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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Looking to upgrade Boat.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 18:01:56

We toured a 270. Nice boat but the aft berth is VERY cramped with a very low ceiling. Much less sleeping comfort than our 250. Otherwise quite nice.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 10/28/2011 18:02:18

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 18:39:42

Wow. The dreaming of the next boat thread got started early this winter!! If anyone sees an Aloha 30 for cheap, I'm still keeping an eye out. Oh, but I need the keel shortened slightly. I wonder if Mars keel has a retrofit for it...

Edited by - Prospector on 10/28/2011 22:43:46

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 20:46:01

Thanks for feedback. Still not sure the Bene is worth the extra cash. Besides I'm not the type that has the extra lucer to throw at a yard to check into a problem that is beyond my ken (such as an inboard say...). Could trade plus put in 15 K for a 84 Hunter 34 which is a roomy, seaworthy craft, but then I'd be doing lots of work and little sailing or throwing lots and lots of money at a yard. I do like the c32 but they are to expensive. The c30 is big but it just bugs me that there is no teak on the floor and I would have to settle for a decade older. It may be (sigh) that the 250, the bare bones low frills pocket cruiser that she is, is the boat I need to accept. Besides, there may be no better boat for the buck.

Vern Wright

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 11:14:54

We had the same issues 13 years ago. We'd had our C25 for 12 years, and decided to move up. The 28 foot boats with inboard engines will give you less space than your C25. The C27 interior is not much bigger than a C25 either. IMHO the C28 was a wrong boat - too small for all the systems and way overpriced. The C30 was our first look, but we felt that compared to our C25 it was simply bigger, but not enough to warrant the leap. My wife pulled out the C34 brochure we'd had since a boat show in 1987, and this was 1997! We spent a year finding one.

The proportions of the C25 and C34 are almost identical. Compared to C30s, from a friend who owns one, the C34 sails much better. We love it, great light air boat, and wonderful in the heavy conditions we find here all summer.

This is not a pitch for a C34, the hunter will be nice, too, but check out the V berth in the Hunter: no room for your feet! with the narrow bow.

A move from a 25 to a 28 of any brand just isn't worth it. A C30 maybe, a C34 definitely.

I also agree that a Catalina with a 0 on the end of it (except for the 310 and the 470!!!) is a Winnebago compared to our C25s.

What ever boat you consider with an inboard engine: Do what I call the "dip stick test" --- if it's easy to get to you'll check the oil regularly. If not, you won't, nor will the PO have done so. Scary, but true. We had a Beneteau 350 on a bareboat - had to rip apart the aft cabin to even find the dip stick. Yikes!!!

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 12:01:22

Stu,
I had the opportunity to observe the local summer conditions in San Francisco last year and they are much more intense then what we deal with in SoCal. I can fully understand your move from a C25 to a C34. I have a friend whose in-laws just purchased a CAL28-2 that they have asked me to assist them with some instructional sails. He is 78!! I expect my friend will be doing most of the sailing. I will be curious to see if my assessment of the CAL28-2 matches your observation that a move from a 25 foot sailboat to a 28 foot sailboat "just isn't worth it". I'll let you know.

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 11/03/2011 12:01:43

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 12:38:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stu Jackson C34
 ....
I also agree that a Catalina with a 0 on the end of it (except for the 310 and the 470!!!) is a Winnebago compared to our C25s....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Good thing I'm not easily offended.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 12:54:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stu Jackson C34
 ....
I also agree that a Catalina with a 0 on the end of it (except for the 310 and the 470!!!) is a Winnebago compared to our C25s....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Good thing I'm not easily offended.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It is what it is.... I've sailed both.... Now about that Cal 28.... That's a boat!

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 13:28:33

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It is what it is.... I've sailed both.... Now about that Cal 28.... That's a boat!

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5362 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 15:04:41

At boat shows I've really appreciated the headroom, beam and space in the C309 (which is almost 32 LOA) and the smaller C30. My dockmate two years ago had a late 80s C30 for sale, and it was comfortable, but it had not been well maintained and was in bad shape.

I'd like to upgrade to a nicer C30 that I can single-hand, but I've seen prices like $25-30K on the Internet. But still being a 99%-er, I'd like a price closer to $15-20k.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 18:11:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I'd like to upgrade to a nicer C30 that I can single-hand, but I've seen prices like $25-30K on the Internet. But still being a 99%-er, I'd like a price closer to $15-20k.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
There are good C-30s in that price range; I'm looking at another one this winter. The bigger diesels, instead of the 11 HP, appeared in the mid eighties, as did the flat traveller.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 19:57:19

Ya, I haven't done a detailed inventory, but I've concluded generally that the later '80s (and newer) vintages of the C-30 are worth the premiums, somewhat like the mid and late '80s C-25s are. Sometimes the premium pays for itself in lower maintenance and upgrades that are imposed on you later, and improve the chances that you'll be able to sell the boat for a decent price when you graduate from the 99%.

I do still believe that the C-30 (with a diesel) is one of the best values, $-for-foot, out there. It won't turn heads, but it has decent manners, a timeless style, good spaces for its size, and is ubiquitous in the market--when you buy and when you sell. Open transoms and other contemporary features are nice, but they put you in a very different price range.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/03/2011 20:08:48

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 03:50:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 ....... Open transoms and other contemporary features are nice, but they put you in a very different price range.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Part of what we are looking for: The wife would like improved access to the water, and the walk-thru transom is really nice. I've looked at the newer boats with a dropping transom swim ladder: those are REALLY nice. If the mainsheet traveler wasn't on the the transom I might have considered trying a structural change on the C25. With aq cabin top traveler, split backstay: much more seems possible. Anyone already done such a mod? Any takers that want to try then write up a report? :O) The other feature is headroom. The 88 to 94 hunter 30 suites our needs very well, just don't know about it's sailing characteristics, along with the Cat 30's.
This thread has about convinced us the 28 may not be the right move. We have a friend with a C27. Dar likes the interior a LOT, but I think in actual usage, it will become too small too quick. It does sail great, with a light tiller.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 06:24:42

The C-30 Mk. III is nearly perfect to me, but costs almost as much as an early C-309, even closer to perfect boat. The C-30 Mk. II will probably be my choice if I move up in size.

I was a 1%er for a few years when the entry price was lower and found what a CPA friend said was true: "No matter how much you make, it's just enough to get buy." He related a story about one of his real 1%er clients who asked him to set up a budget since he was going through far to much money. The client's wife called him a few days after submitting the budget and asked how he thought she could possibly run a household on $10,000 a month.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 07:32:56

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

OOPS! NIC either C250 either!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 07:43:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ape-X
 Part of what we are looking for: The wife would like improved access to the water, and the walk-thru transom is really nice. I've looked at the newer boats with a dropping transom swim ladder: those are REALLY nice. If the mainsheet traveler wasn't on the the transom I might have considered trying a structural change on the C25. With aq cabin top traveler, split backstay: much more seems possible. Anyone already done such a mod?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Me. Passage (Bruce Ross's boat) used to live in a slip with no dock on either side--transom in to the dock. (I won't bother you with an explanation of the mooring system.) We boarded over the stern rail, which was a little too gymnastic for some people. So I cut out the section of the rail between the two transom stanchions and got some caps for the holes... Suddenly the cockpit was much more accessible from the dock or the swim ladder. Not having a split backstay helped. I figured that if the rail felt like it was weakened too much, I'd have the piece welded back on just above the traveler to stiffen it a little... but it didn't seem necessary.

However, I see that Bruce has replaced the whole rail, so the cockpit is enclosed again.

Edited by - on

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