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Newby question - is the C25 a good 1st boat?

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Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 10:48:16

Thanks, Dave. Great amplification. Vicki learned to . . . go sailing . . . on our Mobjack, including the lesson that flipping the boat isn't fatal. Nonetheless, it takes her about a half hour on the C25 to remember that we're not going to capsize every time the boat heels. People have different levels of risk tolerance that may never be overcome.

And no, she won't ride roller coasters, either!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 11:00:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Even Chance
 And no, she won't ride roller coasters, either!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Nor will I. My last (and I do mean last) ride was against my better judgement--with my daughter at Disney World.

My wife had more sense, but our daughter insisted on having one of us...

Having learned on a Sunfish and sailed many years on a 17' Daysailer (that was perfectly capable of capsizing), my wife appreciated heeling as evidence that we were really moving... She'd get impatient when the boat was upright with limp sails. It's a threshold that's difficult to define, but I'm convinced that taking the tiller and sheet on the Sunfish was what put her over it.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/06/2010 12:17:08

brrit
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2010 : 05:58:16

I agree with most of the other folks here - if you enjoy the 3 hour tour, buy the 25. You'll love it.

My wife and I had limited sailing experience and are still learning, but have thoroughly enjoyed our Catalina 25 for the past three summers.

I like your idea of lessons next summer. You might also check into "club boats" at the club offering the lessons. Most of the sailing clubs around me have boats that you can "borrow" to learn on. One close to us offers Optis for the kids, another sunfish and butterflies, and if you're serious another one offers J boats. So, you might look into something similar near you. Learning on a laser, butterfly, or sunfish would make you, and more importantly your wife, more comfortable sailing your 25 much quicker.

Overall, you'll love the boat and the group here. The folks on this forum can answer just about any question you have as you learn more about your new 25.

Edited by - on

dubbinchris
Navigator

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209 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 02:21:45

I hoping to not thread crash too much here. I'm also looking at a C-25 to purchase. It's on my local craigslist and I'll be going to look at it tomorrow. I'll have a digital camera and a flashlight to look in every nook and cranny. The asking price is $1500 and it comes with a trailer and all sails and jibs. Ad says it needs interior work and keel wor and was bought two years ago for $2500. The one picture that was posted isn't very clear. When I asked about what actually needed to be done, this was her reply. "She was pulled out of Lake Erie and trailered to Dayton. We trailered it to the house, where she has languished in our back yard. The keel has a crack and needs some lead fill. Interior needs mostly cleaning--from what I've been told. I have arthritis and am not able to climb up to see. Don't have other photos to send you" I'm not 100% sure what I'm getting into yet. My reason for posting is that I joined this site hoping to find a thread that would tell me where and what to look for when buying a C-25. What problems are common and how do I spot them? Can someone point me to a thread or post a list of things to look for on these boats. I understand that this could be a total disaster and I might end up having to pass, but I won't know until I go look at it. Again sorry for thread crashing, and thanks for any help that can be had.

Chris

Edit: She does't know what year it is, but tells me the HIN is IN465UA. Does this make any sense? It seems too short.

Edited by - dubbinchris on 09/14/2010 02:35:20

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 04:44:40

dubbinchris, start a new thread. The HIN makes no sense, could that be an Indiana registration number? This sounds like a marginal deal that will involve more time and money than an initially more expensive boat, but looking is an educational process that eventually leads to the right boat. Send me an email - I live close to Dayton

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 07:01:01

Howard,
I saw on another thread that you purchased Novia. Congratulations! I'm sure that you will all have a lot of fun on her!
1. While you are learning to sail her, remember that she weighs over 2 tons and that generates a lot of momentum. When I'm teaching newbies here, they all have a tendency to over steer the boat during tacks. I have to remind them to center the tiller BEFORE the boat reaches the new point of sail because she will continue to turn a little bit from momentum.
2. The same consideration goes for docking. "Approach a dock no faster than you are willing to hit it!"
3. Make sure your wife gets a lot of time on the helm. It will help her overcome the fear of heeling.
Also, remember that most of the heeling is generated by the main sail. If the heel angle gets uncomfortable, let the main out.
4. While you are in learning mode, if the wind is above 10 mph, consider reefing the main before leaving the dock, and stay with the smaller headsail. This will reduce heeling.
Above all, enjoy!!!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 07:18:18

Welcome Chris... There are "articles" in our Tech Tip section, submitted by a member--one on [url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/summertm.asp"]Shopping for a C-25[/url], and another on [url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/summert2.asp"]Self-appraising a C-25[/url]. Then you can search the C-25 forum for threads--try looking for the word "survey"--that'll bring up discussions on buying boats.

