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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

250...how small of a lake??

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FlyinFinn
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/01/2010 : 08:47:12

First of all, new member here and prospective 250 owner. Hello!

After a search I really couldn't find an answer to my question...

The closest body of water to me is Lake Arthur here in western PA.
It's a 3225 acre body of water.

I've sailed a flyin scot and a sunfish on this lake but not a 25 footer....what are your thoughts on the Cat250 actually being too big of a boat for this lake?

Here's a little map of the lake:
http://www.bananarepublican.info/images/mapimage.gif

Thanks!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 09:20:36

You might want to ask one of these guys...

Marina on Lake Arthur - from Google Earth

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 09:25:34

Welcome, good boat choice.

I'd think the best answer for this question would come from the sailors on the lake itself. For me, it looks really small and I think I'd get bored pretty quickly. While sailing the smaller boats, have you seen any larger ones? Can you get in touch with the folks that were sailing them? That's where I'd start. Having said that, there's a guy that just recently sold his 250 that sailed it at a small lake just west of you in Ohio. In fact, I bought mine from guy that sailed it on a small lake.

Pymatuning is a little further north but is considerably larger and has a restriction on horsepower so, there aren't any big stinkpotters. If I lived closer, that's where my boat would be.

If you haven't yet found the right boat, take a look at [url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21810"]this one[/url]. Yes, it's my boat.

Edited by - on

FlyinFinn
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 09:37:32

Thanks for the replies. I should probably try to make it to an event of the little sailing club they have...probably would be the best answer.

I know it's certainly doable. I just, like you said, don't want to get bored. I think a cat22 might be a better choice.

I live 9 miles from this lake. I work about 50 hours a week so I know the greater distance I am from my boat I am exponentially less likely to be on the boat.

Lake Erie is 99 miles from me, so I will head there on long weekends and also plan on heading to the Chesapeake Bay twice a year as I have family in Williamsburg.

Thanks again all!

Edited by - on

Dave Brown
Navigator

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USA
174 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 10:39:42

Branched oak lake in Lincoln Nebraska,
1800 sq acre.
115 slips
4 each catalina 250.
12 more sail boats that are larger, (3 each 30')+ 5 motor boat, up to 32'.
Its not the size of the lake, its what game you wont to play.
At 6 knots, it takes well over a Hour and 1/2 to go around the lake.
(It's more V shaped realy.)

Your lake is bigger then our's.
So buy the boat you like to sail, and have fun.
Don't let other people make up YOUR mind for you.
Dave B.
____________/)_____________/)____________/)))))_________________
.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 12:24:51

When I sailed on a small lake, I used to make a game of rounding the buoys at either end of the lake by timing myself. They were just 5 MPH buoys, but I used them to race against myself. There are lots of things to do, plus a C-250 makes a pretty good tent to sleep in over a weekend. While I agree that a C-22 might make a bit more sense from an ease of trailering point of view, get what you think you're going to enjoy.

When I had my San Juan 21 on a lake, I really-really liked the fact that I could step onto it, start the outboard, pull off the sail & gear covers, cast off the lines, and go sailing.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 13:12:05

Welcome Finn!

Our lake is 9,000 acres so yours is quite a bit smaller. Still, I think the C250 is a good choice. Being so close to Lake Erie opens the door for some cruising as does the Chesapeake. We take our C250 on two week cruises in the San Juan Islands. Great boat for it. If you go with a wing keel you'll want a 3/4 ton pickup.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 15:26:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 When I had my San Juan 21 on a lake, I really-really liked the fact that I could step onto it, start the outboard, pull off the sail & gear covers, cast off the lines, and go sailing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
David, that sounds like our c250!
Steve A

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 17:19:49

I sometimes long for the simpler days of lake sailing. Now it's checking tides, checking weather, dodging ferries, tugs & barges, liners, tour boats, etc. Then checking weather while I'm out, listening to 5 different channels on the VHF, 360° scans watching for approaching anything, dodging more boats, etc. It gets hectic.

My San Juan didn't even have a fixed radio, depth sounder, etc. I carried a handheld and a spare compass, but that was it. I had a big flashlight to shine on my sail if I happened to get stuck out after sundown (once).

Sailing on a small lake is just simpler.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 19:46:40

I used to sail on Canyon Lake in Texas and it's 8,230 acres. You lake is a little less than 1/3 the size.

Most of the time when I sailed on Canyon I used 1/3 or less of the available area and had a great time.

That was on a Hobie 16 which is way faster than C25/C250.

Go fot it!

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 08:07:42

With the trailering plans you have for Lake Erie and Chesapeake the Catalina 250 WATER BALLAST seems like the ideal choice for you. Bigger than that is impractical to trailer. Smaller than that is not at all suitable for big water.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 08:26:13

Flyin Flyn,

I'm a lake sailor as well. We can only sail south of I-30 and I never get bored. I don't know how comparative the size is but here's a map.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=+lake+ray+hubbard&sll=32.849244,-96.898356&sspn=0.886035,2.113495&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lake+Ray+Hubbard&ll=32.849308,-96.524849&spn=0.221511,0.528374&z=12

Looks like your lake has all sorts of coves and spots to explore. My biggest concern would be the depth. I would make sure the boat has a good depth meter. I think you could have all sorts of fun with a 250 or a 25 on that lake. Going sailing for me is as simple as starting the outboard (if that's even needed ) and throwing the lines and unrolling the head sail. I work and live about 10 minutes away from the marina and go sailing at least once a week.

