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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Sail to Hawaii....

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mgjessop
Deckhand

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USA
15 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/24/2006 : 15:03:35

Hello Everybody...

I meet a couple this weekend who just got back from sailing to Hawaii from San Diego... They sailed there in there 2006 250wk...
It was quite a site... It had two wind generators, 4 solor panels, Seatel, Radar, safty netting, bimini top with custom dodger... I am getting my bottom painted at a local yard, when I saw this boat motoring in to the boat yard... I asked them were they were coming from and they told me Hawaii... My jaw droped.. I though they were kidding... They told me it took them 28 days to comeback...

They also said it took 26 days to get there.... They spent a month sailng around the Hawaiian Islands... They invited me aboard to show me there setup... It was quite a setup... They had the the top of line electronics by Raymarine, about $10,000 woth by guess... Plus Sat Tv, Sat Phone and all the goodies

The front V birth was replaced by a custom inclosure.. I asked what they did, and they told me they added a 80 Gallon diesel fuel tank, watermaker and 25 gallon extra water tank... They also added two 30 gallon fuel takes under the bench seats... They had a total of close to 150 gallons of diesel... Which gave them over a 3000 mile range... They also said they motored about half the time... They put close to 1200 hours on the engine... I asked they why they didn't get a bigger boat? There responce was this works just fine for us... I told them about this web site and invited them to come tell there story... Has anybody else travel that far in there 250?

Mat Jessop

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 15:54:59

I'm amazed! I would like to do some long range cruising, but not that far out to sea. My brothers and I took Chick-a-pea to the Bimini Islands and stayed a week. But that was only a sixty mile passage. I know our boats are pretty tough but there are hurricanes out there and you won't out run one if it decides to come your way.

Edited by - on

mgjessop
Deckhand

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USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 17:36:29

I agree, I can't belive it would be very safe to be at sea in such a small boat... I don't think my wife and I would make it for 28 days with out a shower in such a small space....

LOL... I was doing some math and I figure out it cost them about $200 in fuel one way, so about $400 for a round trip... I would rather fly for a few more bucks and save the 60 days in travel time... They did have a nice 27 inch flatpanel tv with tivo... I guess 28 days of watching the boob toob would pase the time... LOL

Edited by - mgjessop on 09/24/2006 17:37:32

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 17:56:19

8*165=~ 1320lbs initial additional ballast. I guess they would also have had quite a bit of food in the back of the boat to ballance it out, plus all the gear, let's 2000lbs total. That's a lot of weight. I bet the boat handled beautifully!

If we did a trip like that (28days), I would have to blunt all the knives, and lock away all the ropes to prevent the Admiral's mutiny

Oh, and there might be a problem with the porta potti

Paul.

Edited by - on

sailorman
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2006 : 20:27:54

pictures?? People have sailed farther in smaller boats but that doesn't make it wise. I would want a 30 foot or larger for that kind of trek. If they spent that kind of money, they could have bought a used Catalina 30 or such. At the very least they would have had more room, and maybe sailed more unless they were on a schedule.

Edited by - on

mgjessop
Deckhand

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USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 02:20:18

I don't have any pictures of there boat... My guess is it has to be close to $80-90k.. They had just about thing you could buy at west marine on there 250... If I had 90k laying around, I would sell my 250 and purchase a 2-3 year old Catalina 350... I still wouldn't have enough guts to sail to Hawaii...

Edited by - mgjessop on 09/25/2006 02:22:00

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 13:37:31

Are you sure they weren't pulling your leg? If they really did the trip they are either very brave or very foolish. I have been reading about a couple who cruise to the Bahamas on a Hunter 25.5 that is also equipped with wind generators, etc but Hawaii?? Also at 150 gallons you'd need 20MPG to have a 3,000 mile range. Is that realistic? One thing for certain. If I attempted that trip it would be by myself because the Admiral would stay onshore with my life insurance policy.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 09/25/2006 13:38:33

Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 15:12:55

I have the inboard diesel option and while motoring it uses 1/4 gallon per hour...I guess I will do the math later...I would imagine the boat alone was in the $40K range plus options...it would have certainly been an adventure on a C250...I almost went with friends from Seattle to Hawaii on a Pacific Seacraft 37...but ultimately backed out for several reasons...Dan #727

If you motored for 28 days x 24 hours that equals 672 hours divided by 4 equals 168 gallons...the boat comes with a 17 gallon tank in the stern...If they averaged 6 knots per hour would that equal 144 miles per day? If so, a 3000 mile trip would take approximately 21 days...I guess it is possible?

Edited by - Dkn420 on 09/25/2006 15:21:25

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 16:09:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mgjessop
 Hello Everybody...

