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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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From a 250 to a Capri 26?

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/20/2009 : 15:11:41

What, IYHO, is the substantial, IMPORTANT, differences between a 250 and the Catalina Caprii 26? Both have 26' LOA's, the 26 is 1,000 lbs heavier, has a foot wider beam, only 100% furling jibs, and standing headroom. Bottom line: which boat has the best sailing performance, especially in winds exceeding 20 knots? Just curious

Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 15:45:51

Frank, I saw and was aboard a Capri 26 at the dock and I've sailed a C250. The Capri 26 is a real nice boat but they are rare. Much nicer than the C250. If I was you I'd consider a Cat 27 with outboard or a Cat 30. Cat 28 if you can find one.

You can get a Cat 30 with everything in nice condition for $15K. By everything I mean bimini, dodger, roller furling, inboard diesel, decent sails. You can seat 8 on a Cat 30.

Didn't you have a 30 foot minimum at your dock?

Come on, buy one here and I'll help you sail it up to Long Beach.

There are good reasons to move up to a 30. Not so good to move up just 1 foot.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 16:10:37

I made a no decision on a 30: too many "systems"; I'd be at the mercy of diesel mechanics and marine electricians and not easy to single hand. So I decided to go for a 27 until a got some info on the 26: easier to single hand, standing headroom, walk-thru transom with a swim step, and O/B power and a tiller helm. Plenty of boat for a simple old-er dude. AND the dinette area converts to a BIG king size berth.
To date I haven't even seen one, let alone gone aboard or sailed. There's a 1990 for sale in San Pedro through Boat City brokers. I'm seeing it tomorrow afternoon. If I decide on it, I can arrange a swap with the broker. Yeah, I'd get more for my 250 if I sold it myself but I don't want the hassle. And if I'm not happy with the 26 I'm back to looking for a late model 27. I'd still rather trade with a broker.
And, yes, Shoreline Marina up here has a 30' minimum. With my homemade bow sprit spinnaker rig, I'm 31'.

Edited by - AADIVER on 03/20/2009 16:21:12

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 17:35:20

I know you're a little older but I don't think a Cat 30 is much harder to single hand - with a roller furling jib.

Yes, the main is slightly harder to flake. Get lazy jacks. Autopilot a must.

I guess if you want to dive, then the walk through transom is a requirement.

I think you'll like the Capri 26. All of us at Fleet 7 loved it.

There is a Cat 27 right next to me, frankly, not much difference. Bigger cockpit. Heavier mast.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 17:38:12

Check out this Catalina 28

http://www.yachtworld.com/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?currency=USD& units=Feet& id=1897836& lang=en& slim=quick&

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 19:07:20

Way too much for my modest budget and it's a wheel helm. I be a tiller helm dude. No seamanship reason to have a wheel for anything under 40 LOA, IMHO. What year was the 28 introduced?

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 20:27:39

While inside cabin on your C250 and you hit your head again....what is the first thing that comes to the mind?

paulj

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2009 : 23:09:03

Standing headroom a MUST!
So we're both in our eightieth "year (decade) to Heaven". How do you like single handing a 31?

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2009 : 22:28:31

Well, so much for a Capri 26. Not that much bigger than our 250's and the o/b engine is almost impossible to control from the cockpit; standing headroom but my head touches the roof and you still have to stoop further forward. So I'm back to looking for a 27.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2009 : 07:05:08

Frank, have you thought about a Flicka? It is 20'LOA, has full standing headroom, and is designed to comfortably accommodate two people for extended cruising. You have to see one to appreciate how much living space can be created in a 20' boat. It is a very well respected design by Bruce Bingham that is intended to be a mini bluewater cruiser. It is not a racehorse, but it sails very nicely. When my C25 was new, I sailed alongside a Flicka for a couple of days, and it nearly matched my speed, so it is by no means slow. The boat exudes quality.

