Association Forum - bodacious Cat 25 photos

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

General Sailing Forum

bodacious Cat 25 photos

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Page: of 2

MattL
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/24/2004 : 14:36:40

While sailing into one of the Antioc Marinas last week end I saw a Catalina that one of our club members described. I tell you words fail to impart the true effect of what was done to this boat. I was told that the fellow who owned it has travled to Hawaii and Austrailia on it, back again. He plans to sail to the Atlantic sometime too. The boat has redundant systems on top of reduntant systems. I counted 6 anchors, there probably are more. I didn't talk to the guy, but a friend that was on our trip did. The man mostly lives on the boat now and I guess sails it too. Well let me just post a few photos.

double fore stays and four anchors.

old lisens, but you can also see the club boom on the cutter stay.

whole bunch of lines lead aft, travler in front of companion way.

I like the additions to the weather boards, the dodger goes straight into a bimini too. Don't know where it all goes when you sail.

two more anchors, you can also see part of the self stearing vain.

In a past thread someone asked about a gallos for the radar unit. Here you go.

Other side of the boat, I think this has a rack for a kayak or something similar.

Solar power, I think there was another anchor on this side too.
I see some good ideas here. I don't think the preventer came through in the photos, but it was one heck of a unit. Probably a bunch of boat units. I liked the looks of the port and reinforcment bars on the weather boards, but it would probably make it hard on storage. For delta sailing I think the club boom would be invaluable.
well got to go, enjoy the photos.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider 5411
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 15:14:33

Dang! I'm surprized it floats, let alone sails to Australia and back.

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 15:31:04

Can't imagine what the interior mods are. And is that a skylight cut into the top of the sliding hatch cover?

Edited by - Lightnup on 09/24/2004 15:33:17

oldsalt
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 18:29:59

Very impressive, I noticed he beefed up his deadlights and stantions as well. I wonder what he did to reinforce his keelbolts and the other structural interior mods he made as well as how he stores his consumables. The guy seems to know what he's doing.

One thing is certain; you can't do this to a Mac

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 21:25:13

a man after my heart! And people say theres lots of stuff hanging off my boat! Notice he has rod holders as well.

I'd like to see it flying the cutter rig.

I wish I could see, and learn, more. I'm taking mine 200 miles to weather next year!

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 21:43:51

Maybe I should buy some more anchors??? Wow...

Jim, will probably see you this weekend to see where you are going 200 miles. Maybe Ventura or Santa Barbara?

Sailing Sunday. Hope other Fleet 7 people show up. See you.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 00:09:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Mason
 Dang! I'm surprized it floats, let alone sails to Australia and back.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Judging from the last shot, it appears she's sitting a little low--dragging the transom. But that's got to be the world's most serious Catalina 25! But if you're going to do all of that, why wouldn't you do it to something like (at least) a C-30 and get some interior space? (Five more feet equals 2.5 times more boat!) Either way, it would appear the original hull and rig are minor parts of the overall investment.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 00:29:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MattL
 ...has travled to Hawaii and Austrailia on it, back again.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I guess this boat that Matt saw in Antioch is probably the "ultimate" Catalina 25, but even with all the extra gear this boat has, it's STILL a Catalina 25, and that means "coastal cruiser" in my book. I don't think I could ever feel comfortable crossing the Pacific in any "small" (under 36') sail boat with a bolted-on keel, outboard motor, and such large openings in the deck (the big foredeck hatch, huge pop-top, big companionway, big lazarette, etc). If I had to choose a small yacht for blue water, I would want nothing less than a Nor'Sea 27 or equivalent (full-keel, small-volume center cockpit with big scuppers, small portlights, small companionway with high sill).
Does anyone know if the sponsors of the TransPac and West Marine Pacific Cup would even allow a Catalina 25 in those races? I kinda doubt it, and they are races only to Hawaii! This boat in Antioch has supposedly been to Australia

! Call me a wuss, but that Cat 25 owner's a lot braver than I am! Based on the non-Lexan foredeck hatch and shape of the stern pulpit, I'd guess the boat is a Mk. III, an '86 or '87. You don't suppose that boat could be a Swing keel?!?! Naahh, no one could be that crazy, could they, to go offshore with a swing keel C-25? I wonder if the pop-top has been permanently secured by epoxying it to the cabin roof, to make the boat a little safer if knocked down or hit by a rogue wave?

