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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Looking for expert advice on Catalina 25 sailboat

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2012 : 18:19:27

My old slip neightbor has a Cape Dory 28. I have no idea what he paid for it but with a little elbow grease work and some new sails and bimini it was a sweet boat.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2012 : 20:23:09

O'Days are solid boats with advantages and disadvantages compared to the C-25, but certainly worth looking at. Watkins are less common but with many nice features. I read that the CD-25 has rust prone, mild steel chainplates imbedded in fiberglass - can't be inspected and potentially catastrophic. I found that surprising since CD's are otherwise solid boats. It would certainly be wise to look at other boats, but none of them have this forum.

Edited by - on

kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2012 : 20:28:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 It would certainly be wise to look at other boats, but none of them have this forum.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This is one of my concerns :). This community has been extremely friendly and helpful, so I'd love to buy a C25 just to be part of it :D.

Edited by - kettu7 on 06/12/2012 20:28:56

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2012 : 20:48:49

O'Day's are built very well....my slip neighbor has an O'Day 25. It's just a little bigger than mine....really solid boat. There is one thing though that he really admires about my boat: the pop top! At the slip or at anchor, I get ALOT more air circulation than he could ever hope for. He's got his decked out pretty good. Nice and clean, roller furling....and he's the one with the nice new Honda motor I've talked about in other threads. They're nice boats and on average will be a bit more expensive than the C25's.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2012 : 21:47:04

I think the advantage of the pop-top is going to vary a lot depending on where you are located. Here in Seattle I've only used my pop-top to prove to myself that it works, but we haven't had a day much over 70F since I bought the boat. The O'Day 25 seemed like it had a couple of inches more headroom (the Ericson 25+ was even better). At 5'10" the E25+ is the only 25' boat that we looked at that I could stand in.

This forum is great and I also found a good Ericson forum. I never did find a good one for O'Day.

I personally find the pop-top kind of annoying since you have to undo the boom vang. I've never even tried out my pop-top cover (our boat came with the original Catalina one), but will probably use it this summer when I'm cruising.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2012 : 07:03:23

I use my pop top all the time. I even sail with it in light conditions. I'm 6'4 though, so standing headroom is not an easy thing for me to find in boats less than 36'. In our boats, the cabin roof is at my shoulder level.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4023 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2012 : 12:21:55

If you are willing to consider other boats I know of this one. Its an ODay 28 in very good shape. Everything he states is true, No bull and it is located in Sea Cliff so it would be local for you. Price is probably neg. Very roomy boat compared to a C25. Might be worth a look.http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/boa/3062636099.html

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kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2012 : 13:01:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 If you are willing to consider other boats I know of this one. Its an ODay 28 in very good shape. Everything he states is true, No bull and it is located in Sea Cliff so it would be local for you. Price is probably neg. Very roomy boat compared to a C25. Might be worth a look.http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/boa/3062636099.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks, I saw this listing and liked the photos a lot, it's just a little on the expensive side for a first sailboat. I'd like to buy something under $6-7k for now.

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dragonf1y
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2012 : 13:31:37

There are Catalina 27's that come up for sale here (Seattle) in that price range. I am happy I had my C25 for a first boat, but I wish I had waited a tiny bit more and held out for a 27 in retrospect. Shame you're on the other side of the country as I'm going to be selling my 25 soon.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2012 : 19:27:48

One key difference (to me) between a C-25 and most 27-28-footers was the auxiliary power. Some C-27s were built for outboards... Most good ones I've seen on the market are inboards, and the ones I could afford "back then" were gasoline Atomic 4s. An inboard means holes below the water line (shaft and cooling), shaft log, exhaust system, places for salt water marine growth to mess things up (prop, strainer, etc.), more expensive maintenance, more expensive re-powering, more complicated untangling of lobster pot warps (less of a problem now that most of the lobsters are gone from Long Island Sound)... and other things. I was ready for the simplicity of an outboard, and would benefit from the maneuverability of an outboard in the club where we would keep her. The C-27, from my experience with them, really wants an inboard... The O'Day 28 only comes with one--hopefully a diesel.

That O'Day's Honda Saildrive is an inboard, somewhat simplified, but gas-powered. That means a blower down below (not just the passive cowl vents on the C-25). It should all work fine as it does for many people. It's a matter of preference.

