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.
Spent some time sitting on the 2004 C250wk answering looker’s questions at the Denver Boat for the Colorado Catalina Dealer. When I had time I was taking notice of the differences in-between my 2000 wk and the 2004 wk.
This years model Hull #754 had the in board Yanmar 8hp diesel engine. I have seen pictures posted of the diesel compartment but in real life it does take up a lot more room than I thought. IMHO the diesel takes up too much room down below and for my sailing grounds it is not necessary. I will stick with my outboard. I also see the engine instrument panel takes the place of the starboard coaming compartment. The fuel tank is located in the aft storage area. I think this 16-gallon tank adds more weight to an already heavy stern. Do to the fuel tank location the battery is in another location, which I did not look for. I guessing it is in the starboard settee.
The main winches have changed from Lewmar 16 self-tailers to Lewmar 14 self-tailers.
This model also had the factory installed marine head. People that frequent this forum often know about my marine head story and how unhappy I was with the quality of the system. The head itself was different (which in my opinion was the best part of the system I have) other than that they are still using the same crappy hose going from the head to the tank and they are still using the same holding tank which is solid black plastic with no way to tell when it is full. Do to the inboard engine housing the thru hull used to flush the head is next to impossible to access without removing the housing or modifying the aft under berth storage compartment board.
The halyard clutches are made by spinlock.
As reported before on this site the 2004 has a single backstay that attaches to the cockpit floor right by the swim ladder.
A Schaffer furler is now the furling equipment that the 2004 comes with. Talking to the people that commission the boats for the dealer, they have suggested to Catalina to go back to the CDI furler.
The companionway-sliding hatch as with the 2003 model is fiberglass with a 1’ square window in it.
The last thing I noticed is the stripes right below the rail is a blue one on top and a gray one below it.
Are you saying that there was no tank monitor ability?
While not able to compare the Schaffer furler to the CDI, a question that has never been answered is the ability to run a drifter with the Schaffer unit without necessitating tacking it around the headstay as done with a cruising chute.
Having once experienced very steep 8 footers with no prop break out problems with an XLS motor... one of the prime arguments for an inboard is muted. Four stroke technology along with the transom mounted motor has left the most significant problem with an outboard to be mostly the esthetics and for those whom that is important... the inboard is a good option but as you say... seems to have tradeoffs to get it.
I always maintain a discipline while cruising to close the seacock after using the head and would find difficult access to it disconcerting. While if the intake is equipped with a vented loop, its not a necessity to do so, use of the seacock insures it stays working freely and reduces the chances that a line will spring a leak and cause boat flooding.
Does the single backstay location interfere with use of the swim ladder and open transom in any way?
The CDI furler came on my 2003WB and I will tell you it is a major pain in the A**. The forked portion that attaches to the deck retracts within the furler and makes attachment a minimum two person job. One person to hold the furler and guide it down and another to continually pry down the fork with a screwdriver.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">How difficult is access to the aft berth? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I had to go into the aft berth sideways. I did not measure it but I think it is half the amount or less than what I have on my boat.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Where was the holding tank located?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
It is located behind the aft panel where the batteries on our boat was factory located.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Are you saying that there was no tank monitor ability? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
The only way I can see to monitor this tank is with the kind of monitor that sticks to the outside of the tank. I heard there is such a thing but I know nothing about them.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">the intake is equipped with a vented loop <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
My factory installed head and hull #754 both have a vent loop
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Does the single backstay location interfere with use of the swim ladder and open transom in any way?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
This boat show was indoors with not enough clearance for the C250 to have its mast up so I can't answer that from what I saw. But guessing I don't think it would interfere with the use of the swim ladder.
Willy, I have the Schaefer furler on my 04 C250 and it was no problem installing when we commissioned the boat. The turnbuckle throat did not slide up at all. I did not know why and never thought about it until you mention the problem and I looked at the directions and found that there is "optional turnbuckle retaining clip for use on trailerable boats launched and hauled regularly". This clip slides onto the turnbuckle stud between the throat and the turnbuckle body. I guess my dealer installed it when he put the furler together. You might check and see if yours has one installed, but my guess is not. My installation manual does not have a part number listed for this clip, but maybe your dealer or CD an get it. I am sure this will solve your problem.
Bryan, I also looked at a new 250 wk this past week, it may well have been a dealer installed feature but an external fixed outboard motor mount was added behind the motor mount for the hull. It was lowered a bit and apparently improved some of the motor clearances that have been talked about in these forums.
The motor mount you describe has been around since probably '98 and has been used by several participants to the forum for the purpose of making a long shaft motor work and enjoying a little more turning radius with motors that incurred restricted turning.
A possible trade off would be added leverage and stress when trailering which might result in the need to remove the outboard for trailering.
Ditto Jerry's (Frog's) post. I had the exact same problem you had when I first got my 2002 WB. The 'pro' that rigged/commissioned it for me had a devil of a time and we had to use a screwdriver with two of us working to get it pinned into place. He also left off the 'optional' halyard retaining clip which attaches just below the top of the mast to hold the ib halyard in place in order to prevent it from wrapping around the stay.
The second time I droppped my mast and was pulling what's left of my balding hair out, I re-read the instruction booklet and installed the retaining clip in the drum and the halyard retaining clip on the mast and have not had a bit of trouble since.
Our '97 has the motor mount. It appears from the previous owners paperwork that it was an option he purchased. I don't think we could tilt our '80s vintage Honda 4-stroke without it. The previous owner did remove the motor for trailering.
Bren, I forgot about the halyard retaining clip on the mast. I assumed Willy had that in place since he did not mention any problem with halyard wrap. It would seem after all these years I would learn not to assume HUH! Both are important for a snapfurl to work properly and aid in easy mast operations on a trailerable boat.
Dropped the mast and secured the retaining clip on the mast top when I first rigged. I did experience the halyard wrap for about ten minutes before that. Thanks again guys...I can't wait to install the retaining clip.!
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.