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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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oldragbaggers
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/16/2014 : 19:09:21

Ahoy!!

This past week we became the new owners of a 1981 Catalina 25 #2239, current name "Serendipity." She is in somewhat rough shape cosmetically as she has been sitting for 3 years unattended. But she is basically solid and just needs a lot of elbow grease and some upgrades.

I have a blog where I have posted a lot of pictures of her current condition. I plan to update it as we make renovations.

This is not our first Catalina. We also owned a 1971 Catalina 22, hull number 39 I think, and two 27's. They have all been excellent sailing boats and we expect nothing less from our 25. She will be cruising the upper Chesapeake Bay area.

Becky

Visit our blog at http://oldragbaggers.com

Lance and Becky Williams
1981 C-25 #2239 TR/FK, Seaquel

Edited by - on

ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2014 : 19:14:16

Congratulations and welcome to the group....

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2014 : 21:06:05

Welcome aboard! We always like to see pictures on this site!

By chance, that old motor in your pictures wouldn't happen to be a Nissan or Tohatsu would it? I need a tiller handle with the throttle linkage for mine.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 03:35:07

Welcome Becky,
and your membership has been updated with your forum ID, so now your posts fly a nice looking burgee

Paul

Edited by - on

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 04:23:36

Congratulation and Welcome. Good to see someone get a boat and bring it back to life.

Edited by - on

oldragbaggers
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 04:57:45

Thanks everyone for the nice welcome (and thanks for updating our burgee).

Gary B., Lance thinks it might be a Nissan motor. He's not certain but we can confirm next time we're down there. Unfortunately, today the decks are covered with snow. (Ugh....) Will let you know.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 06:40:38

Welcome Becky and Lance (from an alum)!

Regarding your blog comments on sleeping accommodations, there are numerous threads here (you can find them with Search) on making an athwardship queen-sized bed by bridging from the lowered dinette to the starboard settee. We had the narrow cushion under the cockpit sole, behind the companionway steps, shortened for that purpose. (Nobody wanted to sleep under there, although the starboard side of the quarterberth is reasonable for one.)

It looks like somebody did something to upgrade your windows ("deadlights" if you prefer)--they don't look stock. That's a common fix--the original aluminum frames tend to leak.

I'll suggest adding your keel and rig to your signature (e.g. SR/FK or TR/SK)--it sometimes helps in these conversations.

Enjoy your "new" Cat--it's a nice compromise between the 22 and 27!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/17/2014 06:45:17

oldragbaggers
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 07:02:57

Thank you for the suggestions, Dave. I will update the profile with the additional information. And we had also been discussing creating that big berth in the main salon but we figured we would give the existing berths a try first. I am having all new foam cut for cushions anyway so having an extra piece cut for a filler would be easy enough to do at the same time.

Yes, the windows are definitely modifications. The installation job was pretty shoddy. There is still black goo, although now dried out and cracked, all around the windows inside and out. The plastic is also very crazed. I have read somewhere that Frank Butler has cut new plastic for owners for about $35 a window and supplies instructions how to install the replacements. That's interesting because there is a company online selling basically the same thing and calling it a window retrofit kit for over $1000. A little pricey by comparison if what I read about getting the plastic windows from Catalina is true. We are thinking we would like to install a couple of Beckson opening ports in the forward area, at about $140 each for those plus another couple of hundred for the other four plastic window replacements, you're still at well under $500 even, I would imagine, including the glues. So how they came up with $1000 I don't know.

We appreciate all the positive feedback and we are both looking forward to being active participants on the forum.

Becky

Edited by - oldragbaggers on 03/17/2014 07:04:55

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 10:06:58

Ahoy Becky, Lance! I am the previous owner of hull 2428 and I can attest to what a solid boat the 1981 model year was. FWIW, I completely disassembled the main salon windows. Had new tinted glass made at a local auto glass vendor. Also had the aluminum frames re-anodized. Re-caulked between the glass and frame, butyl tape between the frame and cabin top and voila, no more leaks. The fixed head portlites were replaced with hinged units from Lewmar.
Apparently they switched the engine mount and swim ladder between your SN and mine.

Edited by - OJ on 03/17/2014 15:45:49

Jweikel625
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 10:31:03

Great blog. I am starting a blog too to document my repairs on my 1980. I have fiberglass issues from a keel drop with the prior owners that I just ground out the shredded glass on Saturday. Where in Maryland are you? I am on the Bohemia River.

Edited by - on

ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 13:17:54

I have the same issue on my boat.... I will post pictures of our progress as we do the repairs to the Keel locker. Thanks for posting.

Edited by - on

oldragbaggers
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 14:48:48

OJ, I wish we had those aluminum frames. If we had them, or could find someplace to get them, we would do the same thing you have done. I have seen comments about them leaking, but our 1971 C-22 had them, we resealed them and that boat never leaked a single drop. (Darned fine little boat too!!) And, yes, I have noticed that on some boats I see the ladder and motor mount are reversed.

Jweikel625, we are currently at the White Rocks Marina in Pasadena. We live in Essex, so next year we will likely move her up to Middle River. We have had most of our previous boats at Maryland Marina or at the BYC. We are going to take our time on the hard, make sure we have gone over, repaired, and upgraded everything that needs it. Then we will probably move her up in the fall for winter haul out and storage. But we'll see. If we love it there in Pasadena it may turn out to be worth the drive.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2014 : 15:26:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldragbaggers
 OJ, I wish we had those aluminum frames. If we had them, or could find someplace to get them, we would do the same thing you have done.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

FWIW, there have been a number of C25s parted out over the past couple-three years with parts offered on the Swap Meet . . .

Edited by - OJ on 03/17/2014 15:46:31

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2014 : 11:48:50

Welcome to the Association. I'm sure you will have many great years of sailing fun in your near future. The best place to get replacement window frames is from a boat being parted out. May have to wait a while, because it doesn't happen too often. The guy I race with on a C-22, #165, replaced his windows last year with smoked plexiglass. He took precise measurements of the window openings taping paper over them and had pieces cut about 1/2" larger, then surface mounted them. He painted the 1/2" border all around on the inside, sealed them with black auto windshield glaze/caulk and also secured them with nuts/bolts. The painted edge hid the caulk. Looks good as long as you don't mind the surface mounting - just an idea.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2014 : 17:38:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldragbaggers
 Thanks everyone for the nice welcome (and thanks for updating our burgee).

Gary B., Lance thinks it might be a Nissan motor. He's not certain but we can confirm next time we're down there. Unfortunately, today the decks are covered with snow. (Ugh....) Will let you know.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Actually I was just looking at your blog pictures in the "before" section and it is a Nissan!

If you're interested in making some money let me know what year model, model number, and horsepower it is and there is a good chance I could use the tiller and engine cover to repair mine. Might want the prop too!

Let me know!

Edited by - GaryB on 03/18/2014 17:47:47

oldragbaggers
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2014 : 18:57:15

Gary, Lance said he may at some point, take a look at it and see if he can fix it. But will definitely let you know if he changes his mind.

Edited by - on

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