Association Forum - Hull # 44 first sailing trial

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Hull # 44 first sailing trial

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jeanetcarole
Deckhand

Member Avatar

Canada
17 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/04/2003 : 21:43:45

Stange boat to get out aft with a fixed outbard engine and a wheel rudder ( first time using it ) in the middle of a marina.
Well, got it OK and found quite confident 300 yards of the marina clear buoys.
Sails up, ok, jib unfurled and good trim. 8 knots wind with gusts up to 15 knots. Wow what a good first time out. Vigilance and moving trims of the main and jib constantly made me feel extremely good about the boat behaviour but made me feel counscious about the boat behaviour with a quick shift of 10 to 15 knots, the boat lay down and there is a loss of rudder control and the boat heads up wind. Yet with constant wind it felt perfect. Everybody will say it is safe for a boat to do so. I agree and sailed for several years with a Siren 17 to know this but it seems to me that the rudder is not well trimmed for the hull shape.

Otherwise the boat is a good friend and is predictable and easy to handle with a crew of 2 but difficult for single sailing. We would need swivel cleats for the jib stay from the top of the cabin or cabestans drilled the the port and stardboard aft sides.

So far, it is a new boat and with 6 hours of sailing it I must say it was a good choice.

P.S. will keep you informed because we are a fist year c250 production and I feel like I am sailing a possible museum piece
if i take good care of it
Cheers

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2003 : 23:05:12

Very good report...

Some things that will help.

1. Soft link to connect the rudder and motor for much easier control in tight spaces of marina... likely a must when dealing with crosswinds.

2. The boat needs early reefing and benefits from two reef points... the second is quite a deep reef. Keep her on her feet as she develops adverse weather helm and rudder drag with heavy heeling.

3. Control the helm balance with adjustment of center board back rake. This will remove much of the stalling rudder chacacteristic.

Did you share which rudder version you have?

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

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

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

Members Avatar

Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2003 : 23:47:42

Hi Jean...

I'm not in my element here on the C-250 list, but your early hull number suggests you might not have one of the two newer rudder designs that Catalina introduced when the rounding-up problems became apparent. That's why Arlyn is asking about rudder versions--you can probably answer him by measuring the depth of the blade below waterline. I recall that Catalina has offered good deals on rudder upgrades, apparently recognizing the shortcomings of the original design. Keeping her on her feet is probably the best advice--reef early and, in gusts, use the mainsheet to keep her up. A tightly trimmed main does not always produce the most speed.

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

Edited by - on

jeanetcarole
Deckhand

Members Avatar

Canada
17 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2003 : 00:05:38

HI y all, I believe I have the 3rd generation rudder because the former owner got a new one last summer ( 2002 ).
I find the boat to be a bit nervous but safe, Am I right or wrong??
Very little sailing time with my boat but this is the feeling i get.

THanks

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2003 : 10:35:21

Thanks Jean for the rudder clarification.... I thought I remembered you giving that information ealier...but didn't recall for sure.

The 3rd generation rudder has a high lift foil and is well balanced to avoid helm torque. However, it is 17.5 inches shorter than the 2nd generation and will lose its bite if the boat is heeled significantly or overcome by weather helm of an unbalanced boat.

Sailors engage in a long standing debate about the merits of balanced rudders. Some, wanting a balanced rudder to overcome helm torque and others want to feel weather helm when it exist. The degree of adverse torque which can occur on the helm of the c250 really calls for some balance. The 3rd is balanced to the degree that the helm is very light. This incurs the discipline to monitor boat balance by another method. That is to observe the turbulence off the rudder either by ear or sight.

Nervous is a good way to describe the C250, but the jitters can be reduced greatly by;

reducing heeling
trimming sheets properly
reefing sail if overpowered
and raking the center board aft to balance the boat.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

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

Edited by - arlyn stewart on 07/05/2003 10:48:26

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2003 : 17:58:10

Jean,

Your first impressions are all correct. As Arlyn says, most of us reef early, and keep the boat flat. There seems to be evidence that some weight forward (more "V" in the water, less flat stern in the water) increases tracking and decreases the rounding tendencies.Yes tracking is lacking, so you cant't let go very long. I installed a tiller extension with a lockbox in the coaming (sp¿) and in light air that allows some relief. There are other hardware adjustments that can be made to facilitate single handling.

The good news is that the "tenderness" allows for good responsiveness in light air.

Design is compromise. I enjoy the highlights and ignore the shortcomings.

The upside down ¿ is from a Spanish keyboard here in Caracas......

Oscar

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

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.