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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

A few newbie questions

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bgkast
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/13/2007 : 01:56:35

This is my first post here. I have just bought a 1985 Catalina 25 and came across this website while browsing. It looks like there is a great wealth of information here.

My first question is about the pop up hatch. When I open it I can not figure out how to latch it in place. The owner’s manual mentions clipping it to the mast however I did not notice any hardware to attach it to the mast and the hatch seems to hit the lower boom vang block before it reaches the mast. Am I missing something simple?

My second question is about removing painted on letters from the hull. I will be registering this boat in a different state than I bought it in and will therefore need to change the registration number. What is the best way to remove painted letters with out damaging the finish on the hull?

Thank you.

1985 Catalina 25 Fin Keel

Edited by - on

Trust Me
1st Mate

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USA
71 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 05:13:21

Bryan:
Welcome to the group and I'm sure everyone here will try their best to answer any question you may have about the Cat 25. Let me also congratulate you for having one of the finest made Cat 25's (85 fin keel)

I have sail number 5044 which is a 85 Tall rig fin keel. If your boat is a tall rig then we have a very close match. As you get comfortable with how your boat performs you will get to the point where when the winds begin to kick up in your part of N. America your boat will seem to come more alive and begin to bite into each wave as she picks up speed.
Page 21 of the owners manual on this site describes the pop top procedures. There should be a slide at the bottom of the mast with curled white knob that after you loosen your boom vang and the pop top indentation is lifted up and placed against the mast you can then can slide it up the mast, tighten, and clamp the pop top against the mast.
I recall some discussions on how to restore the surface after removing decals/numbers/letters which you can probably find using the Search.
Again, welcome to the group and I challenge you to pose a question that someone here cannot answer!

Capt. Ron

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 06:49:35

Bryan,

Welcome to our group.

Another site you will want to check out is Catalina Direct. It's on the links page along with a bunch of other business links that cater to the likes of us.

Sign up as a member and get the full benefit of our site. You'll be glad you did.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 09:28:39

I had large painted letters on my hull and after months of talking to people a common solution rose to the top, Easy Off Oven Cleaner. This is how Corvette shops take off flames and such. All lettering leaves a "ghost" behind due to the differing oxidation rates of the surrounding hull and the gelcoat under the lettering. Don't be bummed out when you discover that.
Welcome to the forum, I hope you will find reason enough to join the Association but you are always welcome here regardless. Many of us have web pages that have photos of Catalina 25s. Some are found by clicking on a members name in the left column and discovering what websites they list in their profile, some have the sites in the signatures. I have a lot of photos that serve as general reference photos on my pages.

Edited by - on

bgkast
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 12:36:25

Thank you for the welcome. I will take another look for the pop top latch hardware on the mast when I go mess around on the boat later today.

What is the height from the deck to the boom on the tall and standard rig? I would like to determine which model I have and could not find the dimensions using a search. Thank you again.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 12:54:37

Hi Bryan, Welcome aboard.

Regarding the device for holding the pop-top up, On my '83 there was a black "J" shaped device that rides in the sail tract that employs a white plastic knurled nut to lock it in place. You will probably find it at the bottom of the mast sail track. Hope it didn't slide off when your mast was lowered by your previous owner. We caution to not rely on the J clamp since some have mentioned the pop-top coming down on them unexpectedly.

In addition folks have tied the top up to the mast to save the headache of an unwanted top knocking.

.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 08:22:23

Hi Bryan:

Welcome and congratulations on buying a Catalina.

I highly recommend the Stripe Eliminator made by Ferro Inductries, Inc. I have used it to remove boat names and stripes. You can see and purchase it at this website - http://www.signwarehouse.com/TT-VR-p-HT-STPRPL.html although I have purchased the discs direct from the manufacturer. Their e-mail address is: ferroind@aol.com or call 1-800-343-3776.

Basically it is a rubber disc that attaches to your drill and you "erase" the vinyl letters/numbers then wipe off the rubber residue with a rag. Very, very easy. The discs are expensive, $19.50 but one should be sufficient for removing the registration numbers.

Good luck.

Will

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 10:36:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tinob
 On my '83 there was a black "J" shaped device that rides in the sail tract that employs a white plastic knurled nut to lock it in place. ... We caution to not rely on the J clamp since some have mentioned the pop-top coming down on them unexpectedly.

In addition folks have tied the top up to the mast to save the headache of an unwanted top knocking.

.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">After looking at the "J" device carefully, we gave up on it. We run a kayak strap with a metal buckle around the back supports and the mast. since the supports lean slightly forward you can tighten at the top of the supports and the top ain't going nowhere. I figure this is as strong as the supports themselves. I could not see having the whole family walk under the top with the "J" thingy.

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 10:39:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bgkast
 ...and the hatch seems to hit the lower boom vang block before it reaches the mast. Am I missing something simple?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Missed this one. You have to really loosen the vang before lifting the top. We have a tall rig but the boom should not be that low. Do you have a fixed or sliding gooseneck?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 11:40:18

Weclome, Bryan, to one of the best sailing communities on the Web! I'm hooked on this group even though I recently sold my C-25 (also an '85 fin--a great boat)... We have a number of alums still hanging out here.

