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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/26/2005 : 18:37:22

Thank you for the input, to save space on my site I have deleted the images.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 03/06/2005 19:11:34

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2005 : 21:28:37

The keel trunk looks to me as if its been broken at the back by a dropped swing keel. Its hard to tell from the pictures but the glass and resin on the lower back part of the trunk look different. If the lift cable breaks with the keel full up, like you crank the winch too far, this sort of damage occurs and the boat sinks. I think that there has been major damage to the keel attachment and trunk. Is there any sign of major water being inside the boat?Like the drawers falling apart from delamination maybe.
That propane installation would certainly give me reason to sweat too. From your description the tank is outside but the picture looks like its in the cockpit locker to me.
The PO was an enthusiastic modifier without a good sense of direction. Too bad the CO didn't get a surveyors opinion. If I had surveyed this boat I would certainly have recommended that the buyer pass it for another. In fact when we were looking for our Cat we were offered one with similar damage.
The swing keel mounts and trunk certainly need a careful and sceptical examination by someone with experience in the repair of fiberglass structures. Dave

Edited by - Dave Laux on 02/26/2005 21:31:45

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2005 : 12:00:42

Frank, I can't comment too much on the swing keel trunk since I don't have one BUT there are plenty of other bad flaws.

(1) The picture marked "hmm" shows clear indication of a previous electrical fire. The wiring is a mess, even for a Catalina 25.

(2) "cubbies everywhere" shows indications of a bad deck leak.

(3)"portlight" shows apparantly the same leak.

(4) the boat is not safe without hand rails.

I think the masthead is busy but probably OK. The lightening rod does nothing but attract lightening unless its grounded to something besides the mast!

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2005 : 18:17:26

I'd get rid of the strobe, lightening rod (aren't those things supposed to be the tallest protrusion in order to work correctly?), and the VHF (unless the owner really feels it will be useful. At least get the smaller diameter, lighter cable) on the masthead. All that weight just makes a tender boat even more tender.

The keel trunk I would inspect very closely or have it done by an experienced fiberglass tech. Repair as necessary.

Propane - disconnect or re-route to the outside (stern rail).

Check the electrical for function. Use proper marine connectors (when I did this on my boat, I ended up re-doing most of the wiring just to be able to make sense of what was there).

The rest work on as the owner sees fit.

Edited by - on

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2005 : 18:39:52

I trailer to the Great Lakes (Manitolin Island) and my mast head doesn't have all that stuff. Dave

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2005 : 20:36:43

- The paint, all that blue, appears to be an attempt (bad attempt) to cover up something.
- To say the wiring is a mess is an understatement.
- To say the bilge is a mess is an understatement.
- Evidence of a leak that has been there for a while, and, the way it trails off, means it sat and leaked in one spot for a very long time.
- What's the PO say about the damage? Obviously bad at one time.
- What does the PO say about no handrails...why take them off, unless removed for some type of repair and never put back.

Hope he did not pay much for this boat, it has major surgery and lots of minor surgery in its future.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2005 : 19:36:25

I was looking at the "no rails" picture. I can't even see holes where rails might have been fastened. Were those an option on Cat 25s and the original buyer didn't option those?

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2005 : 11:16:03

Wow Frank, This one is a ....well more than a fixer upper.

The bottom paint is masking some damage to the keel pivot mount. they
probably were torqued when the keel fell. The evidence of that event is the damage done to the trunk. Big red flag.
Should this happen in the water without further major repair it could result in the catastrophic loss of the vessel.
The color of the leak stains on the liner above the pilot berth tells me that the glue and wood is leaching out of the deck liner. Judging from the location on the starboard side it may be coming from a leak under the jib track or from the winch.

I see the fire damage also and wonder what kind of battery switch was there before. there must have been some high amperage, unfused device downstream of the switch, though the wiring itself does not show evidence of a fire. It will be costly but I would not want to go out without doing a comprehensive re-wiring.

As for the masthead, If the PO was trailing up to the Great Lakes, the VHF antenna would need to be as high as possible. VHF is line of sight so if you need the Coast Guard you want that stick way up there.
It's hard to tell about the cable, mine is pretty heavily wrapped with anti chaffing tape where it goes into the mast. That may be the case here, although what I see is really overkill. I try to avoid lightning and certainly would not invite it. What puprose would a strobe light serve? It would violate lighting requirements for a vessel the size of a C25. What would I think if I saw a green/red and strobe? Low flying plane? UFO?

I don't find the luan ply cubbies very attractive but that is a purely cosmetic opinion.

As Rosanna Danna used to say "it's always something" The boat looks nice from the outside but needs a lot of work to be seaworthy. My comments and those of others are based only on what I can see in the pictures. A lot can be learned with a flashlight, mirror, screwdrive and a rubber hammer. Some may say that it may not matter on an inland lake but even if a boat fails 100 yards from shore in 50 ft of water everyone on board is still in danger.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2005 : 19:56:34

In the photo marked paranoia, it looks like the forstay and spinnaker halyard sheave are in the wrong location. Shouldn't the spinnaker halyard sheave be in front of the forestay?
Just asking,
Dan

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2005 : 20:50:52

No, thats exactly where my spinnaker halyard sheave is placed.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2005 : 21:39:02

Yes the spinnaker halyard should be in the front pin so that it flies in front of the rig. I think the PO has it rigged to keep the furler swivel away from the mast. The furler has an internal halyard so the extra block and halyard are really not needed.

Edited by - on

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