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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 07:49:16

I'd hold out for a diesel.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 08:49:18

I'd certainly be willing to pay more for a diesel, but I wouldn't reject it merely because it's an Atomic 4. Having put many miles and many hours on an A4, it's an outstanding engine. It's very safe, reliable, easy and inexpensive to repair and maintain.

Edited by - on

crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 09:50:05

I just have to throw in my two cents here. I owned a Cape Dory 30 for about 6 years, mostly on Lake Pontchartrain, then sailed her down to Puerto Rico where I sailed around there for a few years then sold her. One of life's saddest days. In those days (late 80's) nobody had heard of the chainplate problems, and I never had any other problems. The boat was a delight in every manner. I don't remember anything about initially being tender, maybe a little so, but not enough to note. I DO remember that with the staysail set, the Yankee flying and no reefs in the main, point her to weather, give her 15-20 knots of wind and just sit back for the ride because you are in for a real treat. You trim the jib and main, then fine tune it with the staysail and boyoboy. (Don't let me get carried away here. I really miss that boat.) As somebody noted before, she is a little small inside, like all of Alberg's boats, but you can live with it.
I pulled into a marina in Key Marathon, tied up, sat down at the bar and three buys came up saying "that's a Cape Dory, isn't it? Where you bound?" It doesn't get a lot better until you get a lot rich.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1797 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 14:42:38

I’ve owned smaller Alberg designs and would agree whole heartedly that they “sail on their bottoms” when the wind picks up -- and I too think sadly of when each was sold. However they are much smaller than any Catalina – in cockpit and below decks – which is a compromise that many do not wish to make. Also the newer Alberg models are all getting long in the tooth; you really need to be committed to investing time and resources into maintenance. However if time is not an issue, for serious offshore work a VERY good option!

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 18:05:24

.....now you're talking

CD30s seem to b plentiful

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 18:26:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by crcalhoon
 I just have to throw in my two cents here. I owned a Cape Dory 30 for about 6 years... I don't remember anything about initially being tender, maybe a little so, but not enough to note. I DO remember that with the staysail set, the Yankee flying and no reefs in the main, point her to weather, give her 15-20 knots of wind and just sit back for the ride because you are in for a real treat...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">There it is from the horse's mouth. The link I posted earlier was for a CD-30 cutter--with almost 2' less beam than a C-30, it's clearly a different boat above and below. A narrower hull gives a little less initial stability (they like to heel), but substantially more "ultimate" stability (avoiding capsize). And Alberg's hulls are designed to sail at a certain degree of heel--not upright. So in many respects, this is not your floating condo--it's for sailing on oceans (and Buzzard's Bay).

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2010 : 14:35:08

The Alberg boats I've sailed also had comfortable, adult-sized bunks.

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 03:49:29

and as a finale: I sold my C25 for a song to a local guy about 2 weeks ago. Hes been sailing almost daily. He had the drifter up the first sail he took (just to make me jealous! <jk>).

I have a deposit on a C34, survey is next week. Wow, am I excited. If all goes well we will sail her from RI to Ma. next weekend. Gonna miss the simplicity of the C25 for sure, but had to try a bigger one before I get too old. Stay tuned!

Edited by - hinmo on 09/25/2010 03:50:36

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 08:29:32

Welcome to the Admiralty! The C-34 is a wonderful boat--I have some very good friends with one. Are you getting a Mark II (sugar-scoop stern)?

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 10:21:29

Thanks
Mk I, 1989
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1989/Catalina--2260457/Portsmouth/RI/United-States

its my co-workers. It shows better than the ad depicts. He gave me a nice deal to "keep it in the family"

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 13:23:10

Looks nice! Unusual dodger... Does it also have some isinglass sides? It looks like the various panels snap out.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5418 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 18:22:42

John
My dockmate has this boat.
Nice lines, excellent liveability and handles LI Sound chop and slop like a dream.
Congratulations and best of luck with her.
I've been thinking about a 30 or 309, but time (and the Benjamins) will tell!

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1797 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 19:02:47

The 34 is in many ways a sleeper -- nice size and a better value than many and not all that much more than a like-aged C30. Let us know how the transition goes! going up five feet to a C30 intimidates me -- nine feet might put me over the edge . . . .

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 20:49:38

The C-34 seems like such a good size cruising boat with many previously owned examples available around the country. I've dreamt about picking one up, but I think I would love the roominess of a C-36 instead. There are always a few of both of them for sale around the Chesapeake Bay, old and new, project boats and ready-to-go beauties.

