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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Starshooter
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/18/2013 : 06:22:57

Hello,

Newbie here, but I have been researching your wonderful forum for months; lots of great information, upgrade ideas, and personal experiences.
I have an ad placed looking for a 250 WB in the SouthEast US.
Hopefully I'll soon contribute!

I'm a lifelong boater. Grew up racing Hobies and NACRAs, lived aboard various monohulls, and crewed in a few Rolex Regattas in the Virgin Islands.
I want to fulfill a dream of having my cruiser behind the house. I live on a tidal creek in North Florida, have 5' at high tide, 1' at low tide and a 10,000 lb. lift.

I have settled on the 250 WB, because it is the largest boat I can get behind the house, and the smallest boat that will do everything I want.

We are an active family with two teenagers, and all have paddle boards and kayaks that we launch from the house and explore the ICW. I am looking for a suitable boat for my wife and I to weekend, anchored inside various inlets, here on the SouthEast coast (Matanzas, St. Augustine, Ft. George, Nassau Sound). The teenagers will join us when their social schedules allow....and when the see how much fun we will be having!
My days of competitive sailing are over, so ultimate performance is a secondary consideration. Primary desire these days is: a shallow draft (to get on and off my lift and for beaching) having nice, simple sailer (roller furling, wheel steering) to be a home base with some comforts (A/C with Honda generator, I already own for camping). We will likely motor the ICW much as we sail so a great engine (efficient and quiet) will be very important. We will carry a couple of paddle boards (either stacked on the foredeck or outboard on stanchion brackets), Buffet will be on the stereo (good stereo and twin batteries), Margaritas in the blender (have generator/will blend) and fresh caught red fish or trout on the grill!

Thanks for reading and I look forward to any suggestions.

Tony

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2013 : 07:19:10

Welcome Tony and wish you early success in finding a boat soon.

Paul

Edited by - on

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2013 : 02:42:45

Good luck with your search. You are starting out better than I did. I did not know what I wanted by brand/type. I did have some requirements regarding equipment etc.. I looked for 11 months.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2013 : 18:55:31

Are you located on the ICW in Jacksonville or call home in some other part of town?

Edited by - on

Starshooter
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2013 : 06:02:48

Thanks for the welcome and well wishes.

I've been reading up on water ballasted boats and it seams they are not as well regarded as traditional lead ballasted boats. Have there been any instances of failures of a water ballast tank? For my needs it looks like the perfect solution...

Señor Frog, I am on a tidal creek, with 5' of water at high tide and 1' at low tide, near Mayo Clinic. Hence, the search for the largest boat that I can accommodate in my creek (turn around, float onto a lift), but also the smallest boat that will do all I want. I am also considering the Hunter 260, although I like the looks, quality, and layout of the Catalina 250 better. The few items I prefer about the Hunter are more headroom, no backstay, and a kick up rudder.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2013 : 07:30:26

Of course a lead keel provides better performance, but at a cost (draft and weight). Every boat is a compromise. I think you've homed in on what is the best compromise out there for you.

I looked at the H-260 too, and was unimpressed with its build quality. I also was unimpressed with Hunter's B&R (backstay-less) rig when I watched a Hunter 240 mast fall down when a shroud snagged a piling in the boat's slip. Above 20', I'll take a backstay, thank you very much.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2013 : 20:44:27

...1 ft at low tide...
At the risk of being booed off the forum, maybe you ought to look at boats with a keel that comes all the way up or almost all the way up inside the hull, such as the S2-7.9, or a Seaward 26 (both are 26'), in addition to the C-250 Water Ballast. More expensive for sure, but they have possibilities.

Edited by - dmpilc on 06/28/2013 20:45:29

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2013 : 10:06:39

The $eaward is nice... But I hate the prospect of hitting an object with a dagger-board.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2013 : 17:42:47

The seaward is also a lifting rudder so to take advantage of the very shallow draft you must lift the rudder too... no steerage.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2013 : 11:47:02

Good points, both.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2013 : 15:50:56

I have a 16' daysailor I can beach. It has a kick up rudder and centerboard. It's one thing to beach a 16 footer and another to beach a Seaward. I've been without steerage in that thing - no problem, I just hop out, drop sails and grab the gunwales. wouldn't want to try that in brisk winds or breaking waves.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2013 : 16:02:31

A few years ago I had a chance to get a ~5 year old Seaward 26 in pristine condition with trailer for a ridiculous price - somewhere around $15,000 if I recall correctly. The hardware on those boats is absolutely top notch. I passed because I didn't really have a need or exremely shallow draft, and there were too many compromises made to achieve the low draft.

But if I had one I think I'd be reluctant to beach it just because they're almost like a work of art, and I wouldn't want sand/rocks scratching up the bottom.

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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.