The front V birth was replaced by a custom inclosure.. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What a trip that must have been... Can you describe the V-berth enclosure a little more?

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 16:39:00

Can you get any photos of the dodger and bimini or provide more detail?

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 21:13:26

It is certainly doable... there are those who have survived much longer periods in the Pacific in a dinghy.

The real issue is storms... and in that regard weather odds come into play. Some play odds safely and others are willing to risk.

The 250 of course is not in any way designed for blue water but lots of boats have done blue water that weren't designed for it... and some that attempted didn't make it.

The 250 does have a high bridge deck and open transom, releiving two huge concerns of blue water boating, the cockpit will drain quickly and there is little chance of pooping seas making it into the cabin.

It hasn't been said if they traveled alone or in company. Doing so would eliminate or greatly reduce the "nuts factor" for making the passage in a 250.

Bill Holcomb made the statement on this forum many years ago that the greatest limitation of a 25 footer is the quantity of supplies that can be carried. A water maker certainly goes a long way to help.

When doing a 90-100 mile crossing of Lake Huron, the six gallon can provides only 3/4 the fuel needed. I've crossed several times now and have motored very little. Only once did the wind abate after dark and sail was dropped and the crew (including the captain) went to bed to be awakened by a fresh breese the next morning after sunup.

On one occassion, we entered a Michigan harbor sometime after 1am after a crossing and the next morning a guy ask if we were the boat that entered in the night. "Where'd you come from that brought you in during the middle of the night..." he asked and when hearing across the lake he muttered, you sailed that little boat across the lake. Little is in the eye of the beholder and thickenss of the back pocket.

Here is a video clip from that crossing.

http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/c250_3.wmv

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2006 : 21:22:58

I'd sure like to hear more.
About a year ago there was a discussion on the forum about a guy and a couple pals who had some misfortune shortly after setting sail from California to Hawaii. They had (if memory serves) a 34' Catalina. There was lots of talk about how inadequte their boat and preparations were.
Hats are off to these people.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 07:14:59

And that is the key, "preparation". I've sailed my C25 in 25 mph winds and 4-5 foot seas for 10 hours without mishap. Not the ocean, but the boat handled well with the added equipment I have on board. It was an exhausting expereince though that I would care not to repeat if I didn't have to. I make it a point to monitor long term weather forcasts whenever I go out on Lake Superior for any length of time so that there are no surprises.

These folks obvioulsy prepared their boat for the trip. Apparently they did their homework regarding the weather as well, selecting a month with predicted good sailing weather. Obviously it was too good since they ended up motoring most of the way. What would keep my pucker factor high would be the unpredictable sudden squal, rogue wave, etc which can ruin your day on an extended off shore cruise, particularly on the ocean.

I am also reminded of Cpt Blighe, who, after the mutiny on the Bounty, was put off in a boat not much bigger than a 25 footer in the south Pacific and sailed home to England. A recognized feat of seamanship and leadership which I am sure was favored by good weather and a lot of luck. Undoubtedly the voyage to Hawaii and return had a lot of the latter and perhaps a smidgen of the former.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/26/2006 07:18:21

BradH
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 08:17:55

From the Catalina website http://www.catalinayachts.com/about.cfm

November 1987 Singlehanded sailor Shane St. Clair sails his Capri 18 from Oxnard, Ca., to Hawaii in 28 days.

Edited by - on

Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 15:10:21

I just received my October issue of SAIL and on page 14 there is a photo and paragraph about an ILC 40 that was struck by a whale 450 miles north of Hawaii. The whale caused a 18-by-12 inch breach in the port side. The crew was able to keep the hole stuffed and bailed water for an hour before they abandoned ship and watched their yach sink...Hard to imagine what a whale would do to a C250

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mgjessop
Deckhand

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USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2006 : 02:54:15

I am sorry, I don't have any pictures of there setup...

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2006 : 06:47:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">struck by a whale<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Another reason for removing the standard faucets on the C250 and replacing them with another brand.

<center>[url="http://www.biosbcc.net/ocean/marinesci/05nekton/GWlagoons.htm"]

Links to Whale Researcher Website[/url]</center>

Paul

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2006 : 15:09:44

Since these boats don't have a USCG placard saying what the max cargo capacity is, as noted earlier, I'd be curious to see how it sailed with all the weight. Fuel alone would be over 1000 lbs, add at least another 200 for the extra 25 gal of water...not to mention a month's worth of food, extra parts, equipment, etc.

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mgjessop
Deckhand

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USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2006 : 01:08:18

When I saw the boat it was pretty empty... I would think it would ride really low in the water when full... I guess in would be great when sailing... Not so good in rough sea's

...

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