Association Forum - Investigating the C250 WK

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

Investigating the C250 WK

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Page: of 2

Dkn420
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2003 : 10:55:23

Steve: Since I haven't left for BVI yet (actually can't wait to go) I will tell you my experience with buying my first sailboat. I decided that Catalina had the best product to meet my desires after talking to friends who sailed, both smaller and larger boats than the C250. I also did a lot of reading and watching this forum. I decided on the WK based on the fact that I was planning on leaving the boat in Lake Oroville year around, but I did buy the trailer for the purpose of taking the boat out for maintenance if needed, bad weather, unfavorable lake conditions, or whatever might arise. Also, there is that little voice that says "put it on the trailer and go someplace"

I purchased the boat at Sailing Ventures in Lake Tahoe, and was very pleased with that experience. Bringing the boat down the hill to Sacramento on the trailer wasn't a problem. I have a 2003 Chevy Silverado 4wd with the trailer towing package. I left the boat in Sacramento to have the bottom painted and portlights installed in the aft berth. When is was finished we towed it back to Lake Oroville and finished setting things up so it could be launched. The lake is pretty low at this time of year and the launch ramp is very steep. We decided to launch it without the trailer extension. The truck ended up with water close to the rear bumper and the boat glided off the trailer and we tied it to the dock at the launch ramp. Once it was ready to launch it didn't take more than 5 or 10 minutes total, but I really wasn't watching the clock...it just seemed easier than I anticipated. I did have the help of a friend who has trailered a C25 up and down the West Coast, so I'm sure that made things easier. I would suggest finding someone with experience to assist you the first time you launch as it gives peace of mind. I'm not sure how it will go when I bring it out the first time, but I'm sure it will not be a problem if one takes their time and has a mental checklist before hand.

I found it difficult to find a used C250 without having to travel a great distance from Northern California, so I wound up at Lake Tahoe and decided to purchase a new boat given the price differences not being that great. I do know that Michal at Sailing Ventures has a 2000 C250 wk for sale. It is a nice boat, I have sailed on it for a couple of days, it's in great shape, only been in the water at Lake Tahoe, does have the inboard diesel and several nice add-on's.

I opted for the inboard diesel and like it a lot...my experience with outboards was on J/24's in SF Bay...but there are trade-off's and one just has to make those decisions. The only issue I've had with the new boat is the ST60 Wind System I ordered which doesn't seem to want to calibrate, so it doesn't work. I've been in contact with the folks who installed it for Catalina and they have promised me they will make it right, and have been responsive to communication so it will ultimately be corrected.

The is a launch system on the forum using a winch and strap and the spare tire system (which is now available from trail-rite) that I think would be very helpful and looks very efficient. That is on my list of things to do in the future.

I have some photos of the launch ramp at Lake Oroville and would be glad to email them to you if you contact me, I seem to be "photo posting challenged" at the moment

I'm sure there is more I could tell you, but I'm off to the lake to replace a shackle (be sure and safety wire all of shackles) and get out on the water...I think I've learned from the forum that a boat is a constant work in progress and a very individual endeavor, but it also has a lot of commonality.

Oh, one more thing, nothing happens on scedule in the boating industry, so you just have to adjust to that, at least I did.

Hey Jerry, how is it going with Penny II? Will be in BVI 11/18 - 12/4 on the lookout for C250's, if I see one I will be sure and get a picture.

I guess the nearest launch ramp would be in Florida?

Dan #727

Edited by - on

Steve leBlanc
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
21 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2003 : 15:16:09

so adding more freeboard would take away from the lines on the boat.
[/quote]

Isn't it great to ask a question and get so many answers? There was one comment made that you mentioned in the quote. When I read it I did not understand it, The comment about the wing having more freeboard... [/quote]

I'm sorry, that was a mis-understanding. What I meant was, to get more head room in the WB boat, they would probably need to add more freeboard or cabin heigth. IMO, that would take away from the beauty or lines of this boat. Look at the new Mac's , they are boxy looking and hard to see over the cabin. Yea, you get +6 feet of head room below deck, but the true sail boat lines have been taken away. Almost like when they went from a trunk cabin to a flush cabin, the trunk cabin configuration, with the walk around and hand rails on the cabin top, gave the boat a much nicer set of lines or more eye appealing to look at. IMHO, I like the look of the trunk cabin over the flush mount, but I like the flush mount due to the head room below deck when sitting.

Edited by - on

Steve leBlanc
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
21 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2003 : 15:37:45

Dan,

Thanks for all the information. I guess the boating industry runs on Island time. The wife has already stated that if we, meaning she, cannoy find a used C250 the we, meaning she again, doesn't like, then we will order a new one. My reply was, Ok. I have looked at the price of adding a deisel to the boat but I cannot stomach the 39 to 40K price tag. This was information I received from 1 dealer down here on So. Ca. I am hoping that prics change from dealer to dealer, but I still have a year, maybe less due to the excitement of the wife towards the boat, to look around and investigate prices. I do know we, meaning both this time, have settled on a Catalina and since it appears that after 1995, they started to open up the interiors to more light and the layout is giving more space, I know it's 1996 on up.

