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newbie question looking at capri 25

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smolenski
Deckhand

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Initially Posted - 08/21/2012 : 04:41:04

I will be retiring in a couple years and am looking to buy a 20- 28 foot sailboat for singlehanding sailing on the great lakes. My short list for now is the capri 25 and the merit 25 and the holder 20 and the santana 20. the santana and the holder are falling behind in that their cabins might be a bit too small for my plans

can anyone with capri 25 give me some info on the boat

is it ok to singlehand?
(or it it designed to need more people acting as rail meat?
Are there any in Michigan that I could look at?

Most of my sailing will probably be daysails on lake michigan with some cruises up and down the lake and possibly some lake crossings or maybe a singlehanded chicago-mac

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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1032 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 06:47:13

I have to figure you're already quite a sailor to even consider the chicago-mac run. In a Capri 25? well, OK, maybe? with 4 others for crew perhaps.

Can the Capri 25 be single-handed, YES, I do it all the time. Is it easy? Well, yea and no, but you can do things to make it easier (tiller pilot comes to mind). Do you need the rail meat? NO, but boy it DOES make it easier! The boat is pretty easy to single hand up until about 15 knots wind with the 155 up, then you're gearing down (from the #1 to the #2), or fighting it hard to keep her flat. Reef first, then drop genoa size as it pipes up, and you're might be able to do up to 25 knot winds yourself, but you'll get pretty beat up. Each additional crew should add between 2 knots more of wind you can handle (as they'll rail meat up, and flatten it for you).

Judging by your list though, you're at least familiar with racing boats, and I can honestly say the Capri 25 is more light air than the merit 25, but only marginally so, and the Holder 20 and Santana 20 would beat the heck outta you in a chop. The Capri will not like chop much either, take much of a pounding and it loses speed quickly. I'd say it's a little more robust than the 2 smaller boats, the Merit is a helluva boat and should stay in consideration if you can find a good one.

Finding a Capri 25 close by might be a challenge, does 7 hours seem close to you? Maybe Wayzata Yacht club trip is in order, get them while they are racing maybe you can bum a ride?
Try http://www.wyc.org/c25/BoatsGearForSale/BoatListings.aspx
Then sailboatlistings http://tinyurl.com/8tose4u

I love this boat, and it's a helluva ride, I don't know if it'd be my "retirement" boat, but who knows at 41yo I am not thinking much about a retirement boat yet.

If I had a permanent set of crew (of say 4), and some local time on the waters by you, I'd consider a run around Mac.

PS: I don't suppose you mean to enter the Chicago-Mac race do you, as that's an invitational thing, and a Capri 25 would be one of the smallest boats entered?

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smolenski
Deckhand

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Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 13:30:52

THANKS FOR THE GREAT ADVICE
ARE THERE ANY NASTY QUALITIES WITH THE CAPRI 25
I HAD THE J-24 ON MY SHORT LIST TOO UNTIL I HEARD THEY DON'T SURVIVE KNOCKDOWNS WELL. iV'E HEARD OF SEVERAL THAT SUNK OR WENT TURTLE IN A KNOCKDOWN
THE REVIEWS ON THE CAPRI MENTION A FIGERGLASS CORE MATERIAL RATHER THAN BALSA
HAS THE CORE ON THE CAPRI'S HELD UP WELL??

AS FOR THE CHICAGO - MAC, i'D LIKE TO TRY SOME LONGER PASSAGES WITH LESS CONCERN ON RACING AND MORE ON JUST DOING THE PASSAGE USING A TILLER PILOT POWERED BYS BATTERIES AND A SOLAR PANEL.

I DID A LOT OF HEAVY WEATHER SAILS ON MY 16 FOOTER (PROBABLY IN 25 KNOTS A COUPLE TIMES AND COULD ALWAYS KEEP THE BOAT UNDER CONTROL BY SAILING WITH A COUPLE REFFS IN THE MAIN AND NO JIB.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 13:51:34

You are considering some well-respected racing boats, and any of them would be fun to sail. You might add an S2 to your list of possibles. They were built in Holland, MI, and are still considered good racers. The S2 7.9 is similar in size to the other boats you are considering.

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joearcht
Navigator

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USA
243 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 15:29:31

If you are only 7 hours from Wayzata Yacht club that is your "must do" for getting info on the Capri 25. They seem to be the heart of the Capri 25 world.

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2012 : 20:00:38

Having cut through the "core" on the Capri 25 now twice, the core is way dryer/more stable than balsa/plywood cores on some.

Bad qualities? Well yeah, both lazarette's open to below, with only an unsealed bulkhead to below. Meaning if you don't latch your lazarettes, and you manage to knockdown AND swap the cockpit, you could technically swamp the cabin and sink it... Simple solution, keep your spare locks on the lazarettes.

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 03:15:48

How about this, next best thing? Winds started out about 6-8mph died off to next to nothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGOpexef7Bo
or this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNj8htimzZ4

Just shot these last night.

Edited by - shnool on 08/22/2012 06:26:18

Fleet
Navigator

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USA
151 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2012 : 13:49:08

It's hard to keep a Capri 25 dry. There is a long track on each side and each track holds a gazillon bolts. Each bolt is a potential leak and some bolts can only be reached by Tinker Bell or the Stretch dude on the Fantastic Four

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2012 : 03:31:30

Ooh Windows leak like a sieve too... they need to go.
But THIS is why I love her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RVhfJ7CAG4

Hull speed is theoretically 5.2 knots. My knot meter usually reads a little slow too (off low by .2 knots or so). Because Utub resolution stinks, you can't read the meter but its a 12 knot meter, at the 12 o'clock position, it's 6 knots. That is while beating.

It surfs in a heartbeat downwind too.

Edited by - shnool on 08/23/2012 03:33:53

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.