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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Which design is more stable?

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2tonga
Deckhand

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1 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/30/2003 : 15:48:32

I am considering getting a Catalina 25 (or 22) to use on mountain lakes/reservoirs in Colorado. We often have strong, gusty and sometimes shifty winds here. Is a wing keel more stable than a swing keel? Fin keel isn't an option, as I would like to trailer the boat.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 17:39:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by 2tonga
 I am considering getting a Catalina 25 (or 22) to use on mountain lakes/reservoirs in Colorado. We often have strong, gusty and sometimes shifty winds here. Is a wing keel more stable than a swing keel? Fin keel isn't an option, as I would like to trailer the boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Get a wing, you can always shorten sail.

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ppetracca
Navigator

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USA
163 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 17:51:33

I might disagree with that theory. As our lakes in the west go dry, unaccesible boat ramps make a swing keel "beach" launchable with a 4X4 a desirable option...I'm talking about a '22, not a '25 of course...and I just happen to know where a 1986 Catalina '22 #13613 is available in New Mexico, ready to go! It has 150 roller furling, cockpit led controls, nice, stable, trailer, etc. and a proven race record. There is a photo on my homepage if your interested:

http://hometown.aol.com/ppetracca/myhomepage/photo.html

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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 18:02:04

absolutely the wing. you'll get a little more weight. you may heel a bit more but may have less maintenece costs down the road. Plus, not sure if his is true, but an old sailor instructor of mine told me once tacking id a little smoother with a wing keel verses any other type. like the above post, you can always shorten sail.
One last opinion. do the C25 wing rather than the 22 if you're thinking about spending thenight out on your boat. the V verth in the 22 is small and so is the headroom.

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cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 20:36:44

We have a C-25 which was a swing (now a wing) we purchased from a guy who sailed Dillon reservoir. We saw alot of Hunters and some MacGregors (similar in size) in Colorado but really feel Catalina is a better boat.

We prefered Pueblo because of longer season and warmer water. The swing keel was great for us. For the size boat the C-25 was a more stable boat than most others. My guess is that the swing is easier to get on and off the trailer. Our swing to wing conversion is currently under way so I don't yet know how it will be to get the wing on and off the trailer.

It is too ealry for me to compare sailing differences between the swing and wing but I guess I would say go with which ever keel you prefer and what you can find for a good price. We are converting from swing to wing because we developed a substantial leak in our keel trunk and felt it was the best fix, all things considered. We now live in Florida and feel the swing keel is not the best set up for nearly tropical salt water. On the other hand, we had very little trouble with the swing in cold, fresh, deep Colorado lake water.

I would really suggest the 25 over the 22. The C-25 is a perfect size boat for lake sailing and yet still easy to trailer.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 21:18:36

VAL??? (He's "on the hard, dagnabbit" so he's got some time on his hands, and converted from swing to wing a few years back.

OH VAL...

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cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2003 : 22:06:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 VAL??? (He's "on the hard, dagnabbit" so he's got some time on his hands, and converted from swing to wing a few years back.

OH VAL...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I know Val had converted and he has been alot of encouragement through this conversion. I didn't know he was on the hard. Heck of a thing to happen. We have been on the hard for at least a couple of months and even though some positive changes are happening it is difficult. Can't wait to get back in the water. 2 weeks?

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2003 : 01:52:25

We use to have a Santana 21. My dad and I took it everywhere we could, it lived on the trailer not water. Since getting married I havent goen on many trips, the admrial didn't really like the boat. Now with the 25 I have a wife (same one) that likes sailing. So far this year we have taken the boat to our home lake, San Francisco, home lake, Hunington lake, home lake, Monterey, home not lake, and are planing on a trip in a week. Thats six trips in and out of the water, or is it five higher math gets me sometimes. Oh, ours is a fixed keel and it is easier, except for the detatching, to launch and retreive the boat than the old santana.

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2003 : 10:06:48

I've sailed on C25s with all of the keel configurations....swing, wing, and fixed fin. When comparing stability - that is to say the tenderness of the boat - the wing keel feels more stable when compared to the swing keel. The wing also seems to track in a straight line more easily - making steering easier.

As far as trailering, the wing keel version sits 2 inches higher on the trailer than the swing. So, needs just a little bit more water to launch and retrieve.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2003 : 10:21:53

IMHO follows.

For your intended use (freshwater, lots of trailering) either a swing or a wing should do just fine and be plenty stable. All these C25's are very stable boats for their length.

The swing does take a little maintenance. I'd buget 1 hour every couple years and $50 to change the keel cable/turning ball/hose. All of that can be done on the trailer with the assistance of a couple of bottle jacks.

Every 10 to 20 years or so you'll need to inspect/maintain the hinge pin.

Wing is of course, the 'hot' setup.. but a consideration is that you will probably spend about $3K less "up front" for the swing keel.

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pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2003 : 10:26:21

WING

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2003 : 10:49:29

I am always good for another opinion. While not everyone agrees, of course, my '78 swing keel has been a great boat. I have NOT experienced any problems. Cable has been replaced a couple of times (no biggie). It has worked great for me and I have had no reason to covet a wing. I am in freshwater, except for 2-3 weeks per year in the San Juan Islands saltwater. I have no idea why some boats seem to have some problems and others do not, but my swinger has been nearly maintenance free. I leave my keel down nearly ALL the time, except to trailer or get off a sandbar!

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2003 : 12:40:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">you will probably spend about $3K less "up front" for the swing keel.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Another consideration is that swings for sale are usually much more available than wings. Thus the price differentional between the two (depending on condition, equipment, trailer, your ability/desire to clean it up, etc.) can be significantly greater and there's less chance you'll have to go a great distance to get a swing. Getting a wing for a song seems to be a pretty rare thing.

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