My wife usually helps when launching the M25 and is pretty good at having the boat spun around and ready sail by the time I get to back to the dock, after rinsing the trailer and parking.
If you would not mind, you can email me some ramp pictures: seleblanc@cox.net

Does anyone know the total height of the boat when sitting on the trailer. A SWAG estimate of 9 - 10 feet from the roadway.

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2003 : 18:12:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Does anyone know the total height of the boat when sitting on the trailer. A SWAG estimate of 9 - 10 feet from the roadway.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

With the mast on the front trailer roller and in the stern crutch the highest point is 11'8" off the ground. Of course this is the measurement for the wing keel.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2003 : 10:09:36

Bryan,

I made a support post out of 2x4's that sits in the mast foot and supports the mast. It greatly stabilizes the mast during transport. Ignore this comment if you're happy with the way your setup works.

Oscar
250WB#618 Lady Kay on the Chesapeake

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2003 : 12:11:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I made a support post out of 2x4's that sits in the mast foot and supports the mast. It greatly stabilizes the mast during transport.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In the owners manual, I have, there is shown a fiberglass mount for the mast which fits on the bow rails (is that the right term doesn't seem so). My boat was not delivered with it but I called F.B. and he sent it to me.

The mast fits tightly into it and it places the foot of the mast right behind the upright on the trailer for the mast raising. The beauty of the latter is that in sudden braking the mast can not move past the upright. The mast also sits very low overtop of the boat.

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2003 : 12:16:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I made a support post out of 2x4's that sits in the mast foot and supports the mast. It greatly stabilizes the mast during transport.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You can't see my tie down system in this picture. The method we use the spreaders don't move or bounce going down the road. All those years in Boy Scouts have paid off when it comes to tying knots on the boat.

But I sure someone out there will be happy to see your idea.

Edited by - on

Steve leBlanc
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
21 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2003 : 22:48:41

quote]

With the mast on the front trailer roller and in the stern crutch the highest point is 11'8" off the ground. Of course this is the measurement for the wing keel.

[/quote]

As you can guess, I'm not that great at eyeing distances. Heck, I measure once and cut twice and still can't figure out why it's too short.

Bryan,

What size truck are you using to tow your boat?

Also, at the boat show, the trailer there had a ladder welded to the front of the trailer where the wench is, do you also have that or do you need to carry around a ladder to get up on the boat? Sorry for all the questions

Edited by - on

Steve leBlanc
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
21 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2003 : 22:54:54

Has anyone placed a mast mounted antenna for there VHF? If so, how difficult was it? I took sa look at the user manual, on this site, for the C250 and noticed that there appears to be conduit running up the mast where the anchor light wires run. It looks like this keeps the haylards from getting tangled with the wires in the mast. I was wondering if running the cable through the conduit and drilling another hole in the top of the mast wher I could run the antenna cable through and mount it up on the mast. Does that sound like a good idea?

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2003 : 23:09:02

Steve, that is what I intend to do Saturday before we raise the mast on Penny II. I will be mounting a 3 foot, base loaded stainless whip on the mast head with 3/16 pop rivets to hold the angle bracket. I intend to drill into the mast below the head add rubber groument and run the RG6 cable. I will take the base plate of the mast before I start so I can fish a pull string to help direct the cable to the correct place at the bottom. That's the plan right now, but I'm sure there will be some changes. I will EM the details when complete if you would like. Also will install a windex with a 18" standoff so it won't wack the antenna.

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 00:35:46

My first tow vehicle was a 1998 Ford Expedition that had a 5.4-liter engine and a towing capacity of 8000lbs. My 2nd tow vehicle was a F250 4x4 diesel crew cab. I now have 2 vehicles that Ican tow with, 2003 Ford Expedition and a new 2003 F350 4x4 crew cab w/ the new 6.0 diesel engine. The F350 is over kill for towing the C250wk. The Expedition does a great job.

My VHF antenna is on top of the mast. It was part of the deal when I bought the boat new in January 2000. I learned from the last couple of boats if you pay the dealer to install all your options during commissioning they can do it pretty cheap. IMHO cheaper than I can do it later.

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 10:34:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve leBlanc
 Has anyone placed a mast mounted antenna for there VHF? If so, how difficult was it? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We have a mast mounted VHF antenna, but it was installed by the previous owner so I don't have any installation details.
The wiring is run up the mast using a similar connection to the wiring (w/ a plug on the deck right next to the wiring plug). I can't recall how the antenna is mounted on top since I haven't seen the top of the mast in a couple years.

Edited by - on

Page: of 2

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.