I checked Yachtworld, and there's a Flicka listed, asking $16,900., located at Marina Del Rey. The following hyperlink will take you to the listing.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=2016261& ybw=& units=Feet& currency=USD& access=Public& listing_id=57429& url=

There's also a nice looking Flicka with a trailer in Mazatlan, Mexico.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=2030854& ybw=& units=Feet& currency=USD& access=Public& listing_id=2426& url=

Edited by - Steve Milby on 03/22/2009 09:17:08

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2009 : 12:54:23

The Flicka truly is a marvelous little boat, but for guys our age, the potty under the v-berth can be an issue if we have an overnight companion.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2009 : 14:23:07

To keep my slip in Shoreline Marina, Long Beach, I have to have a LOA no shorter than 30' My 250 qualifies with the homemade bow sprit I installed for my non-existent spinnaker. With a 27 and the sprit I'd measure out at 32'. So a Flicka is out, and even if it qualified, an inclosed marine head is an absolute must.

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welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2009 : 16:50:15

Frank,
I had a C27 prior to my C250. Hopefully I won't get blasted here, but I think it is a better sailor than my C250. It tracked better and you could just feel her when she feel in her groove. I could set the old tiller master and she would just round up a little in the puffs and then fall back on the heading. You could almost feel a hum through the tiller when she was sailing in her groove. My C250 is a little more hands on and you have to pay more attention in the wind puffs. The extra 2K lbs in displacement is noticable and appreciated as the wind picks up. Note, the C27 will have a larger head sail to look around and manage - probably a 150% to get the most out of her, but with a furler you can manage and reduce sail area.

Head room is fairly decent in the cabin but falls off towards the head area (I am 6 ft tall). V-berth was a little tight - I had a double bed conversion in the cabin and always used it to sleep. Different years had different layouts, there are upgrades to chain plates, different head layouts, ect. You have probably already found all this info.

I personally like the 1985 year and newer for the exterior changes made, windows, small hatches in coach roof, ect.

I am also kind of thinking along your lines and have been watching your up sizing dilemia. I don't trailer my C250 as much as I thought I would (she is slipped) and I would sure like the standing head room. I like my Marinia but would only be able to go up to a 28' boat (and the waiting list is years/generations long for larger). I am interested to see what you end up going with if you make the change.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2009 : 17:32:07

Since you've made the decision to jump, I think you should go back to the original idea of a C30. I know you want a tiller and they can be found albeit rare. I just think that going to a C27 is moving up without really moving up. The LWL is only 2"(that's INCHES, not Feet) more than the C25. Admittedly it's heavier than our 250s but so's the C30 and the length will be kinder in rougher water.

My opinion, of course, is worth every bit of what it costs.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2009 : 18:51:54

I was serious about the Catalina 28. However, if you want to stick to a smaller boat it doesn't have to be a Catalina. I really like the Cal 29. You can probably find one with a tiller. You'll have the atomic 4 or a small diesel.

Here's a link

http://www.yachtworld.com/listing/cache/pl_search_results.jsp?cit=true& slim=quick& ybw=null& sm=3& is=& type=%28Sail%29& man=cal& hmid=0& ftid=0& enid=0& fromLength=29& toLength=29& luom=126& fromYear=& toYear=& fromPrice=& toPrice=¤cyid=100& city=& spid=104& pbsint=& ps=30

The second one has a tiller and is less than $10K in Marina del Rey.

PS - don't much care for the Cal 27 or 28. Small, heavy, wet boats. Have sailed both.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2009 : 16:18:32

Jim, I just took a look at your link to the 28. Now that is a beauty. I am kinda like Frank, in that I love my tiller but I would consider giving that up for a 28. Isnt the LOA actually 29? I am sure they are double the price of ours.
Steve

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2009 : 21:31:24

The first keel boat I ever sailed on was a Cal 29 on Canyon Lake. I loved that boat! You could really feel the power of the wind as it accelerated. It had a different feel than my C25. Probably because it was a fin keel and mine is a wing keel.

Another thing I liked was sleeping in the right rear quarter berth. The waterline was right at ear level and I always slept really good with the water lapping against the side of the hull.

Edited by - GaryB on 04/04/2009 21:35:25

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