Association Forum

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 25 Specific Forum

New Boat

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Jared
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
70 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/02/2003 : 07:29:00

I am new to this post, but have been doing a lot of research here before buying our first real boat. I just closed last night on a 1986 Catalina 25 Fin Keel Tall Rig. I think it is a Tall Rig, but Catalina told me a Std Rig, so I will have to measure.

Anyway, the survey came up with only minor stuff to fix (light bulbs, flares, etc). There was no blistering or soft spots anywhere. It has the factory shore power, 2 battery setup, fixed head, cockpit cushions and sunshade, depth finder, knotometer, 110 genoa, 135 genoa, 150 genoa, drifter sail with its own halyard, and all the stardard stuff. I can only use the 135 genoa because it is the only one set to be used on the roller furler (new in 1998). I got it all for $5k! That seems like a great deal, don't you think?

We are going to keep it in Deltaville, VA. It is up on blocks now to escape Isabel and so that I can repaint the bottom. I am going up to sand the bottom tonight and will paint the bottom, polish the hull, and stick on a new name and put in the drink next week. Things I need to do here soon is install a shore power 2 bank battery charger, find a handle for my bilge, install an electric bilge that is just sitting in one of the drawers of the boat in the package, and fix the cruddy little skylight someone installed in the v-birth that leaks water (probably go lexan). My anchor light doesn't work, so who knows where to start there before climbing the mast to take a look? Also, the aft cushions look cruddy because water was allowed to leak through the companionway over the years it seems - looks like storage space for a while.

I find this post really helpful in my 1 day of boat ownership, but I'm sure that I'll be back asking for help.

Jared Jamison
86 C25 #5354 FK/TR "Saba Rocks" Richmond, VA

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 07:37:11

Congratulations on your new boat, and welcome to the group! Sounds like you really did get a good deal. I think you'll really enjoy your new Catalina.

Ben
Adventurous
#5553
C25 SR/SK
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d703b3127cce8e8039b3c9170000001010" border=0>

Edited by - on

matsche
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 07:51:02

Unless there's a hole in your boat, you've got a GREAT deal! Congrats! Check out the [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=29820"]Truecharge 10A Battery Charger[/url] at West. Has worked great for me and won't fry your batteries.

John Matsche 1985 TR/FK #5171

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 08:19:32

jared,

5k sounds like you got a good deal, and you seem to have a good handle on what you wnat to accomplish in the near future. One suggestion I'd make would be to have you 150 recut for the furler. Then you haqve more sail for those days when the winds are light, which can be reduced to 135ish as the wind picks up.

I've tried to carry 150 in gusty conditions with the wind 15isn. Easily made hull speed, but it was a lot of work. When I reduced the jib, I still made hull speed and the ride was much more comfortable.

Congratulations on the families new baby. And, welcome to family. I'd encourage you to join the c25/250 association which supports this site, which is an asswt for all c25/250 sailors. Welcome.

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

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 09:30:42

Jared,

Congrats and welcome to the club! It sounds like you got a great deal

By your purchase of a fin keel boat, I see you are a man of great wisdom and knowledge! <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good luck and have fun!

<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/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 09:45:40

Hi Jared,

Welcome to the group! It sounds like you got a GREAT deal on your boat!

Things I need to do here soon ... find a handle for my bilge ...

When I bought my boat a PO had equipped it with a short piece of aluminum conduit to use for the manual bilge pump handle ... one of the FEW things POs did for the boat that actually made sense.

My anchor light doesn't work, so who knows where to start there before climbing the mast to take a look?

My anchor light quit working a month ago, and I convinced myself that it had to be a burned out bulb ... I was wrong, which I discovered AFTER I took down the mast and installed a new bulb. <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

I am electrically challenged, so take this advice with caution <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>. If you have a multi-meter, check the continuity of the wire in the mast ... that'll tell you if the bulb is burned out. If the bulb checks good, check the voltage coming from the DC panel. If that is bad, then you've either got a bad wire between the DC panel and the mast, or the fuse is burned out.

I had never used a multi-meter before ... it's easier than I thought ... MOST of the settings/selections on mine are things I'll never use. Checking the continuity and the voltage turned out to be simple ... I found a bad connection where I had spliced the anchor light wire into the power wire coming out of the deck ... I respliced the wire and the anchor light is fine now.

Also, the aft cushions look cruddy because water was allowed to leak through the companionway over the years it seems - looks like storage space for a while.

