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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Advice for possible purchase

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gpc
Deckhand

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17 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/11/2011 : 08:52:38

Thinking about purchasing a 2001 Catalina 250 WK. It has had only one owner, and has been sailed in the Chesapeake. I plan to sail it, day sailing/maybe overnight, in the northern half of the Chesapeake. Anything I should be worried about?

Thanks

Greg C., Berwyn PA
Tidewater Marina, Havre de Grace
2001 C250WK #0559

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 09:53:58

Have the boat surveyed. Then you'll know what you have to worry about in regards to repairs or issues.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 10:15:32

If it's the one in Essex it looks very nice in the pics. Very good asking price too, given the age and options. I had noticed this one as soon as it came on the market.

Everyone says it's still a down market, but late model boats that are well cared for are still in demand, which is reflected in the final price and time on the market. If this boat is as nice as the pics show, I'd say go for it. Availability and asking prices of used C250s are highly variable, because they aren't nearly as ubiquitous as other models, so when you find a good one at a decent price you should get it or be prepared to wait a long time for another good one to come up in your area (unless you're willing/able to trailer a long distance).

I've enjoyed my C250WK over the past year for daysailing and one 3-day cruise. It's a perfect size for my needs right now. I expect to have it for several years, which is why I'm investing in new sails and other updates.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/11/2011 10:16:59

gpc
Deckhand

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17 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 10:35:16

Rick,
I am up 6+ miles on 252 from you. How is the sailing on the Delaware. Never thought about putting a boat down there when the Chesapeake is so close.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 10:37:31

Also, you may want to do some reading up here about the different rudder designs (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation). The 3rd generation rudder is better balanced, giving significantly better handling, especially the wing keel version (which is longer than the waterballast version).

I am not sure when the 3rd gen rudder came out, but you should learn enough to determine by looking at it whether it's on the boat. If not, you may want to budget for a replacement.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 10:54:13

I have a '99. I particularly like it because there really are no systems to worry about. I've described it as basically a big plastic bucket with a stick in the middle. I agree that a survey would be a good idea but, there's not a whole lot for a surveyor to look at. The deck, the hull, the keel and the rigging. The one serious concern I'd have is the status of the standing rigging, particularly since the boat is on salt water.

Will this be a first boat or are you moving up/down from something else?

Welcome to the forum.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 11:30:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gpc
 Rick,
I am up 6+ miles on 252 from you. How is the sailing on the Delaware. Never thought about putting a boat down there when the Chesapeake is so close.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sailing the Delaware has been a lot more fun than I expected. I held off buying this boat for many years because our parenting/work commitments would prevent us making the 1-2 hour drive (each way) to the Bay. Finally I decided to try the Delaware because it's a 12 minute drive from my house. This opened up a lot of possibilities for sailing after work, heading down to the boat "on impulse" if the conditions looked nice, and turning around from the marina and going home if conditions looked bad (instead of trying to force something in because we had driven so far).

The Delaware is not as scenic as many areas of the Chesapeake, but people sail around the industrialized Baltimore area all the time. The Boeing plant, Navy Yard, Casino, soccer stadium, etc. aren't a half-bad backdrop for sailing.

You do a lot of tacking, but can often stay on a tack for 20 minutes or so. (Last September I made it all the way down to the C&D Canal on one tack!) I think there's plenty of room for a 25 footer - not sure I'd want to go much larger than that, though many do.

There's a huge sailing marina up in Riverside, NJ, where the river's even narrower. Essington is actually better for sailing because it's wider. There's also a very active (but very expensive) sailing club in Essington, and the Penn sailing team trains there. They've been out every day this past week, which makes it really tempting.

I think the air is a little more predictable and steadier in July-August on the Delaware. The Bay has a reputation for going totally dead during those months. Also, since it's so close, I have more flexibility to pick my days based on the weather.

You do need to learn how to deal with the currents, both in sailing and in docking. For daysailing, you try to go with the current whenever possible (turn around at slack water). Running or broad reach against the current is fine. Close-hauled against peak current is almost impossible - you may feel like you're going fast, but look over at shore and see yourself going backwards. But all of this can be handled with planning. You either go up river or down river depending on the current and how far you are from slack water.

Airport traffic is very loud in Essington, but you get used to it, and it's much less once you're further up or down the river from the runway.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 12:42:52

The 2001 has the third generation balanced rudder.

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 12:54:45

That explains everything. My first generation ex-wife had an unbalanced rudder. No wonder things didn't work out.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 18:21:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 That explains everything. My first generation ex-wife had an unbalanced rudder. No wonder things didn't work out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Couldn't steer her in the right direction, eh?

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 18:50:20

Regarding surveying a "big plastic bucket" with few systems to worry about... The boat is 10 years old, which is almost new for a sailboat, but not quite. What percentage of your presumed price is $350-400? Less than you'll give your state in sales taxes? For sure, less than you'll spend in your first trip to West Marine after you buy her. DPO's (_____ Previous Owners) sometimes do ______ things, or fail to do what they should have done. Make the satisfactory survey a contingency for the sale, and then attend it with a clip-board. You'll (1) learn some things about the boat, (2) get a prioritized list of things to attend to, and (3) sleep better... or (4) find something that either forces a price adjustment or suggests that you walk away. You'll get a nice report in addition to the notes you've taken.

If you buy through a broker, the deal will almost certainly be done that way, as a matter of professional ethics of the broker.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 19:36:00

Getting a survey is a very good idea, and in your area it sounds like finding a surveyor shouldn't be a big deal.

At a bare minimum, get yourself a copy of Don Casey's [url="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071445455/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0070133948&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0PTR2NMMMWPHS8RMKEGE"]Inspecting the aging sailboat.[/url] And read it cover to cover at least twice, maybe three times if this is your first sailboat. It might be the best $15 or so you ever spent. The section on the half hour inspection can give you enough information to let you know if you're wasting your time, or should proceed.

When you have your survey done, you'll know what the surveyor is doing and why. Plus you'll have a better understanding of what needs to be done (there are always things that need to be done, always) and what you might be getting yourself into.

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