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kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 13:45:11

So while no suitable C25's are available around here at the moment, I started looking at ODay's and this one looks quite good so far. The seller has just got bottom job done and overall she looks very well maintained too:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1988-O%27Day-272le-Luxury-Edition-247741
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r87w2kslycu4gzk/0e7b5xPtjp/ODay%20272

She is more expensive than C25's I was looking at, but she's nearby, so I won't have to pay for shipping or anything.

I interrogated the seller a little bit and he owned her for the last 10 years, and apart from mainsail being original (which means it'll have to be replaced) nothing else has to be done to her. Some of the lines will need to be replaced next year and some of the stanchions resealed to avoid water leaks.

I'll try to go see her this Saturday.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 14:47:29

That O'Day 272 looks pretty good, and is well priced. The 272 is a very nice boat. I strongly recommend a survey--make it a contingency on your offer. This is a little more complex than a C-25 with an outboard. Among other things, the survey will tell you whether the stanchions (as you mentioned), chainplates, and other hardware need re-bedding sooner rather than later, or whether moisture has already done some invisible damage. (If there are signs of seepage, the fix is generally simple, but pretty urgent.)

Good luck!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/14/2012 14:50:35

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 08:45:22

Nice looking O'Day there.....that would make a fine one for you!

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 08:51:16

This '86 was just posted in Swap Meet:

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25222"]1986 C25 Inboard Diesel[/url]

Location wise...could it be a contender?

Edited by - on

kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 12:52:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 This '86 was just posted in Swap Meet:

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25222"]1986 C25 Inboard Diesel[/url]

Location wise...could it be a contender?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
This one's a little bit too far. It looks like it would cost me $1k+ to get it shipped to where I am.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4023 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 13:18:35

The 272LE was on my list when I was looking but I couldn't find a nice one at the time. There were two models, A 272 and then the 272LE. The LE is what you want. Good looking, Stand up cabin a little over 6ft, Wing keel, Wheel steering and many more goody's. This one looks like a gem from the photos. They have monkey fir on the cabin ceiling that will show yellowish discoloration if there are leaks, Not a deal breaker but it looks like the owner took good care of this boat. ODay also made a 24fter in this model line called a 240. If the engine checks out OK and you decide not to take it , Let me know. Oh yea, It will have light grey gel coat sides on the hull, All the LE's have this. It is what separates the LE from the plain 272's. From what I have seen it stands up over time without getting chalky colored. I guess because it it very light in color. Good Luck

Edited by - islander on 06/15/2012 13:28:25

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 16:13:37

There's one local to me for sale:

[url="http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/boa/3056076006.html"]O'Day 27 $10k[/url]

I'm not big on the yellow color, but it looks like it's probably a really nice boat for the money.

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kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2012 : 10:06:55

Unfortunately another gentleman who was inspecting this boat before me this morning made an offer on her, so it's a no go. But she indee was a beauty - well maintained and clean, engine runs smooth. I am glad I went to see her though, you guys were right - the more boats you see, the clearer you learn to realize difference between different boats and how they were maintained. So my boat searching quest continues :).

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2012 : 17:32:36

I'm glad that you are continuing to look and expanding the scope of your search. Good luck with the hunt, and I'm sure you'll find the right boat soon.

I just came back from a few hours out on a very windy day, sailing is a really a great hobby.

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2012 : 17:53:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by awetmore
 ... and I'm sure you'll find the right boat soon.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think we told Sam the same thing......

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kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2012 : 19:14:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by awetmore
 ... and I'm sure you'll find the right boat soon.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think we told Sam the same thing......
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What happened with Sam? :)

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2012 : 06:32:49

Took him FOREVER to finally find a boat....ask him....

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2012 : 08:01:05

You guys kept telling me the same thing and finally it came true. I can't remember now how long it took. Seemed like a year at the time but I think it was actaully around 6 months. When I finally found my boat I knew the first time I saw her she was the one.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2012 : 12:14:15

'89 wing... Pick of the Litter!

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kettu7
1st Mate

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29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2012 : 19:12:27

So I just wanted to let you guys know what's happening. I am still looking at local boats, both Catalinas and not, and as some of you strongly suggested, I took an ASA 101 course. Not that I was really considering starting my sailing career without taking one, but it's really great that I did, totally worth the sweat, time and money. Even though it's a basic sailing course and there's still a lot to learn, I can't imagine how long it would take me to learn all of this on my own. So yet again, thank you very much!

Edited by - kettu7 on 06/19/2012 19:39:35

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