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Boat that clueless couple about to buy--thoughts?

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2012 : 10:00:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My favorite "other" boat is the ODay 272, all were wings, great head room and no heavier than the 25.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Me too. Looked at a few and also the 240 But went with the Catalina because of the support and still in buisness thing. Also this forum. But I still liked the headroom on the 272LE and the wing.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 06:11:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by krobsten
 So we're going to buy the Catlaina 25 listed here. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

CONGRATULATIONS! When do you "close" on the boat?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 09:20:01

Having had to do a keel drop repair, albeit a relatively minor one, here's my suggestion to add to all of the others. While the boat is still in the water, pump out/remove all of the water in the bilge, under both boards, get it as dry as possible, and come back a day or 2 later. Use a hand or electric water pump for most of it and a wet/dry shop vac for what the pump doesn't remove. Remove the wood box covering the keel trunk and check for wetness at the base using paper towels. Leave box off temporarily. Wait a day or two and re-inspect. If keel trunk is still dry, all there is good. If bilge is as dry as you left it, odds are good that you have no hull leaks, maybe just window/deck hardware seal issues.
Keeping a good sunbrella-type cover over the cabin top and windows is recommended.
If you buy the boat, buy the kits from CD and replace keel lifting cable, turning ball, hose, and attachment pin at the keel.
Except for the water in the bilge, the boat looks a lot like the one I used to own when I bought it for just a little more than your deal, about $2k more if you add in the outboard I ended up replacing. Good luck!

Edited by - dmpilc on 04/23/2012 09:23:18

krobsten
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2012 : 08:11:43

Jim,
He's fixing some things and I'm in no hurry as I don't have a slip yet. I'm hoping to have a slip AND the boat in 2 or 3 weeks, but that might be too optimistic. I have someone inspecting the boat next week, so I'll ask about clearing the bilge--thanks, David!

Edited by - on

Heartbeat
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2012 : 09:32:46

I am a little late to the thread, but here is my advice: Buy it! (Unless you want to buy mine: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24958 ;-)

Good luck, and enjoy.

Matt

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5383 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2012 : 07:39:59

Rob & Kristen
Have you gotten splashed yet? Last weekend I passed by the Housatonic Boat Club and there was a lot of activity going on. Folks were painting the bottoms, polishing hulls, sprucing up their topsides, stepping masts and the place was abuzz with activity. They usually rent a travel lift and splash all 40 or so boats in one weekend.

I thought you mentioned you were on the waiting list for a mooring. Milford owns several moorings in the Housatonic right near the HBC mooring field, and also offers floating docks in Milford Harbor. That's where I am. Check with the Milford Harbor Commission: Ray Swift and Joan Tsougas.

Town of Stratford offers three moorings (but they don't advertise) through the Harbor Manager's office. Call the town clerk (385-4020) and ask for Ross Hatfield. .

Breakwater Key may have a few slips you can rent for the season as well. Best way to find these are: Craigslist FFLD or New Haven, or take a ride to the condos and look at the postings at the marina.

Best of luck. See you out there!

Edited by - on

krobsten
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2012 : 16:11:12

Bruce, thank you! I'm currently waiting to hear back from Stratford.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5383 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2012 : 10:42:50

Rob & Kristen
Have you found a home for your C-25?
I'm in Milford Harbor and there are several floating docks available. There are two other C-25s in the harbor:
<> Liberty
<> BeWitched
Talk to Ray Swift at Milford Landing: milfordlanding@ci.milford.ct.us

Or Ross Hatfield in Stratford can hook you up with a mooring in the Housatonic River just south of the Route 1 Bridge. My concerns about the Housatonic are (1) the current and (2) the distance from Long Island Sound.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2012 : 04:34:16

The 84 is a very good boat. Pics remind me of the one I recently sold. Sounds like you may have found a sweet deal. Even if you plan to keep the keel down all the time, keep a little tension on the cable. The keel trunk can get damaged if you hit something and the keel raises up a small amount and drops back down. That happened to me once, caught a buoy cable rounding it too close in a Wed. club race. Lifted the keel and when it came down, it cracked the keel trunk causing a leak of about a bucket a day. Cost around $800 to fix. Upside was that the repairs made the keel trunk much stronger. If the owner will let you, take a wet/dry shop vac to the boat and pump the bilge dry. Remove the keel trunk box (4 screws,easy) and inspect the keel trunk for any leaks, especially at the base. Use paper towels to test for leaks.
Good luck.
BTW, if you buy her and want a trailer, I've got one for sale. Check the swap meet section of this forum.

