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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Bow eye

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Chemist
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/11/2004 : 20:17:09

This year I will have to install a bow eye on my 1980 C25 to ready it for trailering to its new, in 2005, sailing grounds. Will be moving from Lake Hopatcong in Northern NJ to Brookville Reservoir in Eastern IN. Any suggestions as to size of bow eye and proper location and backing for the bow eye?

Thanks

Bob Imes
C25 #1544, sr, sk, "Prime Time"

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2004 : 20:48:17

The factory bow eye backing was a teak wedge and Catalina Direct sells them for a couple of dollars. The location is a result of the location of your trailer's wench relative to the bow as the boat sits on the trailer. Here is a picture of my factory placement.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2004 : 21:24:56

Bob,

I think the original C-25 bow eye was about 5/16", which seems small to me. I replaced mine, when it broke, with one around 10mm to 14mm (3/8" to 1/2"). The teak wedge backing block, along with some big fender washers, and maybe a fiberglass backing plate, sounds good to me. I bedded the new bow eye with either 3M-5200 or polysulfide sealant.

Even if you don't trailer and ramp launch, a strong bow eye is a good thing to have. As I recall, professional tow services prefer to pass you a line with a big snap shackle or carabiner on the end, which they want snapped to your bow eye. From their point of view, that's faster and safer than expecting Bubba Bassboat to have, and correctly belay to, a large well backed up mooring cleat. Not to imply that you're in the same seamanship catagory as Bubba, but that's who the tow boat is set up to deal with. Also, if a tow line fails at the pulling end, you are safer if it's attached to your boat well below deck level. Unlike a pro tow boat, you don't have a safety net between you and failed towing gear.

-- Leon Sisson

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 03:48:06

There is no boy eye on my boat and I have had no problems loading unloding or trailering. I just launched this morning with out a hitch. I use a tow strap to do that. I have towed up to Hunington lake 3 times SF bay a couple of time and Montery bay a couple of times with out a bow eye. Hunigton is a climb from 100 foot elevation to about 8000feet in about 40 miles. I have a bunks on the trailer and use a strap over the cockpit and one over the bow and that's it.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 12:46:56

How many swing keels don't have the stock bow eye? Conversely, how many fin keels have a stock bow eye?

I always thought the existance of a bow eye was a good way to tell from the outside if the C25 was a fin or a swinger (not including wing refits or newer C25s which are possible wings).

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 14:23:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RichardG
 ...I always thought the existance of a bow eye was a good way to tell from the outside if the C25 was a fin or a swinger...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My fin has an original bow eye and I believe this boat has never been on a trailer.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 16:03:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">How many swing keels don't have the stock bow eye? Conversely, how many fin keels have a stock bow eye?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Bow eyes were options when our boats were new. A bow eye is used to winch a boat onto a trailer, especially a roller bunk trailer. You don't absolutely need one to trailer your boat, but it is very convenient. A bow eye is also used to hook a boat onto a mooring. If you didn't intend to trailer your boat or keep it on a mooring, you could have ordered it without a bow eye.

The presence or absence of a bow eye doesn't have anything to do with whether it is a swing or fin keel boat.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Will be moving from Lake Hopatcong in Northern NJ to Brookville Reservoir in Eastern IN. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> I'll look forward to meeting you at Brookville Lake this summer, Bob. I keep my boat in slip #8 at Hanna Creek. The Hanna Creek docks are for sailboats only, and are the center of sailing activity at Brookville Lake. If you get there promptly on Friday evenings, you can usually find an open guest dock, where you can tie up your boat at no cost. You should consider joining Brookville Lake Sailing Assn. It's a good club, and very inexpensive. You can check out the club's website at www.blsa.us

Edited by - Steve Milby on 04/12/2004 16:30:28

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 20:57:21

Well, I was way off on that one -- thanks for clearing it up.

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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.