Good luck with the survey!

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 01:52:36

Dave - the owner just had the dodger made last season. He is not happy with the sides, which are zip out panels. He wishes they had glass. My son is a canvas designer by trade. I will have him add some glass panels to the side curtains.

Peter - not worried about the size. I rarely bring my boat to the dock, it lives on a mooring. I will likely motor to/from the mooring for some time to get used to sailing characteristics in tight quarters. Other than that, it has a couple halyards, a couple sheets and two sails....like the C25!

Can't wait to hit Marthas Vineyard next season!

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 06:09:08

JohnP,
I had a couple on my boat a couple of weeks ago. They're looking to downsize from their BRAND NEW C36 because they can't park it. It sits in the slip as a condo on the water because it's too much boat for them to manage in close quarters. No, this wasn't a first boat, they made typical moves up from a 20-something to their 36. I think they just need a bow thruster. Seems like maybe they had more money than sense.

I think the 34 makes more sense for me for those reasons. But, they're all easy to handle in my dreams.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 08:10:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hinmo
 Dave - the owner just had the dodger made last season. He is not happy with the sides, which are zip out panels. He wishes they had glass. My son is a canvas designer by trade. I will have him add some glass panels to the side curtains.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">What was he thinking?? I'm glad it'll be easy to disassemble and re-assemble--you don't want to go into Vineyard Haven harbor with tunnel vision!

You're gonna love that 34 in Buzzard's Bay chop! One thing to be prepared for: An inboard gives amazing steerage in forward gear--she'll practically turn on her axis as the prop-wash pushes on the rudder, especially turning to port... but in reverse, it's like a rudderless barge until you have some way on. Plan your maneuvers accordingly--you'll get the feel.

Now introduce yourself to Stu Jackson!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/26/2010 08:29:39

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 11:41:36

Actually - if you google images Cat 34, you'll see several with solid side panels ???

IF anyone is still listening to this thread, there is one thing with Cats that still freaks me out...the SMILE.
Don't know if this Cat 34 has had it, but one up street on the hard does, and it looks scary

(ps - my cat 25 did not have it)

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 13:09:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hinmo
 ...there is one thing with Cats that still freaks me out...the SMILE...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That can be a topic in your survey. Older C-25s with naked cast iron fin keels had it, while my '85 with the glass-encapsulated lead keel did not. Will you be able to participate in the survey?

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 13:18:20

Dave - The C34 up the street is a 87. I have looked at 4 C30s in the past month, 2 were 1987 and a 1989...they both had SMILES.

I have read many, many versions of the Cat SMILE story, the general consensus is its no biggie.....maybe not, but it looks really scary.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 19:10:55

I'd suspect it's a "biggie" primarily if the keel stub to which the keel is bolted is cored with wood, as is the case with the C-25. That's something I'd ask about and have probed in a survey, with the moisture meter inside the bilge. The good news is that for all of the publicity over the "Catalina smile", I haven't heard of Catalina keels falling off. And there are enough around that I think we would have heard.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5418 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 20:16:31

Good news, that's the last thing I want to fall off the boat!
I'd rather see the beer cooler go overboard!

So today I visited the dock to close 'er up before the coming rains, and my dockmate with the Cat 34 introduced me to his wife and new baby - she's two months old.

Then he announces "Bruce, I am planning to sell the boat" and chokes up. His wife takes over saying, "yes, WE decided WE just don't have time any more with the baby, it's really hard taking her out, yada-yada-yada......."

I said, "sorry to hear that but....by the time she's four or five, she ought to be a natural" and that was that - fell on deaf ears.

I asked, "do you mind if I ask what price you're looking for?" He said, "She's an '89 wing keel, standard rig with an M35 diesel and I'm asking $39.5-40K for it." He said he'd be willing to knock off a few thou if I can sell her before winter.

I said I'd ask around..... Afterwards he said, "...but if I can't find a buyer, I might have to hold onto her." "Hmmmmmm...", I said, "yeah, you might have to at that."

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2010 : 06:35:35

The infamous "We"...

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hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2010 : 09:00:58

Not sold on wingers, but I'm kinda a traditionalist

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5418 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2010 : 11:41:05

John and Dave
Do you think my buddy's boat is "priced to sell"?

Yes Dave, the infamous "WE".

[edit] John, If he didn't have a winger, he'd be sitting in the 4ft of mud at MLLW.

Edited by - Voyager on 09/27/2010 11:42:29

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