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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Tall rig with wing keel

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dock
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/08/2003 : 15:11:07

I'm getting ready to purchase a Catalina 1990 25' wing keel with a tall mast. I have some concern about the stabality of it during wind gust. I will be sailing it on lakes 95% of the time. It comes equipped with a roller furling jib and optional genoa. I have owned a 21' San Juan swing keel for quite some time and I'm accustomed to a certain amount of abrupt heel. If any one has experience with this set up I would appreciate some feedback. Dock

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2003 : 16:36:43

I recently purchased an 89WK/TR. I took it to the florida keys in February for a 2 1/2 week shakedown cruise. I sailed in 15 knot winds and 3 foot seas. Occasional gusts. It seems that the boat will heel over about 15 degrees, and then not heel over much more than that. Occasional gusts did not seem to heel it over much more. No reefing and using a 110 hank on jib. I am not very experienced (what I lack in experience, I more than make up for in enthusiasm) and this is my second boat, my first being a Catalina 22 with swing keel. The 25 seemed to heel over quicker, but then get into a "groove" I believe it has to do with initial and final stability. A catalina rep once told me that it has the same righting moment as the fin keel.
Some other more experienced folks may disagree with me, and I'm sure that they will have valid points to make. We have some really smart folks in this association, and I am not one of them.
Overall I think that this boat is rock solid and built to withstand lots of punishment. Lowell with Catalina Direct told me they only made 223 of the 89 wings. I don't know if the 90's are included in that number. He said that Catalina couldn't afford to build them anymore so had to cheapen them up, hence the 250 came about. The 89 and 90's were designed up front to accept the wing keel.
If you don't buy it, let me know, as I have some friends who are looking for this model. They are rare, and don't stay on the market too long.
One of the 25 association members once said that the 89 wings are the "Best of Breed" I agree.
I wish mine had a furler, and it is on the list, as well as a tillerpilot, and a new deck wench.
Whatever you decide, best of luck to you.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2003 : 16:54:21

I have a tall rig, fin keel boat on an inland lake, and love it. Winds are often light and fluky on inland lakes, and you need all the sail area you can get. When the wind is overpowering (which is only about 5-10% of the time), you can reduce heeling by reducing sail area. On the other hand, when the wind is light (which is most of the time), and you need all the sail area you can get, the shorter mast limits the amount of sail area you can raise. I have sailed C-25 fin and swing keels, but not wing keels, and have not heard that wings are significantly more tender than the others. I have to reduce sail area on my tall rig boat slightly sooner than a standard rig boat, but the difference isn't really that much. The tall rig is not, by any means, a tender boat. In light to moderate winds, however, the extra sail area of the tall rig boat lets it easily pull ahead of a standard rig boat in terms of speed.

My personal opinion is that a C-25 is a good boat in every configuration, (tall or standard rig; fin, wing or swing keel) and I would buy the nicest one I could find of any configuration.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2003 : 17:21:34

If you can handle the San Juan 21 tha Catalina will be a cake walk. The roller furling will be of great help. Here is what I recomend. If the wind is up go out reefed and if its all good shake it out. Its better to shake a reef out than it is to put one in. If the wind is comming up with a tall rig reef early. Reef early is the whole key. Tep they are more tender but when the wind is light you can fly past a standard rig.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2003 : 17:28:21

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I wish mine had a furler, and it is on the list, as well as a tillerpilot, and a new deck wench.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Frank: I'll have to make do with my current "deck wench" but we're all interested in pictures of your new one! We're hoping that takes priority over the mechanical gear... <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dock: The '89-90 wing is a great boat--it'll feel like a real yacht compared to the SJ-21. The only reservation about the tall rig with any keel is that the boom is a foot lower than on the standard rig. You always have the option of shortening your main to raise it.

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

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2003 : 20:49:48

If you have a good deck wench take good care as they are extremely rare, and very hard to find. Proper care and maintenace is very important.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2003 : 21:55:42

Yeah...but they sure are expensive! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.