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newSailor2222
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/20/2003 : 23:33:00

Hello all-

I am very new to and excited about sailing. I learned to sail about 15 years ago w/ my grandfather in a 12' sailboat called "Marie".

My grandfather has a '77 Catalina 25 (fixed keel?) in the Bay area, CA and has offered it to me, if I can get it to my area. I live in Orange County, CA and I see 3 viable options to retrieve my dream (owning a sailboat).
- Pay to have it shipped
- Buy or rent a trailer and go pick it up
- "Go Kamakazi" and sail the beauty down the coast

I love the idea of the 3rd option, but I have heard stories about the CA coast this time of year. I would like to do this for less money and I am willing to put forth the needed effort. I have had no luck finding a trailer to rent, but I think this option to be the most attractive to my situation.

Can anyone shed some light on the subject for me. Any trailers available for rent? Any "Kamakazi Sailors" want to make the trip? Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to reading more of your posts as well. I just need to get the boat down here so I can become a better member of this association.

Michael
Orange County, CA

Edited by - on

newSailor2222
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2003 : 23:37:51

In addition:

I am looking to get the boat ASAP maybe even next weekend (Mar. 1st)

I have slip ready in the Dana Point Harbor and really want to get into sailing before summer.

Thanks Again

Michael
Orange County, CA
allbroz@hotmail.com

Edited by - newSailor2222 on 02/20/2003 23:38:23

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 03:02:43

Do not sail it down the coast. I repeat....do not take option 3! You need a lot more experience and time on this particular boat before even considering such a thing. Contact a professional boat hauler who may be able to put a small boat on another load with another boat going south. Somebody in Southern California MUST have a trailer that would work..Take your time and advertize in Latitude 38 mag.

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 06:30:44

Michael,

Welcome to the family!

Dana Point is a beautiful place. I remember when I got my first cell phone, calling a friend at home, sitting in the marina at Dana Point. I'm sure you'll love it!

I had a professional boat hauler pick-up osmepneo when I moved it from Nyack, New York to The Great Sacandaga Lake. Price was reasonable. I met him at the club in Nyack, and he already had the boat on his rig, and was tying down the last strap (literally) when I got there. When I got to the new marina osmepneo was in the water, and mast had been raised. All I had to do was move her to my dock space and go sailing. The lack of stress was well worth what I paid to have this done.

Re. Trailer. Do you plan to haul the boat to other loacations? What is the keel configuration? Swing, fin or wing. The swing keel is best if you plan to haul it to various locations. In which case you'd need a trailer to haul it on. New trailers are pretty expensive. For a one shot trail down the coast, renting one would be ideal, but finding one to handle your boat, as you're finding out is difficult. That drives me to the marine hauler. I guess that's what I'd do.

Good luck,

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 12:25:32

I agree, do not attempt to sail the boat down. If you survived Pt. Conception in rough winter/spring conditions, you would likely sell the boat as soon as you arrived because you were too afraid to ever get on the water again. Pt. Conception is called "The Cape Horn of the West" for good reason. You could expect 20 foot seas and winds to 35 knots on a GOOD day in this season.

If you must sail, you've got to wait until mid summer. Then you would wait in Morrow Bay until the conditions were very mild, and attempt to sneak around the point to the Coho anchorage north of Santa Barbara between midnight and 6 AM some very calm morning. Sleep there, then make Santa Barbara that afternoon. Then hop down the coast to Channel Islands, Marina del Rey, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Newport and finally Dana. I've done much of this trip (in August) on a different boat. I skipped LA harbor and went to Catalina instead. You have to be prepared to wait for good weather in EVERY port.

You can probably have the boat delivered (on a truck) for around $2000 including boatyard fees on both ends. This is a great price for a 77 Cat 25. I have some experience with this so if you need help finding a shipper, send an email.

I am going to be in Dana Point as well. Perhaps we can start a Catalina 25 club there! Once you get there, give me a call. I'll be happy to look over your boat and help you get started.

My family of 4 (2 girls 13 and 11) and I will be doing a lot of sailing and trips to Catalina, etc. Please join us!

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 16:16:37

Welcome to the club!

If I were down there I'd help you sail it (after I gave it a thorough inspection<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>).

I would think with Catalinas being built in CA, there would be someone with a trailer close by who'd let you borrow or rent it.

Good luck and congratulations, it's a boat! Have a cigar<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

John Mason - Ali Paroosa
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 18:47:57

Michael,

DON'T GO! I did the trip in reverse last April and I got the crap kicked out of me (and I was in a 42 foot boat). We encountered constant 40 knot winds through Pt. Conception and I would guess 17-20 foot waves -- big enough to come crashing all the way over the deck, over the dodger and make a solid sheet of water like a tube over the cockpit. It was scary to say the least.

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", C25 TR-FK #2275

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 21:24:07

Brian - that sounds just like the trip I made across the Gulf of Mexico on a 50' Catamaran - from Key West to Port Aransas, TX, but initially aborted in the Mississippi delta....3 days of hell!
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 22:08:51

Brian: I'm convinced the gods say "Here comes another one" when a new owner delivers his own boat... It took us 4 days to cover 100 miles down Long Island Sound against a stationary front that included one huge storm in our "new" boat. And that was with lots of places to hide. That "the Admiral" still sails with me is more than I deserve!

I look at that California Coast between Monterey and Morro Bay, and see no refuge. That's offshore, not coastal, sailing... Take it by land.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/21/2003 22:11:20

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2003 : 22:36:00

A good read is "Two Years Before the Mast" by Henry Dana. His excellent detailed analysis of sailing the California coast is very interesting reading. I enjoyed seeing his statue at Dana Point a year ago after having read his book.

One of his desriptions was the need to clear the coast during a winter storm and getting blown half way to Hawaii in the process.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
R&R N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2003 : 12:38:37

Good advice from all...

Point Conception forms an 'interface' between Northern Pacific waters and the subtropical Southern California waters. Most interfaces are places of turbulence and lots of energy... hence the bad reputation of that spot.

The only time I'd even dream about doing Point Conception in a C25 is from North to South, with an ideal weather/sea state forecast and only during the best season of the year. February/March is usually not a good time to be off the Northern Californa coast.

I'd also upgrade certain items on a C25 before attempting a passage like that. Some things I'd do are install bigger (read huge) cockpit drains, upgraded rudder hardware, have an EPIRB, liferaft/survival suits, storm drogue, upgraded rigging, and a proper sail inventory for tough conditions. This in addition to all the 'usual' stuff.

Going in company with another vessel is a also a good idea for any 'semi-offshore' passage that pushes the limits of a C25.

Regarding transport... if you have a 3/4 ton truck.. then (IMHO) I'd buy a trailer for $3,000 (+-) before I'd pay $2,000 (+-) just to have it hauled on one trip.

C25 + trailer = easy to sell.
C25 + no trailer = lots harder sell.

Of course, if you don't have access to a truck rated for towing at least 6,000 lbs, then I think the 'trailer it yourself' idea is pretty much out.

Prudence & patience are required when towing something as big and 'unwieldy' as a C25.

-- CB

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

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