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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Newbie's final choices: C-22 vs C-25

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Slingerland
1st Mate

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USA
96 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/25/2010 : 14:48:18

Good afternoon! As you all know, I am looking at purchasing my first sailboat, and I’ve narrowed the list to two: a C-22 swingkeel and a C-25 fixed keel. Both boats are in excellent shape. With the help of the folks on this forum (plus some new local friends) my wife and I have gone through the physical and mechanical advantages of the two boats.

As a first boat… and given that I live in Arkansas… the boat will spend almost its life with me on Lake Maumelle, a local lake. The lake is 15 minutes away from my house, with a sailing club and an ASA instructor. I want to learn to safely cruise, not race (my kids may have other plans, but it’s my money not theirs… they can buy their own Hobie Cat if they want to…)

I would like to ask a question if I may, to those people who have actually sailed both boats: how do the boats handle, relative to each other? In other words, how would the boats compare to each other? I’m looking for comparisons such as “the C-22 is faster and lighter, but the C-25 is more steady is wind” etc. Which boat is more stable at anchor? Which boat bounces worse? Sharper turns? Etc., etc….

Which boat would make a better “first” boat, a boat to learn on?

Thanks!

Howard

Howard Warren
Little Rock, AR
1979 C-25 #1435, "Novia"

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 15:31:26

I've owned both boats. The C25 is overall a better boat. It's a joy to sail. It's more rugged. It has rounded chines, compared to the C22's hard chines, i.e., a rounded bottom vs. a flattish bottom. That means the C25 will have less initial stability than the C22, but more ultimate stability. That means the C25 will begin to heel more easily, but as the winds increase, it will stiffen. The difference you will see in performance is that, as the wind increases in strength, the C22 will heel until it reaches a point where it becomes unstable, and then it will suddenly round up to windward. It won't hurt anything, but it's unnerving when it happens. By comparison, as the wind increases, the C25 will heel increasingly, but, if it is well-tuned, it will continue to heel more until the rudder pulls out of the water, and then it will wallow on it's side until you let it come up by easing it's control lines. If the C25 isn't as well-tuned, it will round up to windward at some point, but not as abruptly as the C22.

This isn't a design flaw in either boat. It is a perfectly normal characteristic of the hard chined boat vs. the rounded chined boat. Nevertheless, it is unnerving if you don't understand what's happening and why. Any sailboat with a flattish bottom similar to the C22's will behave in generally the same way.

Both boats point about the same angle to the wind, but the C25 is a little faster and will point a smidgen higher.

The C25 has more interior space and more head room than the C22.

The most important difference as I see it is that the C22 is much easier to trailer, launch and rig than the C25. When I bought my C25, I intended to trailer it alot, but the difficulty of doing so discouraged me. The C22 can easily be trailered by a smaller tow vehicle, and a husband and wife can easily launch it and rig it in very little time.

If you intend to keep the boat in the water through the season, and only launch and haul it at the beginning and end of the season, I'd recommend the C25. If you want to take it places, the C22 would be a much better choice.

Either boat would be a good platform for learning to sail.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 08/25/2010 15:44:46

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 18:15:54

We've owned both and from day one of the C22 purchase we were on the lookout for a C25.

The C25 is a much more stable boat in every respect.

We don't find trailering the C25 all that challenging. We do have a procedure for launching and retrieving and it trails fine behind a 1/2t, 5.7L V-8 pick-up - though we do have quad disc brakes on the trailer.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 18:48:27

Steve's got it exactly right. (OJ too.) I've sailed on the C-22 and owned a C-25, and both are very good at what they're designed to do. Both will take care of you, and neither is a "hot-rod" that you'll get into trouble with. You've seen the interiors for yourselves... A longer waterline generally allows a sailboat to go faster, but the C-22 can feel faster because it'll come closer to planing. Any bigger, heavier boat is steadier, although for the lakes in your area, the C-22 is just about as seaworthy as you'll ever need, and the C-25 could be said to be beyond that.

The real question remains what you want to do with it. You've described your interest in going to other lakes, particularly where your in-laws vacation... The C-25 is not only considerably more difficult to set up when trailer-sailing; the fixed (fin) keel version might not be launchable on the ramps that are available. Its waterline will be over 5' above the ground/ramp when on the trailer. If you're leaving her in one lake and want a solid, steady boat with accommodations, get the 25. If you want to move her around, the 22 is it.

Another thing to think about is the water you'll be in--your lake and others... The C-22 draws 5' with the keel down, and 2' with it up. The C-25 fin draws 4', period. You should never sail the C-22 with the keel up, but you can certainly raise it to motor into a cove, to a dock, close to a beach, or from and to a launching ramp.

By the way, it's perfectly normal to buy your first sailboat, have a great time with it while you learn what it is you really want, and then move on to another one. Most of us have done that--some several times! The good thing about Catalinas is that they're very well known and respected on the market, and still have a manufacturer as well as strong owners' groups and third party suppliers standing behind them. You can hardly go wrong.

So, you have us hanging here--let us know! And either way, stick around--it's a great group, and many have a lot of C-22 experience.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/25/2010 18:54:34

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 11:16:43

Step from the dock onto each of them, the 22 will heel a lot, the 25 hardly at all.

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andy
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 12:36:02

The only reason to buy the C22 over the C25 is if you're going to trailer sail it. Absolutely get the '25 if it's going to live in a slip... I really think the C25 is the best 25 footer there is for the money... especially for a first boat that's going to be lake sailed.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 15:24:16

Ditto to what Andy said. Bottom line, bigger is better, especially if you are not going to move it.

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Slingerland
1st Mate

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USA
96 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 19:00:40

Just thinking out loud... hypothetically of course... if the C-22's hull number just happened to be #10000, would that add anything to its future value?

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 19:29:40

I doubt it. If it was #0001, and in excellent condition, then you might have something. You might be able to make it's value grow if you stored it in a climate controlled environement for , I don't know, 50 years or so.

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