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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

?'s About purchase and info on 94 250 wb

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ABK
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/07/2012 : 06:13:16

I am looking at a 1994 250 wb and I have a few questions that owners could help me with.

The boat looks like its in good cond. Furler, 7 yr old 9+ HP outboard, Bimini, trailer, extra genoa.

I was wondering what would be a good price to pay for it?

Where can I get specs on it?

I've read some reviews that state it is edgy to sail and the workmanship is not on par with other Catalina boats.

Any input would be helpful.
Thanks,

Bruce

Thanks,

ABK

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2012 : 07:24:38

Let me just say that I love my '99 C250 wing keel. That '94 is a water ballast, centerboard version, correct? So, there are some differences. Having said that, I think that you'll find the boat responsive and a pleasure to sail. Some would tell you that the 250 is "tender" when compared to the C25. I don't have first hand experience with the latter but I know the 250 probably needs to be reefed sooner than the C25. The higher freeboard may be the reason, I don't know. The water ballasted version has less headroom than the wing keel so, if you're tall, that may be an issue.

Here's a link to the Owner's manual: http://catalina-capri-25s.org/manbro/C250OwnersMan.pdf You'll find a lot of useful information just browsing the archives here.

The 250 water ballast was created to compete with the likes of Hunter and the MacGregor. When compared to the MacGregor, it is a superior boat by head and shoulders. Compared to the Hunter probably a head taller.

The real beauty of the centerboard version is its true trailerability. I wouldn't attempt being a "trailer-sailor" with mine primarily due to the extra weight (1500#) of the keel. It's also a bit more difficult to launch a 250 WK from a ramp -- doable, just more difficult.

I have a 2005 Tohatsu 9.8 and the only problems I've had with it were because of the guy controlling the throttle, not the motor itself. I'm not very mechanically inclined.

Let's just say you have to pay careful attention to the direction of current when you connect it to the battery and leave it at that.

Thank heavens for strategically placed fuses. There are a lot of threads here about the value of clean low-idle jets, etc., that would probably be helpful if I had any idea what those were.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to purchase the C250 is the community of friendly sailors you'll find on this site. For every issue you'll encounter with your boat, somebody here has been there, done that and has the t-shirt.

As for the price, I can't help you much. The trailer is a real plus, so it'll demand a higher price than a boat without one. You might do a search in our Swap Meet forum to see other asking prices. There's a '97 wing keel version posted there now in Maryland for around $15k. If you know somebody that can access the Yachtworld "brokers only" site, they'll have a listing of comparable boats' selling prices. The market has been a little soft lately and IMHO has favored buyers. You can also go to the Yachtworld site and the Sailing Texas site and search for similar boats for sale.

Edited by - John Russell on 04/07/2012 07:31:14

ABK
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2012 : 07:29:31

John, thanks for the info, links and quick reply too... I have a 1984 Macgregor and I need more room inside and a better overall quality boat too... Is there room under the cockpit inside ?

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2012 : 07:39:25

Mine has a double berth under the cockpit. I assume, ya know what that means

,it's the same in the '94 WB. The link to the owner's manual was for '95.

One more thing occurred to me and that is the tow vehicle requirement. You can tow a water ballast version with an F150. Not so with the wing keel although other opinions will vary.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2012 : 08:06:17

I've had a '95 WB for 11 years now, with trailer. The tenderness can be mostly resolved by reefing early and having the bigger aftermarket rudder. I think the opposite on the workmanship of other
Catalina boats I think the older ones were built to higher workmanship standards [JMTCW} than maybe the newer ones. Have you considered a survey? Probably worth it. A survey is a good tool for price reduction. Lot of info here on this forum for the C250.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2012 : 13:05:35

As John noted the key benefit of the water ballast is that it is very easy to trailer and launch and retrieve. For that benefit you give up about 8" of interior headroom and a bit more difficulty getting into and out of the aft berth. Also, I believe the water ballast models may not have a traveler and might have lighter winches.

