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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

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kaferhaus
1st Mate

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40 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/24/2008 : 21:20:14

I just purchased a 25 SR/FK from a fellow in MS and the boat needs a couple cosmetic items taken care of.

It has a couple of spots in the cockpit where the gel coat has some cracks.... best way to repair this?

Also all the exterior teak needs to be refinished. What product(s) are you fellows using for this?

Also the pop top is missing the "screens"? where can you find those?

Other than those few items and a general exterior clean up, the boat is in very good shape.

It has a 2004 9.9 Honda (pull start though... no battery charging)

5 sails all in VG condition including one double reef main.

Interior is in VG shape but with the original "plaid" material on the cushions... Read those topics already.... Ouch on replacing those covers...

The boat is currently docked in Moss Point MS, and I'll have to get er moved to the Mobile Yacht Club within the next week or so... So I'll get to see how she does on all points of sail during that trip.

The slip is about 10 miles from the intercoastal and then through the pascagoula sound into Mobile bay and North to Dog river..

Steve

Steven Reeves
Dauphin Island, Alabama

Edited by - kaferhaus on 01/24/2008 21:23:14

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2008 : 21:57:48

Welcome, Steve. Congratulations on your boat. What year is she? There are a lot of experts on these topics here. I'm not one of them but, I will suggest you do a search on the site for "teak" and "gelcoat". You'll find more information than you'll want to read.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2008 : 22:45:17

Congratulations, Steve... It's past my bedtime, but I'll briefly suggest two things:

1. Try the Search function (upper right) to find prior discussions on each of your questions--they've all been re-hashed several times.

2. Under the Profile function, you can create a "signature" that automatically adds your boat type (C-25), year, hull #, rig (SR or TR), keel (FK, SK, or WK), and anything else that might help people answer your questions more specifically. You'll see signatures on many of the posts here.

Have fun wading through the ocean of information here while you wait for more replies. And welcome to the best sailing community on the Web!

Edited by - on

ChrisandCheri
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 05:46:21

Gratz Steve, welcome to the forum. Sounds like you will have a nice sail.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 08:39:36

OK, I'm up... A couple of answers and suggestions:

Gelcoat cracks are a way of life at 20-30 years old... Search for threads on that--it's been discussed recently and frequently.

Exterior teak is a favorite argument here--it almost gets religious. I use Cetol for ease of application and maintenance--others oil every other day

and still others believe GRAY is the only proper color for teak. There are many threads on removing and maintaining the teak.

The pop-top probably came with a vinyl enclosure to make the cabin weatherproof at anchor/dock. I'm not sure where they can be had "off-the-shelf" these days--apparently not at the place I'm about to suggest next.

And that'd be Catalina Direct--a third-party supplier of parts and upgrades for several Catalina models including the 25. (http://www.catalinadirect.com/) They know a lot about our boats and have many things you'll need or want. Their "C-25 Owner's Handbook" is the best $10 you'll spend on your boat. It's basically a catalog, but full of info and ideas, and updated free every year or so (to give you the new prices

).

Have a great "delivery"!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/25/2008 08:53:14

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 09:37:13

There are different kinds of gelcoat cracks, but most are essentially cosmetic, and not a serious problem. The problem with trying to repair them is that it's practically impossible to match the color and texture of the original finish, unless the work is done at considerable expense by an expert. That's why most people recommend that you just get used to them, and it's also probably why the previous owner didn't repair them. If you repair them, the best way to get the boat looking good again is to paint it with one of the good two-part paints, and it will look very nice, but again, that's a big job, and once you paint the boat, you'll probably have to do it again a few years down the road. For those of us in the cold north climate, it helps to keep the boat well covered in the winter, so that water doesn't get into the cracks and freeze.

The pop top enclosure was an option when the boat was new, so, not every boat will have them. On rare occasion, you'll see one advertised in the Swap Meet part of our forum, but you'll have to carefully install the snaps to the coach roof and around the hatch, so that it'll fit well. It would help if there is another C25 in your marina that you can look at, to see generally how the snaps are installed by the factory. Also, I'm not sure whether an enclosure made for an early version of the C25 would fit a later version. There might be slight differences - probably not, but you should be aware of that possibility.

