Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg 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
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Pop top retrofit?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

haley
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
59 Posts
Initially Posted - 10/10/2007 :  07:45:08  Show Profile
Greetings,

I'm looking at an '85 that does not have the pop top. Can these be retrofitted? Or has anyone done mods to enhance the head room for a non pop top? I've see the hatch slant upwards on other models.

Thanks!

John
----------------
John
Precision 18
Rochester NY
Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts
Response Posted - 10/10/2007 :  09:35:10  Show Profile
Hi John,

Everything is possible, the question should more properly be put as is it practical to cut off a non pop top and then locate a surplus poptop and install it. Put this way the answer should be as clear to you as it is to me.

Shop around and find the cat that you want.

Val on Calista, Patchogue, N.Y.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 10/10/2007 :  10:00:18  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
Hi John, Precision makes fine boats.
The tilt ups are only on Catalina 250s, all Catalina 25 pop-tops "stand-up". There have been several discussions about the value of the pop-top in older threads. The consensus is that your situation will dictate whether or not you care. The majority of use do not use them and would prefer that entire area were simply a raised sea hood for head room. This is what the European Jaguar 25 has, (the Catalina 25 built under license in England), because pop-tops are not blue water sea worthy. I would not miss a pop-top at all, I rarely anchor so breeze at anchor is not an issue and at the dock I use AC so my boat is closed up. Remember that you must accommodate the pop-top in order to use it. For most people that involves dealing with the boom vang but if you have a solid vang or Boom-Kicker then you have a real hassle to deal with.
Either decide it does not matter to you or find a different boat.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 10/10/2007 :  10:50:15  Show Profile
What Frank said... Also, be aware that pop-top models have a molded ridge around the cut-out, such that when the pop-top is down, its lip fits down around the ridge, forming a barrier to water migration. The top lies on a foam gasket on top of the ridge, creating a seal against spray and fast-moving "green water". So, the conversion would entail more than just finding a top and cutting the opening. Find a boat instead--I think more C-25s have them than not.
Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/10/2007 10:51:32
Go to Top of Page

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts
Response Posted - 10/10/2007 :  13:01:11  Show Profile  Visit JimB517's Homepage
I have a pop-top and there is a non pop-top right next to me. First of all I hardly ever use the pop top and would not miss it. However, the entire top of the deck on the non pop top could be removed and a new deck from a salvaged pop top boat could be installed.

It looks like the boats are exactly the same except for this panel on top of the deck.

I think the work involved would not be worth it, but if you could locate a salvaged or abandoned C25 pop top it could be done.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

haley
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
59 Posts
Response Posted - 10/10/2007 :  15:06:38  Show Profile
Hey, as always - great information. Especially the virtues of the non pop model. I'd be sailing on Lake Ontario which occasionally gets blue water enough for me!
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 10/10/2007 :  23:48:33  Show Profile
My TR/SK is a poptop, and we use it a lot. The open feel and headroom make relaxing aboard much more pleasant in port. It takes five minutes to put the canvas on, and leaving it off makes a cool and shaded cabin. We recently spent six days aboard around a five day cruise and put the top up as soon as we tied up in every port.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts
Response Posted - 10/11/2007 :  01:22:38  Show Profile
The pop-top was a selling feature for me. I love it and use it alot.
I would not entertain the idea of installing one - I'd be shopping for the right C25. There are lots of them for sale.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

crcox
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
2 Posts
Response Posted - 10/31/2007 :  20:13:04  Show Profile
HI
I LEAVE MY POP TOP UP ALL THE TIME. THE CANVAS CAN BE LEFT SNAPPED
ON AS WILL LIE ON TOP WITH IT DOWN. I LOVE THE EXTRA HEAD ROOM AS I AM 6 FEET TALL.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 10/31/2007 :  20:28:00  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I LEAVE MY POP TOP UP ALL THE TIME.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi Charles... If you mean while you're sailing, I hope you have some redundant measures to keep it from accidentally falling. (What I mean is, the mast hook alone is barely adequate at the dock...) That top is heavy enough to cause very serious injury, not to mention some damage, if it does a free-fall.
Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/31/2007 20:32:36
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
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.