offer though!

The dog is actually in my signature picture, but hard to see because of the sunlight. Here is another picture, for those who care:

As to what kind of a C25 I have, well, I have a C250, which is completely open inside (no bulkheads) making it a little easier to move around. I will store most of my stuff in the aft berth (the settees are already full of normal boat stuff), and will also be rigging up some netting type storage on the cabin walls. There have been lots of discussions of how to store stuff on this board over the years.

As to blaming the dog for not going to work - all I can do is try it, thanks for the tip!

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 10:12:00

I would do it in a heart beat! As long as the marina has a shower you should be in good shape. Do you have the 10 lb. propane tank? And the canvas pop top cover? Also a must will be a HP Pavilion w/ wireless internet access, 1 g of memory and 120 g HD, DVD/CD burner and the TV tuner card with wireless remote. That way you can stay in touch with us on the forum.

BTW, that's a good looking seadog!

Edited by - Ben - FL on 09/22/2006 10:16:26

kevinmac
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 10:51:02

The legend is that they are Dutch barge dogs. I think they are actually Dutch farm dogs that some Englishwoman first saw on a barge. No mattter, he's a good boater. I was amazed to discover that he could go up and down the companionway steps on my C250 (although I am never sure if he is going down them, or it is just a controlled fall...)

I've got a Dell Inspiron 6000 with wide screen for DVDs. It has local wireless, but I use a Verizon wide-area wireless card that gives me service just about everywhere, and broadband speed in most metro areas (including my slip). TV tuner card...hmmm... But then how would I hook up the DVR? :-)

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 11:17:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kevinmac
 The legend is that they are Dutch barge dogs. I think they are actually Dutch farm dogs that some Englishwoman first saw on a barge. No mattter, he's a good boater. I was amazed to discover that he could go up and down the companionway steps on my C250 (although I am never sure if he is going down them, or it is just a controlled fall...)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Is he a Schipperke? If so, check this out ... he IS bred especially for barge duty, but the breed started out as a farm dog: [url="http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/schipperke.htm"]Schipperke[/url]

COOL pooch!

Edited by - on

crystal_blue
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 12:57:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If I had to wake up for work on my boat, the wind better be down or I would never make it. Of course I would also have to blame the dog for convincing me to choose sailing over work ....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

"Gee, I'm really sorry I missed work yesterday. It's just that my dog ate my mooring line . . ."

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 18:11:24

He's a Keeshond, I think they are related... The official breed history says they were barge dogs, or boat dogs, but that is disputed by others who say they were farm dogs all over, they were just seen on barges by the Englishwoman who brought the breed to England and promoted it.

My dog ate my mooring line - good idea!

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 20:33:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kevinmac
 Hi folks,

I got a contract that is far enough away from where I live to make commuting impossible. So I am moving my boat close to the work, and will live on my C250WK 4 nights a week, then go home for the weekends.

Oh, I will have one of my dogs with me.

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

You lucky dog! . . . er . . guy.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2006 : 23:20:29

Ah ha, one guy who sees things as I do... ;-)

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2006 : 00:06:00

Maybe this is where barking dog navigation started? I get the most sleep on the boat. Enjoy your new location and let us know how it goes.

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