The original cushion cover fabric is very durable, and I never had to replace mine after 22 years. If they're only soiled, you can take them off and launder them in your washing machine (I've done it), and that might make them presentable. I'd suggest you turn them inside out when you launder them, so the fabric doesn't snag or pill.

It's expensive to have them professionally re-covered, and, whether you do so probably depends mostly on whether your boat is of an age and condition that justifies the cost. Personally, I would probably do the job myself. They're mostly just 3 dimensional rectangles, with a zipper to make them easy to put them on and take them off. You can take the old covers apart and use them for patterns, and you can simplify the design if you wish.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 10:12:00

That plaid Herculon was cool in 1972, but.....

(I think Frank got a very special buy on it in 1977.) If you have an Admiral, that is likely to change the justification equation for replacement.

Edited by - on

kaferhaus
1st Mate

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40 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 10:15:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 That plaid Herculon was cool in 1972, but.....

(I think Frank got a very special buy on it in 1977.) If you have an Admiral, that is likely to change the justification equation for replacement.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes.... the "admiral" is having none of it....

The boat is a 1978 so the year you mentioned on the "deal" must fit right in...

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 11:09:35

It is especially great to hear that a '78 is in such great condition. You need to read up on the upgrades that are recommended for that year.
SS spreader sockets
larger bowstem fitting
lower chainplates
all rope halyards
rebuild traveler car
new masthead sheaves

anyone, anyone...

Edited by - on

kaferhaus
1st Mate

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40 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 11:11:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Frank Hopper
 It is especially great to hear that a '78 is in such great condition. You need to read up on the upgrades that are recommended for that year.
SS spreader sockets
larger bowstem fitting
lower chainplates
all rope halyards
rebuild traveler car
new masthead sheaves

anyone, anyone...

Any link to those items??

I guess my "search prowess" is poor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

tbosch
Navigator

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 11:28:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Frank Hopper
 It is especially great to hear that a '78 is in such great condition. You need to read up on the upgrades that are recommended for that year.
SS spreader sockets
larger bowstem fitting
lower chainplates
all rope halyards
rebuild traveler car
new masthead sheaves

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

I like the list! I've got a 1980 SR/FK. Is it the same list for me? Is this info organized somewhere by year? And sorry if this is a partial thread hijacking...

Todd in the frozen north... woke up to -15F yesterday...
1980 Catalina 25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 11:36:41

...replace "to-hulls" with proper "thru-hulls".

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 13:03:48

Getting the Owner manual/catalog from catalinadirect.com shows all of the upgrades and is a great place to buy them.
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=491

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 17:35:47

I'll add my welcome to the Association, Steve. This forum does have a wealth of information available for you. I've got an 84 with the same plaid material and we're looking for alternatives, i.e. "the admiral" is looking. Glad to hear that you will be at Mobile Yacht Club. We're in Tennessee, but my wife is from Mobile, and her sister lives upstream across the street from houses on Dog River. Next time we're going down there, I'll try to let you know and maybe we can get together. MYC is a nice club. We took our C-22 down there several years ago and they let us use an empty slip for the week at no charge.
BTW, are you planning to enter the Dauphin Island race which starts across the bay?

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 17:44:58

Congratulations on your "new" sailboat ! This forum is just a welcome source of info that enhances your sailing experience. It's like being a member of a club.

From the looks of your top issues right now....if that is your major concerns, then it sounds like you have a sailboat in really good condition.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2008 : 10:19:27

Welcome to the forum and the fleet, Steve.

This brings back a few memories for me since I briefly lived in Pascagoula and spent some time in Mobile Bay while my ship was being commissioned. (The ship was the USS Mobile Bay.)

Anyway, I look forward to hearing about your adventures with your new boat and "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

Edited by - on

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