Here's the pop-top hook people are talking about:

...from Catalina Direct (www.catalinadirect.com). I strongly endorse their C-25 Owner's Handbook, which costs about $10. Although it's essentially a catalog for their upgrades and replacements, it has lots of information and ideas that make it well worth the price. Once you buy it, CD sends you free updates every year. They're a 3rd-party outfit in CA, and very helpful and knowledgeable about our boats.

I used the hook whenever I raised the top, although I never kept it up while under way. With all that weight, somebody or something was going to get hurt if it ever came down. You'll notice that Catalina Direct also offers a pneumatic strut system that both helps raising the top and makes it a little less risky when being lowered. Most reports are that it counteracts half to two thirds of the weight. That would have been one of my next upgrades if I had kept the boat--my buyers added it right away.

Best of luck with your new yacht! And be sure to join this association--it's value far exceeds the trivial annual dues!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/15/2007 13:59:52

bgkast
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 15:10:08

Well I went out on the boat yesterday. Too bad there was not a breath of wind and it was 30 something degrees. :D

I found the latch for the pop top. Thank you for the help.

One more question. This boat seem to have some rigging that I am not familiar with (perhaps because this is the largest boat I have sailed). On either side of the boom there is some thin line attached at a few points along the length of the boom. Each line has stainless steel hoops that attach it another line that runs to a block about halfway up the mast then down to a cleat (one on each side of the mast). The assembly seems to form sort of an adjustable net on each side of the main sail. What is this rigging called and what is the purpose? Thanks again.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 15:16:15

Sounds like a lazy jack. Is it?

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bgkast
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 15:35:38

A google search of "lazy jack" looks like you got it. From my quick search it looks like it helps keep the sail in place when lowering it? Does it stay in place when the sail is raised?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 16:11:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bgkast
 Does it stay in place when the sail is raised?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yup. Generally, a lazy jack system can be adjusted to be loose when you're sailing (so it doesn't mess up the sail shape) and tighter when you are about to drop the sail. Not seeing it, that's probably what the block and cleat are about.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/14/2007 16:12:37

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2007 : 17:38:50

Hi Bryan, looks like you got your questions answered, so I'll just add "Welcome Aboard". You will find the people on this site very helpful and passionate about these boats. Cheers.

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bgkast
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2007 : 03:32:48

I thought of one more.

Does anybody have a picture or diagram of how the traveler should be rigged? The line is missing on mine leaving it free to travel.

Thanks again.

-Bryan

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2007 : 06:32:38

This is the first pict from the pre-88 manual

When I bought my first 25 I spent several days reading back 1 year in each forum and copying every photo from the manuals section. I still had a lot of questions but I felt like I new the 25 better for the effort.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 01/15/2007 08:44:26

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2007 : 15:33:26

Bryan - Welcome!
I couldn't agree more w/ Frank. I did the same and it proved invaluable. Also check out the Tech Tips section.

Edited by - on

bgkast
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2007 : 17:04:22

Will do. Thanks.

Edited by - on

new sailor
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2007 : 08:04:54

Regarding the letter removal, I used 2000 grit sand paper powered by a heavy duty orbital sander. It worked really well. It took about five minutes a side to do while the boat was on the stand. If you're gonna do it while it's in the water, don't forget to tie your sander to the haliard or something. Ghosting was a small problem was was not very noticable when I applied the new vinyl letters over where the old painted letters were.

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lwirth
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2007 : 14:00:30

I have had one season with my Catalina 25, and I have a similar newbe question regarding tall rig versus regular rig. When I bought the boat, the previous owner told me it was an 1986 model but I think it is a 1985. He also told me that he thought it was a regular rig although it looks taller than another Catalina 25 in the same marina. I do know that the hull # is 5122 and that she has a fixed fin keel. The boom also seems to be quite low, just above the pop-top. Is there any easy definitive way to determine if she is a tall rig or regular rig? Thanks, Larry

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2007 : 14:41:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lwirth
 ...Is there any easy definitive way to determine if she is a tall rig or regular rig?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yes, measure the mast. You could use the main halyard to pull a measuring tape almost to the top of the mast. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think) the tall rig extrusion is 30' long, and the standard rig is 28'. Although the halyard & tape method isn't precise, it should be close enough for you to tell which extrusion you've got. Another way would be to compare your mainsail luff length to the specifications in the owner's manual elsewhere on this website.

-- Leon Sisson

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2007 : 14:46:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lwirth
 Is there any easy definitive way to determine if she is a tall rig or regular rig? Thanks, Larry
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, there is a easy way to tell if you have a standard or tall rig...call Catalina Yachts and ask. In the past, they have provided owners boat specific info such as that

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2007 : 15:02:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lwirth
 When I bought the boat, the previous owner told me it was an 1986 model but I think it is a 1985.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Looking at the C25 Owner's List on this site, it would appear your serial number, 5122, falls in the 85' model year range.

Another way to determine the model year is by looking at the last two digits of your HIN.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2007 : 16:13:03

When they are made and when they are sold can be different. I have heard that no hulls were made after 89 but some were sold as 90s, that could make sail numbers confusing to correlate.

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lwirth
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2007 : 17:17:48

Don,

I took your advice and checked my NY Registration Document which clearly indicates that she is a 1985 Catalina 25. I will also take your other suggestion and get in touch with Catalina to see if they can confirm whether she is a regular rig or a tall rig.

Thanks much,

Larry

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