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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Thinking about getting a Catalina 250

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sunbeam2
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/21/2005 : 14:43:19

Hi all
I currently own a 1994 Macgregor 26S
I am considering moving up to cat 250 water ballast
pro's and cons please

Bill

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2005 : 20:08:08

First let me Welcome you to the board. I owned a Mac-22 until I found a great deal on a 97 250, love the boat. I can't give you any info on the water ballast since I own a Wing Keel. However this board is full of info that should help you make up your mind. Use that search function and read away. That's what I did.

This weekend I was down on the boat installing 2 deep cycle batteries and a fellow stopped by and wanted to check out my boat. He was very impressed with room and quality of the boat. He kept telling me "it was better built" than his (He owns a 26S)those were his words not mine. I don't think you will be disappointed with the 250.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2005 : 22:18:54

Hi Sunbeam!

I own a C25, but have sailed C250 Water Ballasts (WBs), and have raced against C250 Wing Keels (WKs), as well as WBs. The fastest C250 I've seen was a WK, but it was exceptionally well prepared for racing, and that might have been more responsible for its exceptional speed than its WK design. Generally, WBs and WKs have both proven to be very competitive on the race course, and I can't honestly say that one sails any better than the other. To sail the C250 well (either the WK or WB), you have to discard the style of the old timers, who sailed their cast iron ballasted C25s rail down, and with all the sail area they could carry. The C250 likes to be sailed upright, and with just the right amount of sail area for the wind. I'm not a fan of roller furling for racing the C25s, but I'm inclined to think roller furling can keep the C250 on her feet, and may be a good choice for the C250. When you sail them upright, they are very fast.

Click on the following hyperlink for a previous discussion we had on this subject:

http://catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7552& SearchTerms=Thinking about buying

Edited by - on

lcogge01
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2005 : 11:10:40

I used to own a '99 Mac 26X. On the maiden voyage, with a full compliment of guests on board, we sailed out and within 20 mins the steering cable broke and we were suddenly without a rudder. I had to sit on the outboard and steer by moving the motor with my bottom port and starboard. To the astonishment of my wife, we made it back to our slip without incident. At the end of the next week, I owned a Catalina 250 WK and have been so very happy since. It is the best boat of its size out there and a pleasure to sail.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2005 : 11:38:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lcogge01
 I used to own a '99 Mac 26X. On the maiden voyage, with a full compliment of guests on board, we sailed out and within 20 mins the steering cable broke and we were suddenly without a rudder. I had to sit on the outboard and steer by moving the motor with my bottom port and starboard. To the astonishment of my wife, we made it back to our slip without incident. At the end of the next week, I owned a Catalina 250 WK and have been so very happy since. It is the best boat of its size out there and a pleasure to sail.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi Lon,

That's quite a story!

Welcome to the group!

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2005 : 08:52:35

Hi Sunbeam, Welcome aboard. I have had my C 250WB for four years, never had sailed before owning "Brandy". The only "Cons" to a C250 is the headroom when the sliding hatch and storm hood are closed. Less than 6"0 headroom. Proper upgrades and routine maintenance will keep the WB going for a long time. Area's of interest to you should be which rudder is on the boat and which cable is raising and lowering the swing keel. There are penty of threads on this site to guide you through the workings of a C250WB. "Bear" C250 WB #089

Edited by - on

Wiley
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2005 : 15:24:33

I am also looking at a 250 WB.

How does the water ballast work? I have heard that leaving it in the water all season is not a good idea. Is this true?

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2005 : 20:11:02

Wiley, If you go back to the beginning of this forum you can pick out the subject of brochers and manuals. The entire manual for the
C250 is there and explains the water ballast. The only thing I can add is when you are filling the water ballast add a cupful of chlorox
through the vent located in the anchor locker. I have not heard about not keeping it in the water all year being harmful. C250WB #089

Edited by - on

sailorman
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2005 : 22:08:09

Hi Wiley. I have kept my 250 wb in the water since late May of last year. I did pull it out once and replaced the water ballast in July I think. As has been stated, I added a cup(or so) of clorox to the ballast tank. It sat all summer in the hot Georgia sun last year as well as so far this year and I have had no problems at all. Don"t take just my word for it: the Admiral says it still has that new boat smell. You will have no problems keeping the boat in the water for an extended period of time. Enjoy and welcome.

Edited by - on

MarkTM
Navigator

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USA
178 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2005 : 12:12:58

I keep my C250wb in the water all the time. In the 6+ years it has been slipped, I've put it on the trailer twice for cruises in distant locales. I haven't used Chlorox . . . maybe I should have. The water can be quite rank when the tank is drained. As there is no gelcoat in the tank, there shouldn't be much chance for osmotic blisters. My understanding is blisters are caused when water is trapped between the gelcoat and the underlying laminates.

My boat is now seven years old and it remains as solid as it was the day it arrived from the factory. The deck gelcoat is chalking a bit, but a good chemical cleaning and a coat of Fleetwax will have it shining like the day it was delivered.

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2005 : 12:22:39

Welcome to the board. There have been many discussions about this topic and I would urge you to sit back and go through the archives. There is a wealth of info there, about the 250's, that you will not find on any other site. That being said I have had my 250WB for a few seasons and like it a lot. I have not been surprised by anything about the boat mostly because I spent a lot of time on this forum finding out all I could about the boat before buying it. I keep it in the water from May to Nov., only taking it out during that time, to take it to another sailing location. I like the way it sails, it's portability (in & out of the water and on the road), it's construction, it's ease to take care of and the support from this forum and Catalina. Try calling Hunter or Beneteau with a problem and see if you get patched through to the company president (or heir apparent) as is the case with Catalina. I would like something larger (the 25' is too small for me) but if you want to move the boat over the road there are fewer choices above 25'than there are at the 25' level. IMHO I don't think there is any other choice in a 25' boat. Hi Mark have not seen you post in a while.

Edited by - Ray Seitz on 04/11/2005 12:25:31

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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.