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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Capri 26

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/08/2004 : 12:37:32

Hi everyone, had a chance to sail over the last weekend on a Capri 26, and all I can say is, I am a little depressed. The boat is fast. Faster than my C25. Seems to accelerate better, in spite of it's weight. Points very well. Overall I am a little jealous/bummed. My boat is dry still... and I guess I need to get it in the water soon to remember why I love it so.

The Capri had a hanked on 135, I have roller, so perhaps that is why it points better. It carries more sail, but it displaces more as well. We were consistantly clocking 6.5 knots on a beam (no following seas) my C25 won't do that. Oh well

Has anyone else sailed one of these? Are these differences real, or am I just bummed because I'm not in the water??

Thanks,
Lance
85 FK/SR

Edited by - on

nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2004 : 15:51:50

Lance,
A friend of mine has one on Lake Mead and he regularly cleans up on the race course....mind you, he's a great sailor and has nice sails (laminate main & no furling gear. What I really like about the boat is that he has a tiller an inboard diesel and a walk thru transom...all things I like and he can put the boat on a trailer (a must for Lake Mead since there are no services for haul outs.) Don't get me wrong, I love my C25....but there are always going to be nicer/faster boats to drool over. Get your boat in the water and chase that Capri 26 around!!

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2004 : 17:28:32

Get a hanked on 155 and beat him with better tactics!

The Capri is a racing boat Catalina made to compete with the Melges, etc. It really didn't.

I couldn't beat a Melges a couple of weeks ago in big winds and he wasn't even flying a jib ! (I had 135 roller and single reefed main - he full main, no jib). We were close upwind, he disapeared downwind.

On the other hand I have a galley, sleeps 4, head, barbeque on the rail, food, water, etc. I sailed back to my slip and cooked lunch, he to the launch ramp.

Still I can beat almost all other monohulled boats under 30.

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2004 : 17:36:46

Hey Lance,

The Capri 26 was originally designated the Catalina 26 (approx 1985). Frank Butler and his crew decided that there were already quite a few Catalina models between 22 and 30 feet (22, 25, 27, 28, 30).

If you look at the specs closely, you'll see that the Capri 26 uses the same fin keel as the C25's fin keel. And, has the same rated sail area as the C25 tall rig (295 sq ft). The water line length is 9" longer - yielding a theoretical hull speed about .1 knot faster that a C25. The Capri 26 beam is 1'10" wider than the C25 and the designed displacement for the Capri 26 is 700 lbs greater (fatter 'n heavier).

All this really boils down to there's not much difference between the two boats as far as sailing. Interior accomodations are much different. But, preference with interiors is a matter of presonal taste. The two models actually sail around a course pretty much "scratch". When I was still racing quite a bit (ten years ago or so) a couple of fellows bought a Capri 26 and fitted it with all the go fast gear. They ended up with a faster PHRF and owed me time on handicap. In two seasons of racing in the same division with them, they never beat me boat for boat.....let alone on handicap (and complained bitterly that their handicap was too fast the whole time). What I'm saying is that a well sailed C25 with good sails and a clean bottom is all that a Capri 26 can handle and more.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2004 : 17:40:44

Hey Jim,

The Capri that Frank Butler produced to compete with the J24, Santana 525, et al, is the Capri 25 not the Capri 26. There is very little similar between these two boats.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2004 : 06:02:34

Thanks for the encouragment, I'll splash my boat next week, so I won't be so depressed then. I would love to have a little race with the Capri to test out the actual differences, however he is in Lake Ontario, I am in Lake Erie. A big canal and 16 hours of sailing to go 30 miles, go figure.

I know the Capri is heavier and wider, and has a similar sail plan to the tall rig, but I am stuck with a standard rig. I know the roller furling points me a little further down, but I'll take that penalty any day. And the accomodations on my C25 are much nicer.

I was just depressed. I'm okay now. I think.

Thanks again,

Lance
85 FK/SR
"Bernoulli's Ride"

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2004 : 10:43:49

We have one 26 at our club. It has wonderfully wide side decks so a person can actually go forward!!! It is large and open inside, obviously more comfortable. I would have one if I could.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2004 : 13:20:44

Bill - thanks for the correction. I've seen a Capri 26 here in Mission Bay, I'll keep my eye out for a 25.

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2004 : 15:29:58

Hi Jim

Imagine a 24'7" foot long, masthead rigged, fin keel boat. Beam is 9'2"
Draft is 4'2"; Displacement = 2,785 lbs (that's right 2,785 lbs); rated sail area = 276 sq ft (about half way between our std and tall rig C25s).
Typical PHRF rating should be around 175 (same as a Santana 525 or a J24). The rudder is inboard of the transom, and the cockpit is huge. Crouching headroom in the cabin. No galley or table. Porta potty under the v-berth forward.
Most racers feel that the J24 and the Santana 525, with their fractional rigs are quicker upwind. But, that huge masthead spinnaker on the reaches and runs makes up for all the difference upwind.
I've crewed on these boats many times and have seen the boat planing at 10+ knots for sustained periods under main and spinnaker. Lots-o-fun!!

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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