Association Forum - Buying Advice

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Buying Advice

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jbruno
Deckhand

Member Avatar

14 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/05/2002 : 10:01:19

I'm looking to buy my first boat and a 25' Catalina is definately an option. However, my concern is if I get a '25 I'll soon be looking to get something bigger like a '30. I then am concerned about it taking forever to sell the '25. Now I realize I'm getting a bit ahead of myself but my question is: why did you select, and stay with, the Catalina 25/250? I have a family and would like something that we could sleep on for a night or two. Does the 25 suffice? Thank you, your comments are appreciated.

Also, off-topic, does anyone know anything about Bristol 27's or a good website/forum? Their is a 1975 model for sale near me which is very cheap..... perhaps cheap for a reason but....

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2002 : 10:44:09

Welcome, J...

What sort of family? Where will you sail? Will you keep it in the water or on a trailer? Have you sailed before (on anybody else's boat)?

The C-25 appeals to many because it is trailerable--some like to move them around, and others use the trailer for cheap storage. I'll venture (pardon the expression) that most owners don't "cruise" with more than a couple on board, but overnighting with 1-2 additional kids is doable.

We chose the C-25 because:
- it fit into our town boat club, where 8' is about the max beam.
- we wanted room for 2 to overnight comfortably, but not a "big boat."
- we found a good one that was a good value.
- we knew that the company supported the boat, and a third party (Catalina Direct) had many parts and upgrades.
- we believed the boat's reputation would protect it's resellability.
- we didn't want to mess with an inboard auxiliary.
- we were pleased with this forum--a terrific resource that allowed us to learn a huge amount about the boat before we decided.

As empty nesters, we don't expect to want to go larger--actually, our goals tend toward SIMPLER. When we move (within the next couple of years, we think), we'll probably rethink the whole thing based on the new circumstances.

Good luck in your quest...

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2002 : 11:58:14

Hi J,

Dave's points are all excellent. Unlike myself, he is a very experienced sailor and he went about finding a sailboat the right way ... I just got lucky! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I went sailing with my best friend almost 20 years ago ... he owned an O'Day 23 at the time ... now he owns a Catalina 30 (which should tell you something already). While we were sailing, we met up with some friends of his who had a Catalina 22. I'll never forget feeling a little embarrassed for my friend ... I kept thinking, why would anybody want to be cooped up in this little hot box (i.e. his O'Day) when you could get a boat with a pop-top like that? That boat was a foot shorter, but it had twice the room!

Of course, choosing a boat because it has a pop-top is about as nuts as choosing a car because you like the color. Nevertheless, that novice's mindset never left me. When I decided I was going to get a sailboat, it was going to be a Catalina (especially since my buddy switched to Catalina ... that was all the endorsement I needed). BTW, the pop-top is a liability if you want to do blue water cruising, but the Catalina 25/250 really isn't built for that anyway (and that's another thread). The reason I bring up the pop-top is that you mentioned sailing with your family ... it sure does increase the room with the pop-top up.

Another thing you are likely to hear from other responders is that, generally speaking, the larger the boat, the less often she gets sailed. Larger boats get tougher to single-hand, they have more complicated systems aboard, and like most things that are bigger, the maintenance list and expenses are also bigger.

I can't speak for the 250, but the Catalina 25 is built like a tank. I am sooooo glad I ended up with mine, and I'm happy to have this Forum to turn to when I've got questions about <i>anything</i> regarding my boat, sailing, maintenance, weather, even the meaning of life (the discussions on the Forum can get pretty lively!).

So, there is my two-cents' worth ... I'm sure others will weigh in and give you theirs, too.

Good luck!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2002 : 05:31:29

I like my trailerable swinger well enough that I bought it twice! I owned her for 9 years, then thought I "outgrew" the C25. I bought a Tartan 30, which I loved and raced and crewed on the ocean. BUT, I have to live on a budget! I was tied to expensive moorage, expensive haulouts, more expensive gear, sails, etc., and I couldn't just bring her home on the trailer to do my own maintenance, etc. AND, with a 3-4 day TOUGH upwind sail up the Washington Coast, I only got to the San Juans once in four years. With the Cat 25 I go every summer; and get there in 5 hours, not 5 days! So, even though I loved the Tartan, practicality won out. I sold her and bought back the same C25. My friends had owned her and kept her in great shape and did LOTS of great upgrades.

To make a long story boring: sure, there are boats that are faster, some that are prettier, some that are bigger or have more room, but: for my wife and me and our 2 teenagers, the C25 is big enough to spend a week or 3 cruising (as long as we get off the boat frequently to explore, etc.), it's fast enough to race PHRF or cruising classes, and it's so incredibly mobile and practical. I can't find a boat that suits me better or has more bang for the buck for how I use a sailboat. (and I do a lot of looking....) The C25 isn't perfect, but so far, I can't beat it.

Frankly, if I didn't need a trailerable, or had a bigger budget, I'd probably go buy another Tartan......but, with my Yamaha 9.9 on the C25 I can blow past the Tartan under power!

As for getting rid of it? I just fixed up a second C25 this spring and sold her to the first folks who looked at her. In my neck of the woods, there's a BIG market for C25s with trailers that are realistically priced. My phone is ringing off the hook. I wish I had a few more to sell!

Gary B. on Encore! (we're going around again) SK/SR #685

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2002 : 15:15:09

JBruno:

I also got lucky. My C25 is my first boat -- I'm now in year six with her. I chose her because she was the "cleanest" boat I saw in my price range (the logic being that the cleanest one would be the best maintained by the previous owner). I have never had a desire to move up to a C30. My fear is that if I got a bigger boat, I would use it less (but spend more to keep it), even while my "crew" has grown.

We have had two kids since I bought "Sanity". I have deliberated extensively about whether I could keep my boat after having kids (financial, safety, time constraints, etc.). As time passes, I am glad that I never sold my C25. However, at anchor a pop-top with tent enclosure is very helpful for headroom (I'm 6'1"), storage (lots of clothes, toys, diapers, etc. are easily stored up on the ledge) and general peace of mind. Overall, my C25 has proven to be very family-friendly...

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2df34b3127cce9c0e5f601ff60000004410" border=0>

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b1d706b3127cce9b1179d24e8c0000005410" border=0>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2002 : 15:17:52

Here's some more evidence...

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2db34b3127cce9d9a33f93e320000003410" border=0>

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d929b3127cce9e971b34009c0000001410" border=0>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.