There are several people in the Association who never use the quarterberth for anything but storage. I think Patrick Burnett <img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle> came up with the idea of removing the cushions and permanently installing indoor/outdoor carpet in the area, and it makes a nice big area for stowing stuff.

'Hope that helps. Good luck with your new "baby" ... these are GREAT boats!

Buzz Maring
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df23b3127cce9306a9b3abad0000001010" border=0>
~~Freya~~
C-25 SK/SR #68

Edited by - on

svmoxie
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 09:58:44

Hi Jared,

Congratulations on the new boat. I started sailing out of Deltaville with my Uncle a "few" years ago.

Let us know how we can help and we look forward to learning more about your adventures.

Check out the ships store http://www.catalina25-250.org/shipstore/shipstor.html for our tech manuals and browse through the Tech Tips http://www.catalina25-250.org/tech/tech.html for lots of ideas on how to upgrade your boat.

Most importantly, come join the Association http://www.catalina25-250.org/index2.html so you can participate in the Nationals each year, receive the Mainsheet magazine and the TellTales newsletter.

Again, welcome aboard and let me know if you have any questions.

Clif Thompson
Treasurer C-25/250 National Association.
svMoxie '81 25 sk

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 10:22:49

Welcome to the Catalina family. Hope you will have many years of enjoyment with your new boat. 5k for an 86 with that equipment is unbelievable especially with the hull in such great shape. Be sure, as Don says, join our association, it will be the best $20 you have ever spent.

Buzz hit the nail on the head when it comes to anchor lights or any other electrical problem with a 12 volt DC system. The two worst enemies of DC voltage are corrosion and poor grounds. If you do not have a meter and have a Harbor Freight near by you can get one for around $3-5. It is ideal for boat work. For anchor light trouble check your deck fitting for corrosion and clean it with emery cloth or some electrical cleaner. Then check continuity through the mast. Disconnect the batteries and turn the anchor light switch on and check continuity through the switch. If there is none in the mast it could be the blub or wiring. Same for the switch. Both checks are done at the deck fitting.

Good luck and again welcome.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 11:17:34

Wow you did well!
As to the mast electricals, if a bulb is still good it is nearly always corrosion. Simply reterminating connectors can fix a lot of things. Just pull the connectors off the terminals at the various lights and burnish the connectors, emery cloth does rock. I also love to steal my wifes diamond files. Jelly filled connectors usually don't fail. Sometimes the wire will be corroded and you will need to strip it back to cleaner wire. If you have no slack you can try to clean it with a little battery terminal cleaner on a rag.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - on

Sid
Navigator

Members Avatar

129 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 12:03:49

Congrats on the new C25 and welcome to the family. I have found this group to be a great source of info and tips. Good luck on getting started on the to do list before it gets too long<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.

Sid

77 C25 SK #21

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 12:24:19

Welcome Jered!

Great deal on your boat. I got Hey Jude, plain vanilla, i.e. everything worked, one jib, with sunbrella covers for the house, very dirty, for $3500. You did better I think.

You may wish to do like many of us have by creating a wish list of things to do or improve. If you post it, we can refer you to previous posts, tech solutions, drawings, etc., or just give you our sage <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> advice.

For me, having a circle of experts and friends via this page has allowed me to learn and become a better, safer sailor.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
Half Moon Bay, CA

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 13:19:30

Welcome, Jared. I live in Glen Allen, work in Ashland, and keep my C25 in Urbanna. Let me know if I can help.

Brooke

Edited by - on

jsummerfield
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
96 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 20:53:30

First order a Catalina Direct manual and catalog. There is a link on the first page after entering the site from home. Catalina Direct sells the electrical connector for the wiring harness to the mast. There is also a mast wiring harness kit that I have not purchased.

When working on the electrical package, climb into the large cockpit locker to access the wiring behind the fuse panel. If you are short and fat like me, consider a bucket or stool at the bottom of the locker for help getting back out.

I installed my electric bilge pump and float cutoff switch in the keel-bolt bilge area and ran a separate hose through the cockpit locker area and a new through-hull fitting on the stern above the original hand-bilge outlet. I wired a bilge switch that can be on automatic from the switch or manually activated with spring reset for testing. I ran the power through the master DC but it can be isolated from the panel to permit the bilge-pump with the battery selector off. I kept mine through the battery switch and leave on battery 1 when away.

A glass shop can match the size of the skylight. I increased the thickness from about 1/4” white translucent plastic to 3/8” smoked Lexan with beveled sides as mine was broken by the previous owner.

Welcome and good luck with your new projects.

John
C25 3973 FK/SR
"Texas Tango"

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.