The 250 is a fine boat and many of us have taken fairly extensive cruises on them. We take ours for two week cruises in the San Juan Islands. I suggest you check out the "Cruising" forum on this site and look for the posts by Zeil who has traveled extensively with his 250 water ballast. So too has the guru of 250's Arlyn Stewart who has taken big trips on the Great Lakes with his 250 water ballast.

As John also noted we reef early in heavy winds and she handles fine. The flip side is that the 250 will be moving right along in light winds while other boats may not.

I used to have a 1986 Catalina 22 and I find my 2000 C250 wing to be built every bit as well as the older boat. We have had the C250 for six years now and the quality/durability has been fine. We have no cracks, nothing has broken, no blisters, no leaky windows, nothing. I especially like the fact that there is no exterior teak which requires ongoing maintenance. Teak lovers will howl at that but I prefer to sail, not to do maintenance.

As for price I don't know. This is a buyers market so I suggest you come in low with your offer.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 04/07/2012 13:11:45

bill bosworth
Navigator

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USA
172 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2012 : 18:30:42

Hi Bruce
We have sailed our 95 WB heavily for the past 11 years. I think that if we were to go out a d buy a new boat to.morrow it would probably be a Catalina 250 . I have both a 2 d and third generation rudders and have no handling problems with them. We really like being able to launch and haul the boat as well as raise the mast by ourselves. Our previous boats required travel lifts and cranes as well as having to rely on marinas. We have two sets of reef points and are happy to use them when the wind comes up. But we really enjoy sailing the c250 in heavy air. Even after 11 years of constant use about the only things that we have done are wax paint the bottom and replaced the sails. Best of luck
Bill

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2012 : 18:55:07

One other thought; the water ballast boat is not intended to be left in the water for extended periods of time.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2012 : 19:20:33

I never heard of that. If the condition of the water in the ballast tank is the issue and your not in salt water it can be changed out. Sorry I've had "Brandy" for 11 years and never/read heard of that before.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 06:26:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 One other thought; the water ballast boat is not intended to be left in the water for extended periods of time.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think the more common "suggestion" would be that if you don't plan to use a trailer, the wing keel version is generally the better choice. The WB version, with its 100 lb. (?) centerboard, does not share the risks and maintenance issues of the earlier swing keel C-25, with it's 1500# of swinging cast iron. The WK offers more headroom, a little more sail-carrying capacity (for a bigger genoa), and some corresponding but subtle differences in the rig.

Regarding the C-250 relative to most Macgregors, I think you'll be impressed with the solidity, fit, finish, hardware, and systems on the C-250. It's somewhat more spartan than Catalina's bigger yachts, but it is well designed and built. As for sailing--take her for a spin!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/10/2012 06:46:34

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 17:06:17

I leave my 03 250WB in mid atlantic salt water from April to October with no problems!

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jlannutti
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2012 : 11:11:11

I just sold a 98 WB to a really cool couple in Illinois. I found no problems with workmanship. There were a couple of 25' Hunters in my marina and there was no comparison. The Catalina was the better built and appointed boat. The owners of the Hunters absolutely agree. It was a little tender. It would heel early but only to a point and then firm up. It was next to impossible to get the rail in the water. You could sail to 20 knots without reefing but once around 12 it would sail faster reefed. Above that it experienced weather helm. I added about 100 lbs of sand in bags in forward compartment under v-berth (as far forward as I could get them) It made a VERY DRAMATIC improvement in the weather helm tendency. Prior to that the boat wanted to round up early but that was totally corrected by the weight. Also the added weight made the boat sit perfectly level on the water line. I loved the boat and wish the new owners all the best with it. I never trailered the boat so I can't speak to that aspect of it but I was always happy with her. Good luck!

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2012 : 15:30:50

My reference was more to leaving a WB boat in the water long enough for algae and other crud to form in the tank and in cold weather where ice could form and cause leaks. There was another thread in the forum here where a guy had just that, a leak way up inside the tank and from his description, it was going to be a bear to fix. I would never consider buying one that had been the least bit neglected by a PO.

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