Edited by - PCP777 on 09/02/2010 08:27:00

FlyinFinn
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 08:36:04

Very cool...I'm excited for April, when we'll be making our purchase.

thanks guys!

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 09:37:43

The difference between sailing on a small lake and a big bay is that on a small lake, you have no place to go, so you sail for the pure joy of sailing. You trim the sails, and listen to the rushing water and feel the power of the wind. When you get back to your slip, you'll find other sailors there who are your friends, and you'll socialize. On a big bay, you'll have someplace to go, but when you get there, nobody that you know is likely to be there. I sailed on a small lake for 23 years, and was never bored.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 10:56:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 The difference between sailing on a small lake and a big bay is that on a small lake, you have no place to go, so you sail for the pure joy of sailing. You trim the sails, and listen to the rushing water and feel the power of the wind. When you get back to your slip, you'll find other sailors there who are your friends, and you'll socialize. On a big bay, you'll have someplace to go, but when you get there, nobody that you know is likely to be there. I sailed on a small lake for 23 years, and was never bored.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I totally agree Steve except, at least on our lake, there are some places to go. We can sail up to restaurants, bars, a movie theater, cigar lounge, ice cream store, Bass Pro etc etc etc. We have 4 marinas and additional two well built docks with shopping, restaurants etc. which is pretty cool.

We have a certain cove where we all meet up to raft up and go swimming, another couple that are more protected where we over night.

The thing I do miss is that I lose the ability to explore at some point. Once you know the lake, you know the lake.

The other thing I like, since we're all confined, it's much more social on the water. We find friends out sailing and sail side by side etc. There's all sorts of sailboats out there to meet.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 12:44:37

The water ballast is definitely easier to tow but I will say we tow our WK about 400 miles each way to the San Juans once a year. It will take a beefier vehicle - 3/4 ton pickup for the wing keel. The WK draws 4' so the WB will get into shallower water if needed.

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mikesuej
Navigator

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USA
119 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 06:58:12

Absolutely not. Our C250 is slipped on Lake Taylorsville, KY which is 3050 acres. There are four other sailboats there, three of which are slipped, including an O'Day 30. Most of us have been there for years and still have not sailed the entire lake and we always have a blast. On the other hand if you are sailing for performance, get a jet ski. The C250 is a fine cruising boat and I never get tired of a weekend off on the lake on the C250 and sailing around with my wife. In some ways sailing a smaller lake you get better practice because you do have to tack and jibe so often, but by no means in the several years sailing have I ever thought our boat was too big for the lake. Never even occured to us. In fact, looking at the O'day 30, we've thought about putting a 35 footer in to be a home away from home. There are houseboats that are 60 feet long on the lake.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 09:37:31

I'm pretty sure that's an O'Day 26 in the left foreground of that photo I found (above) from your lake. There are more than a few other comparable masts.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 12:36:13

Here's the members' list from the [url="http://www.lasc.mycommunityhost.com/Home/tabid/256/Default.aspx"]Lake Arthur Sailing Club [/url]web site:
CAL 24 LA Woman
Cat 22 - Spangler
Cat 22 - Wayward Wind
Cat 25 - Bells Toil
CAT 25 - My Girl
CAT 25 - Sailabration
CAT 25 - SPLASH
CAT 25 - Sundancer
Cat 25 - Wandrin Star
Catalina 25 - Patriot
ComPac-19 Sailor Dog
H-23 Christy
H-23 More Like It
H-23 Winter Solace
H-26 Puff One
Jeanneau - Spirit
M-25 Hakuna-Matata
McCarthy Boat
O' Day 25 - Continuance
O'Day 23 - Ursa Minor
O'Day 272 - Lil' Mischief
O'Day 272 - Nicolette
O'Day 272 - Wobegon
O'Day 272 Y Knot
P-21 Miss Celtic Sundance
P-23 Bajka
Tanzer 22 - Misty Blue

Looks to me like a pretty nice place to have one of our boats!
They even have this scheduled: "June 26 - Full-Moon Sail"

Happy sailing!

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 13:43:07

With 9 Catalinas you could start your own fleet on that lake!

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sailingroja
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 15:52:53

We sail our Catalina 250 WK at Lake Carlyle, which has 26,000 acres. We have lots of activities on our lake, with multiple racing programs (dinghies and keelboats). I would bet that most of the time, I can't get my kids to sail more than about a quarter of the lake, since after a few hours of sailing they want to swim.

If you have more lakes in the area, especially a Great Lake or the eastern seaboard, a very trailerable boat might be better. I know one person at our lake who keeps his Cat 250 out of the water, and it seem like a lot of work to put it in and out of the water. A Catalina 22 might be a better choice for trailering, but the Catalina 250 has so much more room for staying over night. With our three kids, we wouldn't be able to manage sleeping overnight on a Cat 22.

Either way, once you're on the water, you'll start having fun!

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2010 : 08:28:38

I became the proud owner of my first sailboat (C250) this weekend! She'll be at Wilson Lake in Kansas, just over 9000 acres and it seems enormous. Can't wait to explore!

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2010 : 08:36:33

Congratulations Will! Welcome to the forum. Be sure to join the association. It'll be the best $22 you'll ever spend on your boat. AND, you get a cool sticker for your windshield.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2010 : 13:31:51

Welcome Will! What number is your 250? Mine is a 2000WK too. You'll love the boat and this forum.

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2010 : 17:32:56

Thanks guys! Looks like I'm 478. What a wealth of info here, glad I found you all!

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