Association Forum - Boat Decision

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

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Boat Decision

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Ed Welch
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
6 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/08/2002 : 20:18:54

Hello everyone. A newbie here and I hope you all bear with me as I hit you with some questions.

I've have been trying to decide which boat to buy for a few months now. After reading everything I could find on the internet I have decided it's going to be either the C25 or C250. Right now I'm leaning to the C25. Mainly because I think I like the interior layout a little better.

Now for the loaded question <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> Am I making the right choice.

Any advice or suggestions will be deeply appreciated.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 20:31:40

Which C25 are you leaning towards? Swing, fixed, or wing keel?

Which layout do you like? Dinette, traditional, L-shaped traditional?

And yes, this is a very loaded <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> question!

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 04/08/2002 20:32:56

Edited by - on

Ed Welch
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 21:10:28

Opps, guess I really should have added that info.

I like the dinette but to be honest I could be happy with either.

As for the keel, I would like the wing keel. From what I have read it offers the best compromise of stability and shallow draft. I also want to be able to trailer it. I will be sailing the Chesapeake.

I should also tell you that even though I have looked at 1000's of pictures I haven't gotten my hands on a boat yet. I'll try and get that fixed in the next couple of weeks.

Edited by - on

Mark Maxwell
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 21:17:19

Hi Ed,
Welcome to the Catalina family. You're going to have to unload the question a bit, to get good answers. Tell us a little more about what you like in a boat, and how you'll be using it. Like racing/cruising, weekends/weeklong trips. <i>Will you be trailoring or leaving in a slip.</i> (I see you answered that one already, you beat me to the posting) Both boats are favorites here and both have pro's and con's for certain situations. You're in the right place to get all the info you'll need to make a sound decision. So read on and good luck <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Mark -
<img src="http://personal.jax.bellsouth.net/jax/l/c/lchaplin/unkarock/usflagwav.gif" border=0>
'Impulse'
C25 #533 DINN/FIN ~_/)~

Edited by - Mark Maxwell on 04/08/2002 21:23:12

Edited by - Mark Maxwell on 04/08/2002 21:26:26

Edited by - on

Ed Welch
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 21:31:23

Man you guys are gonna drag this info out of me yet <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Want to trailer.
Mostly weekend cruising with my wife and son. Longer trips once in a while and a couple of friends or family once in a while.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 22:32:51

Aside from the physical differences between the 25 and 250, the biggest difference is the initial price. After a quick search at Yachtworld.com, the cheapest C250 was $19,500.00. On Ebay, there is a C25 for $2,700.00. So, it also depends on how much you want to spend.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem& item=1819122678& r=0& t=0

Don't forget to take a look in the Tech Tips section, http://c25c250.best.vwh.net/restricted/tech25.html. There's some good information about shopping for and appraising C25's.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 04/08/2002 22:49:35

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 22:53:15

Hi Ed...

The 250 offers similar headroom (to the 25) in the wing keel version, lighter launching and retrieving in the water ballast version, a more private head, more spacious aft berth, less private v-berth, no exterior teak to maintain, open transom for easier boarding (from ladder, kayak, or dink), smaller headsail for easier tacking, easier rigging for trailering, and reasonably good quality for a modern clorox bottle.

The 25 offers a substantially lower purchase price, the probability of more work and expense to upgrade and maintain (because of age), a somewhat "shippier" look (obviously neither is a Cape Dory), a dash of exterior teak, a heavier, more stable feel (because it's heavier), a heavier rig to set up if you keep it on a trailer, and the most boat for the money on the market. I've seen a few wing keel versions for sale on the Chesapeake, but I haven't looked recently.

Have fun in your quest...

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 04:03:47

It looks to me like you have done your homework very well. I think the C-25 wing /standard rig dinette is made for you. You will find it a bit hard to find a wing but its worth the wait. You will also notice the C-25 is a bit more stout than the C250. The fiberglass is thicker almost everywhere on the older boats. C250 private head yep but it takes up a lot of room and how much time do you spend in the head. C250 no side decks so every time you want to go forward you have to go over the coach roof. C-25 has a more traditional sailboat look to it. Sorry C250 owners I just love my C-25. Oh and good move not going for the fin keel if you trailer. I own a fin keel and its a pain to launch unless the ramp is just right and the tide is in.

Edited by - on

kenobie51
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 08:35:49

Ed,
You indicated you want to trailer. If you are going to do this frequently, the C250 is the clear winner if you get by the extra cost.
The C250 is a lot lighter and can be towed easily by most SUV's. Not the C25 at 6500# to 8000# going down the road. Also the C250 is much easier to rig with built in features in both the boat and trailer to aid stepping the mast. By the way, I own a C25 swing/dinnete/std rig. I love the boat, but I keep it in a slip, and only trailer it twice a year. Try asking this same question on the 250 specific forum.

---Larry Knobel
C25 1657

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 13:10:56

Certainly the C-25 is heavier and takes longer to rig. You'll spend more time on maintenance - but maybe you like to tinker. Many upgrades are available such as stemhead fitting, chainplates for lowers, turnbuckles and so on. I would think with all the ballast the C-25 carries that it would be a much more stable boat in higher winds = more sail time. And besides, the lines and exterior teak on the C-25 make it more romantic and therefore a better chick magnet <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Steve Madsen
#2428
OJ(Ode to Joy)

[url="http://catalina25-250.org/photo0.htm/"]<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/photo/ode075.jpg" border=0>[/url]

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 14:07:09

I chose the C25 because I, too, love the boat's "saltier charm". If my budget allowed me to, I would have a boat that was littered with teak, especially on the inside. I'm an amatuer woodworker and I just love the smell and feel of real wood. Everytime I go down below, I can't help but to reach out and touch the wood. The first thing I did when I purchased my C25 last fall was replace that god-awful plastic laminated dinette table with something with a little more eye appeal.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 14:33:53

Don how about a picture of the table project. I might like to do the same.

Edited by - on

Ed Welch
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 14:47:18

Thanks guys, this is just the kind of info I was looking for.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 14:58:37

Douglas,

I will take a picture when I install it in the boat and post it. I made it out of a piece of 3/4" doublesided oak veneered MDF(medium density fiberboard). At first, I was going to build it out of solid teak, but the cost would have been considerable and besides I already had the wood(it was leftover from a previous project). MDF is not particleboard. Particleboard, which is what the original table was made of, should not be used. MDF is a very stable product that, according to the manufacturers, will not swell even if it gets wet. Anyway, this project is probably one of the easiest boat projects to do and since the table is so prominent down below, the most rewarding when done right. My original plastic laminated particle board table was used as the template. Keep in mind that the table is not square(dinette model), so you can't flip it over. When using it as a template, keep track of the top and bottom of the table so you don't accidently put the hardware on the wrong side. After cutting out the table, I next eased the edges with sandpaper and finish sanded the top, bottom, and edges. My interior teak is a somewhat of a dark red color, so I used a red mahogany stain followed by a few coats of clear satin polyurethane and.."voila'"...a beautiful new table that didn't cost a dime.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 04/09/2002 14:59:45

Edited by - dlucier on 04/09/2002 15:27:43

Edited by - on

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.