The number she gave you is the Indiana registration number on the bow. The hull number will be on the registration papers (if she has them). It is also scratched (literally) into the gelcoat just below the rub-rail on the starboard (right) side of the transom. It's 12 characters/digits long, starting with "CTY", which is followed by the "serial number" of the hull. The last two numeric digits will be the year.

Good luck--this one sounds like it might be a learning step in your quest. It has often been suggested that a C-25 will cost you at least (I'll pick $7500) no matter how much you initially pay the seller. That's to say the $1500 is likely just the bare beginning...

Edit: Also, when you're buying a boat with a shaky history, make sure you know what documentation is required for registering her in your state, and then be sure you get it from the seller. This has been an issue for many boat buyers...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/14/2010 07:24:09

dubbinchris
Navigator

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209 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 13:55:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 Welcome Chris... There are "articles" in our Tech Tip section, submitted by a member--one on [url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/summertm.asp"]Shopping for a C-25[/url], and another on [url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/summert2.asp"]Self-appraising a C-25[/url]. Then you can search the C-25 forum for threads--try looking for the word "survey"--that'll bring up discussions on buying boats.

The number she gave you is the Indiana registration number on the bow. The hull number will be on the registration papers (if she has them). It is also scratched (literally) into the gelcoat just below the rub-rail on the starboard (right) side of the transom. It's 12 characters/digits long, starting with "CTY", which is followed by the "serial number" of the hull. The last two numeric digits will be the year.

Good luck--this one sounds like it might be a learning step in your quest. It has often been suggested that a C-25 will cost you at least (I'll pick $7500) no matter how much you initially pay the seller. That's to say the $1500 is likely just the bare beginning...

Edit: Also, when you're buying a boat with a shaky history, make sure you know what documentation is required for registering her in your state, and then be sure you get it from the seller. This has been an issue for many boat buyers...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the info, it's exactly what I was looking for. I will start reading as I leave in an hour to go look at the boat. I'm also aware of the paperwork required as I just recently bought a Siren 17 and had to go through it all. Anyway she did email me back after sending her husband out to look at the transom and this what she said... "Michael went back to the transom and looked for the numbers you were asking for. (I had sent the numbers on the hull earlier, which didn't seem to do much good.)

All he could find was: Model C-25 Ser 253 Woodland Hills, CA Not saying the info isn't there, but he couldn't find it."

I apologize again for the thread crash. Sounds like Howard has some decisions to make so best of luck to him. I will start a new thread later tonight when I get home. I will take and post as many pictures as possible and get the forums opinions.

Thanks again,

Chris

Edited by - on

Slingerland
1st Mate

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USA
96 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 14:41:52

Chris, the woman found a construction plate that has the serial/sail number of the boat. it is not the complete hull number required by the government.

And I ended up buying "my" C-25 instead of teh C-22. And I love it!

Edited by - on

dubbinchris
Navigator

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209 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 14:43:34

Well that makes sense. Does anyone know what year this boat might be based on that number?

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 14:58:47

#253 would have been built in 1977, the first year of production. (The last was 1991). I deduced this from the Onwer's listing here--the original data that takes a few steps to get to now, starting with the Onwers link on the left of this page.

What's the keel (fin or swing) and rig (standard or tall)? I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know the rig. A tall rig has a 30' mast extrusion (not including the casting on the mast-head, and the standard is 28'.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/14/2010 15:04:47

dubbinchris
Navigator

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209 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 15:02:54

Original ownders listing? So it was for sale here at some point? Would love a link if you have one. The more info I have about this boat the better I'll feel.

Thanks,

Chris

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 15:30:46

No, Chris. There's an owner's registry for many but not all C-25s in another part of this website. #253 isn't there but the surrounding numbers allow the deduction that #253 (if that's actually the hull number) was built in 1977. If that's the case, the idea of a crack in the keel requiring some "lead fill" is problematic. The keels in 1977 were cast iron, not lead. If it has a fin keel, she might be referring to the notorious "Catalina smile". But, I thought all of the original boats were swingers

If so, that would certainly be an iron keel.

Edited by - John Russell on 09/14/2010 15:31:13

dubbinchris
Navigator

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209 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 17:15:33

Well I just got done looking at the boat and taking lots of photos. She is def not a swinger, but a fixed keel. I will create a new thread when I get home and post the link here so I can stop thread crashing.

Chris

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 17:57:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 ...I thought all of the original boats were swingers

If so, that would certainly be an iron keel.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Hull #1 and #3 are listed as fixed (fin) keels. The mix from there is random. All are cast iron--the fin became encapsulated lead in about 1983, I think.

Edited by - on

dubbinchris
Navigator

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209 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2010 : 23:48:43

Started a thread of my own....thanks for the understanding and help in this thread.

http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22228

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