Association Forum - Catalina 25 vs 250

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

Catalina 25 vs 250

New Topic

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/07/2020 : 23:18:01

Ahoy mateys and greetings to old friends!

I have been away for some time...things got complicated...but I am now in Williamsburg VA. and looking at getting back onto a boat and am looking at a 2009 250 WK. We sailed well on a 25 for over 10 years back on Peconic Bay, but the 25s are getting a little long in the tooth and will require more maintenance than I now wish to do, hence my interest a newer 250. I'll be grateful for any thoughts and insights all y'all might be able to share.

We'll be sailing from the mouth of the York river and out onto the Chesapeake. One of my concerns is if a 250 wing keel is 'enough' boat for typical conditions on the Chesapeake.

I've missed this Forum these past 16 months and am looking forward to the camaraderie and information sharing it is so well known for. Also REALLY looking forward to hopefully being on the water by June 21

Cheers,
Jerlim

Jerry

Edited by - jerlim on 02/07/2020 23:22:36

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2020 : 08:58:30

On a given day, the Chesapeake Bay is capable of overwhelming most recreational vessels. Thus, few recreational boats are enough boat to withstand the Chesapeake at its worst. The C250 is no exception.

A 40' sailboat can obviously stand up to much more than a C250, if you don't mind hours of pounding, cold spray and seasickness. Thus, it's more a question of judgment than it is of whether you have enough boat under you.

Race Committees around Annapolis usually won't start a race for boats in the 25' size range if the race will be in the main body of the bay and if the windspeed will be above about 25 kts. The main body of the bay has a longer fetch and bigger, rougher chop than in a more sheltered river. Most boats in that size range don't even carry sails that would be appropriate for higher winds.

So, a C250 is enough boat for the Bay if you use good judgment and seamanship, and don't try to sail it in conditions beyond its design limits.

I have enjoyed spectacular sails on bigger boats in 30-40 kt winds, but, on my Cal 25, I start to think seriously about heading for shelter when the wind exceeds about 25 kts. My reasoning is simple. I don't want to be wet, cold and sick, and I don't want to break anything on my boat.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9016 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2020 : 12:10:23

Just watch those aircraft carriers, cruisers, and subs in and out of Norfolk...

That's all I've got. (Welcome back!)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 02/08/2020 12:10:49

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5236 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2020 : 15:31:32

I�m not familiar with the Chesapeake however I sail on a smaller estuary, Long Island Sound. Like Chessy, it�s shallow and with strong winds that lends it to chop. LIS is smaller than the Chesapeake so its fetch is less. In the spring we get strong easterlies quite often, and since LIS is oriented East-West, the chop is fierce and quite unpleasant. In summer we get southwesterlies around 5-10 kts for days at a time at time. That�s easy and due to less fetch, and we get long rollers. In the Chesapeake with a long north-south fetch, summertime winds are probably more southerly due to the Bermuda High. This will generate ugly chop if it�s 10-15kts. Frontal passages in the fall will kick up 25-30 kts in gusts. That would be downright insane, especially if you�re on the eastern shore.
You�ve sailed in the Peconic Bay for years and have probably been out in Plum Gut, Block Island Sound and Fishers Island Sound, so you�ve seen your share of rough conditions. You probably already know what to expect.
I always check weather conditions each time I go out, and I know what conditions to expect given wind, clouds and temperatures. If I�m taking a multi-day trip I always include time for bad weather.
For day sailing there should be few surprises other than afternoon thunderstorms. Better to be safe than sorry.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3312 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2020 : 15:34:13

I have sailed the Chesapeake in a Precision 23 and we nearly capsized in one gust. I wouldn't take a tender C250 out there for all the coffee in Brazil.

Derek Crawford
Chief Measurer C25-250 2008
Previous owner of "This Side UP"
1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized"
San Antonio, Texas

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2020 : 17:17:33

Aw, the Chessie isn't so bad. It generally favors good light air boats and sailors, especially in mid summer, with stronger winds in the spring and fall, but, like most venues, you might get a small late afternoon thunderstorm. or have a brisk weather front pass through anytime. It pays to check weather before you go out, and watch the horizon for any change.