Edited by - on

krobsten
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2012 : 12:54:22

Bruce,
Thank you! We ended up at Pootatuck Yacht Club in Stratford. We're the only sailboat there, and we're reminded of that on a daily basis. :)

You mentioned the current, and I agree--scary! It looks like we'll have to really watch the tides when we go out as our 9.9 outboard doesn't exactly cut through the water. In the end, though, we really liked the people at the club and the price (and availability) was right. To tell you the truth, I was overwhelmed by the mooring--putting one down, getting there/coming back, etc. Figured to keep it simple. Had a rather adventurous series of events getting the boat into the slip, and that's going to be a tough one. For now, we're obly going out with experienced sailors and trying to figure things out.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Rob & Kristen
Have you found a home for your C-25?
I'm in Milford Harbor and there are several floating docks available. There are two other C-25s in the harbor:
<> Liberty
<> BeWitched
Talk to Ray Swift at Milford Landing: milfordlanding@ci.milford.ct.us

Or Ross Hatfield in Stratford can hook you up with a mooring in the Housatonic River just south of the Route 1 Bridge. My concerns about the Housatonic are (1) the current and (2) the distance from Long Island Sound.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

krobsten
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2012 : 12:57:48

Thank you, David. As it happens, we desperately needed the swing keel as we pulled into our new slip. Beached it while I missed the redredged portion, then I had to bring it all the way up. So there it stays until I can get it inspected now. Still, made me feel better knowing it worked like a charm AND it turns out I needed that flexibility to use this particular slip. Thanks for the tip on the trailer, but I don't know if a trip to Tennessee is in my immediate future! :)

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 The 84 is a very good boat. Pics remind me of the one I recently sold. Sounds like you may have found a sweet deal. Even if you plan to keep the keel down all the time, keep a little tension on the cable. The keel trunk can get damaged if you hit something and the keel raises up a small amount and drops back down. That happened to me once, caught a buoy cable rounding it too close in a Wed. club race. Lifted the keel and when it came down, it cracked the keel trunk causing a leak of about a bucket a day. Cost around $800 to fix. Upside was that the repairs made the keel trunk much stronger. If the owner will let you, take a wet/dry shop vac to the boat and pump the bilge dry. Remove the keel trunk box (4 screws,easy) and inspect the keel trunk for any leaks, especially at the base. Use paper towels to test for leaks.
Good luck.
BTW, if you buy her and want a trailer, I've got one for sale. Check the swap meet section of this forum.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5383 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2012 : 21:08:58

Rob
Good choice with Pootatuck - I've got a couple of good (stinkpotter) friends there. Nice facilities, solid group of folks.

I know that sandbar well. I've paddled the river at slack tide and at low it is really skinny water! Moral of the story - stay in the channel.

For several years, I had berthed Passage right next door, one slip below the gas dock.

Getting in on an opposing tide is a breeze - getting in on a forward tide is downright scary! You can put your prop in reverse, but the prop walk will turn you around and slam you into the neighbor in an instant!
You need to perfect the Randy "Dock-o-matic" (use the search function).

What have you named your new to you boat? I'll keep an eye out on the water and an ear out for you on the VHF radio.

If you have the opportunity, you may want to join the Thursday night sail over in Milford. It takes place every summer Thursday eve at 6PM. We sail around the cans. I can occasionally play hooky early enough to join...

Edited by - Voyager on 07/04/2012 21:16:17

krobsten
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2012 : 05:28:02

Bruce,
Thank you! I found a lot of posts on the dock-o-matic, so I'll have to read through them this weekend. We haven't renamed the boat yet, keeping "Joint Venture" for now out of respect for the PO, who's been incredible. I'd love to join the Thursday night race, but I'm still learning to sail. It might have to wait until next summer, when I know a bit more and I've completed all the requisite checks on the swing keel.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Rob
Good choice with Pootatuck - I've got a couple of good (stinkpotter) friends there. Nice facilities, solid group of folks.

I know that sandbar well. I've paddled the river at slack tide and at low it is really skinny water! Moral of the story - stay in the channel.

For several years, I had berthed Passage right next door, one slip below the gas dock.

Getting in on an opposing tide is a breeze - getting in on a forward tide is downright scary! You can put your prop in reverse, but the prop walk will turn you around and slam you into the neighbor in an instant!
You need to perfect the Randy "Dock-o-matic" (use the search function).

What have you named your new to you boat? I'll keep an eye out on the water and an ear out for you on the VHF radio.

If you have the opportunity, you may want to join the Thursday night sail over in Milford. It takes place every summer Thursday eve at 6PM. We sail around the cans. I can occasionally play hooky early enough to join...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

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