Edited by - lcharlot on 09/25/2004 00:31:35

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 10:56:27

Larry wrote.... "I'd guess the boat is a Mk. III, an '86 or '87."

Did you notice the little 'add on' script painted on under the Catalina 25 logo?
Looks to be ... "Custom Series" Perhaps he's poking a little fun at himself?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 11:05:50

It sure makes you wonder why he didn't pick a 27 if he wanted a pocket cruiser. I think a 27 could roll, I would not want to in a 25.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 12:08:27

Oh my!...This is someone who definitely does not subcribe to the KISS philosophy.

Between the added displacement, weight aloft, and windage, I wonder how sailable the boat actually is?

Edited by - dlucier on 09/25/2004 23:18:34

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 15:41:44

What is a club boom? ... 'preventer unit?

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 15:45:33

The "club boom" is the little boom mounted on his foredeck. It's for the 'club-footed' stayasail.

Works exactly like the boom on the mainsail to make the jib self-tacking. I had one on my Venture 23.. made single-handed upwind sailing a breeze. (no pun intended)

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 16:57:48

I posted this to show something I thought was pretty cool. I didn't talk to the guy, but a friend on the trip did as well as our other member who knows him. He is an older gentlman very involved with his boat. I doint think he will see these posts, but I also think he deserves a bit more respect please. He obiviously has a great deal of pride in his ride. It has a quite a bit more on it than I would have, but then again it is his boat, and gets used.

The 4th photo down shows the club boom. As Larry said it is multiple tacking. It is self tending so all you have to do is tack and not worry about the jib. I'd say about 95% of the boats I saw in the delta had this same set up. Take a look at the add for the new alerione express 28 for a view and description of how a modern version works http://www.alerionexpress28.com
Maybe I called it the wrong thing when I said preventer. I mean the setup to keep the main from jibing while going down wind.

I don't have a close up of it, look for the red fleck line running across the yellow, I think, life raft. It looked like a 4 to one setup lead aft on both sides of the boat.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 17:05:35

I wonder if the owner addresed the inherent weakness of the C 25 rudder system and I don't know how all that additional weight will affect stability, since the vessel is down on her lines and particulary vulnerable due to all that extra weight concentrated at the stern, important considerations in blue water boats.

The mast tabernacle, compression post, anchor weak locker cover, keel attachment, pop top, hull to deck construction and the flimsy foredeck hatch are likewise areas of concern.

But I both respect and salute this guy for following his dream and putting to sea in a vessel into which he obviously put a lot of thought and sweat. And I wish him Godspeed.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 17:44:32

Thanks Bruce & Matt for the explanations. Matt ... I'm not sure I'm looking at the right thing regarding the "preventer," but now I understand what you meant.

... I also think he deserves a bit more respect please. - Matt

Believe me, I've got nothing but respect for this guy. I'd love to buy him a beer and listen to what he has to say about the mods to his C-25, and his adventures ... I'd bet he could keep you spellbound for hours!

'Sure would like to get a guided tour of his boat ... just like I've always wanted to see all the stuff that Leon has done to his C-25. BTW Leon ... does your boat look like this one?!

Best of luck to Leon and the rest of our Catalina buddies who are going to have to brave yet another Florida hurricane ... we're pulling for y'all to come through it OK.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 22:07:57

Actually, the boat is much more seaworthy than some of the small boats that have crossed oceans. There used to be a race that I think was called the Mini TransAt. As I recall, the boats were all about 20 feet in length and very lightly built. A Cleveland newspaperman crossed the Atlantic in a 13 ft. wooden lapstrake Old Town sailboat (built by the same company that makes canoes) that he modified by adding a roof. Webb Chiles sailed a good part of the way around the world in a 17' open sailboat. After the mutiny, Bligh sailed to safety about 3600 miles in a 19' worm-eaten ship's tender. Ernest Shackelton sailed a 19 foot boat, ballasted with rocks, 600 miles, from an island in the Antarctic, past Cape Horn, through hurricane-force winds, to a whaling station.

