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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Catbird seats

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Charles Stewart
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/28/2008 : 15:26:51

I bought a used sailboat on which to learn but have begun to think about an upgrade. I like the look and "idea" of catbird seats when I see them and keep thinking I would like to have them on my next boat. Does anyone have an opinion on the functionality? Do they really get utilized?

Thanks in advance

Charles

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 15:46:58

I have a C250 with the catbird seats and we use them frequently.

Edited by - on

DJAnderson
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 19:01:39

I have to admit I feel a bit like a land-lubber hack sitting way up there, but I've found the catbirds to be a really nice place to sit and steer while sailing downwind. All you need is a tiller extension. The view facing forward is fantastic, and if your first mate joins you on the opposite quarter it's an ideal spot for a pleasant chat while the kids roustabout forward or in the cabin.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 19:53:02

BTW, tiller extensions don't float.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 20:13:36

The catbird seats are a real kick and are very popular with crew.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 20:28:32

Welcome Charles! What "used sailboat" did you buy? The configuration of the sternrail has some bearing on whether/how you can install cat-bird seats.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/28/2008 20:29:00

EAbrams
Navigator

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USA
130 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 21:17:52

As Dave said you did not mention specifically what older boat you have purchased. If it was a Catalina 25 here is one possibility. [url="http://www.zarcor.com/s2k/Sternperch.html"]Product is called Stern Perch[/url] [url="http://www.zarcor.com/s2k/boatlist.htm"] / Rail Kit for boats needing the 2nd rail[/url] Second link specifically mentions C25

Edited by - EAbrams on 11/28/2008 21:20:14

Charles Stewart
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2008 : 22:11:16

Thanks, everyone for the great feedback. The sailboat I have now is a Santana 21 to which I won't be adding catbird seats. I'm leaning toward a Catalina 250 for my next boat....catbird seats included :-)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 08:30:40

Problem solved! Now for the next step: Where are you? Where will the boat live (in season)? She's out there waiting for you...

There's a great buy on a wing keel model in CA right now--she'll be gone soon! (See the Swap Meet.)
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Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/29/2008 08:35:18

Charles Stewart
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 09:58:48

Hi Dave....I'm in Austin, Texas. Don't know much about land transport for sailboats. Do you know much about that? THANKS!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 10:32:30

No, but at that price, I suspect you can justify a hauler and come out ahead... (as long as he hasn't sailed it into the rocks!)

Yachtworld.com shows a WB and a WK in Texas--each for a multiple of this one.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/29/2008 10:33:01

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 10:40:30

Charles, I live in Oregon and we bought our C250 Wing from a guy in Iowa. We drove out and towed it back. A 3/4 ton pickup would be ideal.

That C250 Dave mentions could be a great deal but it has no trailer. A new trailer for this boat is about $6-7k. Whether you need a trailer is dependent upon your own circumstances, personally I think a trailer is a plus with a 25' boat and opens up a variety of sailing/cruising options.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 11:24:24

I don't agree with Dave. I think that you would break about even with what a locally acquired boat would cost. Randy's right. A trailer is a big plus for a boat this size. I think the boat on the west coast is a great deal for somebody on the west coast. Paying to have it shipped halfway across the country makes it less of a deal.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 12:24:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 I don't agree with Dave.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Do you think it'd cost him another $12-15K to truck it? Oh well, it'll be gone soon.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2008 : 15:29:12

I was quoted around $2k for a move from Chicago to Cleveland 2 years ago. A much shorter distance. I think the problems of buying a "pig in a poke" from that distance aren't worth the expense when, for a similar cost, one could get a boat that could be personally inspected, surveyed, etc. Even the sellers are so far away as to be of little help in the transaction. That's not a shot at the seller but rather an observation that I think the deal is a great one for a west coaster. Less so for somebody far away.

Anyway, Charles, I don't know where you are in Texas but [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18925"]this[/url] might be worth a look at Canyon Lake.

Edited by - John Russell on 11/29/2008 15:29:44

Walt Oler
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 09:58:05

Before buying our C25 we were interested in one on Lake Ray Hubbard (near Dallas) without a trailer. We were quoted $5k-6k for a water to water move. We ended up buying one on a trailer in Albuquerque NM. We pulled it to Lubbock TX in August ($4.20/gal) and then to Corpus Christi TX in November ($1.70/gal). We used a lift in Corpus and rigged it ourselves. The total cost for the 900 mile move was approximately $1500. That would be a significant increment to the cost of the boat but we are going to sell the trailer to more than recoop the cost.

Pardon the shameless commerce here. I am also posting a notice on the Swap Meet section:

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18927

As hard as it is to move boats or to find trailers, I believe that someone could buy the trailer, use it once, and sell it to get virtually all of their money back. Shoot, I would rent it if it weren't for the liability issues.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 10:09:46

Catbird seats scream "Sweetie, I promise we will never be more than 5 degrees over, is that OK with you snookums?". They would be a down wind/dock perch on any keel boat I would own.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 11:11:41

For my prevailing winds (benign days are rare) and style of sailing (need for speed and I plan for no downwind runs), catbird seats wouldn't be of much use. Now if it were a catbird bench, I could sit sideways and brace myself, then that would be a different story. But if conditions warrant bracing myself, then I'm usually sitting far forward in the cockpit so as to lighten the stern.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 12:32:52

What a hoot!

We routinely use the catbird seats at 15-20 degrees and beyond. Those are some of the best/fun times for the passengers to be out there. Of course I have a wheel, and a Magma party-size grill hanging off the stern, so I may not be a proper sailor.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 11/30/2008 13:09:02

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 13:46:49

>"$12-15K to truck it?"

Last quote I had came out to $6/mile.

Edited by - ClamBeach on 11/30/2008 13:48:01

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 16:02:52

Out of curiosity, I checked DAS (via Google)... If it's on a trailer, the rate is $1.65/mile. If not, you have to talk to them for a quote. So it could be under three grand, or over... I'd probably buy locally too, but half price sounded like an option worth thinking about. No skin off my nose.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 16:29:45

[quote]Catbird seats[/quotes]
There is a pretty good pic of retro fit seats in this quarters mainsheet.

Paul

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 20:53:20

I just bought a trailer for my C25 for $1,500.00. It was setup for a Hunter 260 but will work just fine for my C25. The trailer was apparently used very infrequently and other than replacing the bunks and modifying to hold my C25 is basically like new.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2008 : 21:48:17

Check out this C250 with trailer -->> http://www.sailingtexas.com/scatalina250109.html

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2008 : 08:58:25

"but we are going to sell the trailer to more than recoop the cost"

Corpus Christi? IMHO: Keep the trailer... you may really want it one of these hurricane seasons.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2008 : 09:18:15

If there is one thing this forum has demonstrated over the years it is that some people just do not "get it" when it comes to trailers and 25 foot boats. Few have changed positions. It is considered poor form to say anything in the swap meet area that is not supportive of the sale of an item so I will make this comment here; a used dual 3500lb axle trailer for a Catalina 25 is worth $1500-$2500 and that is another reason it is best to just keep them. If Walt can get 4 grand for his trailer then he probably should sell it and throw money at any situation where he will wish he had the trailer.

Edited by - on

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