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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

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jlannutti
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/15/2007 : 07:24:07

I'm new to this forum and I'd like to get a little info regarding 250s. Hopefully I'm about to become the owner of a 1998 250 water ballast swing keel. Could someone please share the following info/opinions with me?
Any common-to-the-model-problems I should look for when I inspect the boat? I'm particularly concerned about water infiltration ffrom the ballast system.

How is the boat in wind (say above 20 knots) and chop? I've never sailed a water ballast boat before. This is a trade in at a Catalina dealer and I've not actually been on the boat yet due to snow. The dealer sassures me (you know how dealers are!) that the previous owner was very particular about this vessel and it is in very good shape. Any info that anyone can supply would be greatly appreciated. Normal sailing will be in Delaware River, Delaware Bay and Northern Chesapeake. A trip up the NJ coast into Barnegat Bay (50 miles)would be the only coastal crusing that this boat would ever see.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2007 : 08:19:39

Joe,

The 250 is a good boat very capable of what your asking of her. The water ballast version is designed to make trailering easy and it has at least one great byproduct... offering a good ride in chop more like a full keeler than a center ballasted keel and the hobby horsing that they are often given to.

She will require a regimented reefing discipline to keep her on her feet otherwise she will display hard mouthed character... some unwanted rounding up.

The rudder has been the boats big issue with an inadequate rudder leaving her with inadequate control but a large rudder without balance leaving her with an aching helm. With a proper rudder however, the boat is a delight.

We can help you sort that out. When given a chance, describe the rudder she has...measure how long and wide it is and whether it is a beaching (kickup on an aluminum head) or blade. Keep in mind that to get an ideal helm might mean an upgraded rudder on that model.

Does the boat have wheel or tiller... the wheel model may need some steering linkage upgrades to obtain an ideal helm. Again, we can give more information.

There have been very few issues with the water ballast tank itself... the greatest being a small washer on the ballast valve shaft.... if it doesn't seal... a small amount of water is allowed into the bilge while heeling.

It would be wise to test the ballast tank for integrity... the bilge should remain dry. This could actually be done on the trailer by filling the tank with a garden hose through the vent line.

Keep us informed

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2007 : 11:13:39

My 250 is a wing keel; haven't had the chance to crew on a water ballast. The only complaint I've read about the water ballast is below deck head room; about 5 inches lower than the wing keel. Main advantage, as Arlyn points out, is ease of trailering. Be sure and have a reliable survey done before buying. Any defects would give you final price leveredge.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2007 : 21:45:23

Folks, I was advised that the headroom difference is more like 11" between the WK & the WB models.
Two reasons for the lower headroom: a) The ballast tank raises the cabin floor, b) the cabin top is also a few inches lower.

If someone will measure the real cabin headroom then I'll measure ours and we could compare notes.

Let's take 2 measurements
1) from the cabin deck at the fwd edge of the the galley to up to the top of the galley countertop.
2) from the countertop at that location up to the cabin roof.

(I'll measure mine in the morning.)

paul

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2007 : 23:58:15

Paul, the actual difference is 9", not 11:
WB: 4'8"
WK: 5'5"

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2007 : 08:31:30

Paul,
I did a measurment a while back.

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14114"]WK vs WB[/url]

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zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2007 : 11:00:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jlannutti
 I'm new to this forum and I'd like to get a little info regarding 250s. Hopefully I'm about to become the owner of a 1998 250 water ballast swing keel. Could someone please share the following info/opinions with me?
Any common-to-the-model-problems I should look for when I inspect the boat? I'm particularly concerned about water infiltration ffrom the ballast system.

How is the boat in wind (say above 20 knots) and chop? I've never sailed a water ballast boat before. This is a trade in at a Catalina dealer and I've not actually been on the boat yet due to snow. The dealer sassures me (you know how dealers are!) that the previous owner was very particular about this vessel and it is in very good shape. Any info that anyone can supply would be greatly appreciated. Normal sailing will be in Delaware River, Delaware Bay and Northern Chesapeake. A trip up the NJ coast into Barnegat Bay (50 miles)would be the only coastal crusing that this boat would ever see.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I also have a 1998 WB #370 and love it. The only major problem I ever had was leaking from the thru bolt that opens and seals the water ballast tank. It was installed off center so when the boat heeled it would leak. The fix is in the archives but the short of it is you need to seal a new washer at the base where the wing nut comes down to close. I have done many fix ups and upgrades that I would be glad to share. Everything from saftey netting, Arlyns A frame bungee to keep jib sheets from fouling, to stereo system. Most taken from our tech tips sectionMy boat came with a beaching rudder and a 135 jib.

Jay

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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.