A C25 wouldn't be my choice of blue water boats, but it's guys like him who amaze us with their achievements and become legends.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2004 : 15:55:30

here's a link to the mini trans atlantic. They are very popular in Europe. There was some discussion of them in Latitude 38, here on the west coast, a while ago.http://www.xs4all.nl/~blvrd/

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2004 : 23:46:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 After the mutiny, Bligh sailed to safety... Ernest Shackelton sailed a 19 foot boat...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The two stories quoted above are classiscs of seafaring, "must-read" books for any sailor, recreational or otherwise. I just read Shackleton's book on his Antarctic expedition last winter. I wonder if any other team of explorers ever pitted themselves against worse conditions, and survived so long with no outside assistance. In both cases, the commanding officers (Bligh and Shackleton), brought their crews back to safe harbor, all still alive, after crossing an ocean in a small boat through terrible storms (at least one of Bligh's crewmen died shortly after reaching the Dutch East India Companie's colony at Coupang, Timor, but all survived the voyage itself).

Another small-boat voyage story worth reading is "Kodoku [Solitude]", by Kenichi Horie, which recounts his May-August 1962 crossing of the North Pacific (Osaka to San Francisco) in a 19' cold-molded plywood sloop, with a wooden mast. Anyone visiting San Francisco can see this tiny boat, named "Mermaid", on display at the Maritime Museum at Aqautic Park (near Ghirardelli Square). When you look at how small "Mermaid" is, the first though that comes to mind is that she makes a Catalina 22 look roomy by comparison. It took Horie almost 100 days to make the crossing, during which time he got pounded by two storms that were probably typhoon strength, and he did this with nothing more than a sextant and nautical almanac. No GPS, not even an electronic calculator to do the sight reduction math. He made landfall about 30 miles north of the Golden Gate, at Point Reyes.

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2004 : 10:57:13

Matt,

I second and third the wish to know more about Sigismund's wisdom about sailing his C25.

I wonder if there is any way to inquire if he is internet-able and willing to entertain questions via this forum?

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay

Edited by - on

bobmac
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2004 : 11:42:15

I wonder if he would sell the book and movie rights of his Catalina25 sailing adventures to this Forum ? Maybe he's a close relative of Tristan Jones ?

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2004 : 01:05:04

I don't know how approachable Sigismund is, but the guy I know that talked to him said he was very friendly, and the other one that knows him seemed to think highly of him. I'll see if I can get any more info. Antioch isn't that close to here so it will be a long distance thing and I'm not assuring the speed of contact or other information. If anyone is closer perhaps you can drop by there and check him out. We were on the D dock by Humphrees Resturant, his slip was a few away from the gas dock. Look for the radar and solar collectors, that's how I spotted the boat.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2004 : 14:02:56

I didn't mean any disrespect by my comment. Just my surprised reaction to seeing the unexpected.

I'm sure the man is 100 times the sailor I am. I would also bet he knows exactly what he's doing. All of the experiences mentioned above (Bligh, Shackleton, etc.) reinforce my belief that seamanship is the most important piece of equipment, including the boat, that one can have on board.

I have to admit, though, I had similar thoughts as Dave - put all of that gear on a 30-40 ft. boat and it would look like it more properly belonged there.

Edited by - on

bobmac
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2004 : 09:16:06

I'd love to see some interior pics..

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2004 : 14:24:26

Regarding your thoughts on seamanship.....in other words the "I think he's nuts" vs "He must be one hell of a sailer".....

There is risk, for sure, and considerably more than if you stay inside the jetties.
But, there is a reward. Some people crave to get away from it all, about as far away as you can get from it without leaving earth. Their reward is solitude, and living in an environment where the rules are simple. You screw up, you die. No negotiating, no politics, no bullsh&t. Those that know the craving understand exactly where Sigismund is coming from. It's all about achieving the goal within the boundaries of your personal risk tolerance. As long as you know all this, your seamanship will be in order; the execution will fall into place. In other words, you accept the risk and do your homework, then make educated decisions regarding the risks.

Many people make bad risk management decisions. Hanging upside down in your seat looking for toll money, shaving and talking on a cell phone and driving 80 miles an hour all at the same time is a very high risk behaviour, still people do it every day, and they don't think about it. Sailing long distance alone in a little boat is definitely an activity that falls outside the standard distribution, and thus qualifies as unique, abnormal, or nuts, depending on how informed you are. I suspect that your chances are probably better than the motorists' described above.

Would I do it in a 25? Given a choice I'd pick something more solid, something like a Flicka, but in "econo-class" the 25 is probably not the worst choice.....and if the choices were a 25 or not at all.....I'd take the 25.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay"
C250 # 618 Sold and settled, awaiting transfer of command.
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

Edited by - Oscar on 09/29/2004 14:46:29

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2004 : 14:50:07

Well said, Oscar ... 'wish I'd written that ...

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.