Association Forum - Cat Bird seats on early 250 models

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 250 Specific Forum

Cat Bird seats on early 250 models

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

c-lake250
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
15 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/16/2010 : 19:18:41

Has anyone with an early 250, those before the cat bird seats on the aft rail, had them built/installed as an upgrade?

Edited by - on

RaserGuy
Deckhand

Members Avatar

2 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 17:07:34

I purchased a 1996 250 last year that did not have the cat bird seats and after sailing on a similar boat with them, I had to have them. I was able to buy them from Catalina Direct (I think). They were about 600-700 dollars for the pair. At the time they told me the seats on the later model 250's were different from the early 250's and they no longer had the jig to construct seats for the ealier models. They said I might have to shim the newer seats and couldn't guarantee a perfect fit. I took a chance and they fit perfectly. I'm very pleased with the additional seating. I'm pretty sure I called Catalina Direct. Let me know if Catalina Direct doesn't have them and I'll see if I can find the receipt.

Edited by - RaserGuy on 05/18/2010 20:07:17

c-lake250
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 19:19:06

Wow, thanks for the reply ! For a moment I thought I was going to be the first to get NO replys !!
That is great news. I'm new to this with Catalina so I have to ask, is Catalina Direct the division of Foredeck, a supplier of parts or is it a division of the Catalina company?
Do you happen to have a number or is it right in front of me on this website?

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 20:01:00

Catalina Direct is the direct sales division of Foredeck. Excellent company.

[url="http://catalinadirect.com/"]Catalina Direct[/url]

1-800/959-SAIL (7245)

Edited by - Nautiduck on 05/18/2010 20:02:30

c-lake250
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 12:59:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RaserGuy
 I purchased a 1996 250 last year that did not have the cat bird seats and after sailing on a similar boat with them, I had to have them. I was able to buy them from Catalina Direct (I think). They were about 600-700 dollars for the pair. At the time they told me the seats on the later model 250's were different from the early 250's and they no longer had the jig to construct seats for the ealier models. They said I might have to shim the newer seats and couldn't guarantee a perfect fit. I took a chance and they fit perfectly. I'm very pleased with the additional seating. I'm pretty sure I called Catalina Direct. Let me know if Catalina Direct doesn't have them and I'll see if I can find the receipt.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

c-lake250
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 13:04:23

Re your '96 250, did you have to remove the original transom pulpits, and therefore the stays that are attached to them?
You're right in that Catalina Direct is very careful to warn about them possibly not fitting the old models but they can also see your order and were sort of surprised to hear they fit so well. [Yours was the only order last year.]

Edited by - on

RaserGuy
Deckhand

Members Avatar

2 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 19:54:12

Yes, I had to remove the original pulpits, then I converted to a single backstay. I have wheel steering and the single backstay conversion yeilds a lot more headroom.
There is some drilling involved with both the backstay conversion and the seat instalation and you'll need to fill the holes where the original pulpit attached on top. The seat uses one of the existing holes on each side. Also, I had to extend the lifelines about 3 inches. All things considered it really wasn't that hard to do.

This site has become invaluable to me. There's lots of great information on upgrading the 250.

Edited by - on

coldducks
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 04:29:41

we have tried catalina direct several times, without much luck. they don't seem to have alot for the c250. if that doesn't work for you, try emailing kent@catalinayachts.com. (not catalina direct). anytime we needed anything for our 250 he has come through. we got our new sails, canvas, pop top and bow light from him. he is very responsive. good luck.

Edited by - on

c-lake250
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 11:09:58

Thanks for the installation advice.
In that I have not yet even had the boat in the water, I think I should wait to see how everything lines up while sailing. Then I'll be better able to determine how many modifications we want to tackle. The family will just have to wait a bit for the "cool" seats. I suspect we'll probably proceed after the Memorial day weekend, tho.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 13:03:08

Dick, I can assure you that the catbird seats are verypopular for the crew. Definitely the most used seats on our boat.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 15:51:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Dick, I can assure you that the catbird seats are verypopular for the crew. Definitely the most used seats on our boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Randy, for the crew? Heck that is where I sit cracking orders to the crew in the cockpit! My dog Buddy sits in the other one.

Steve A

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 18:33:40

I used to sit up there with a tiller extension in my hand. Right up to the day I dropped the extension overboard

Edited by - on

Patrice C25
1st Mate

Members Avatar

78 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 09:23:15

Hey! John,
shouldn't be the other end of the tiller extension be attached to the tiller ???

;-)))

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 14:51:30

John, luckily I have not lost extension that way yet. I usually leave it locked in the tiller until I put it away.
Steve A

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 15:06:44

Unfortunately, I thought I had locked it in place and I didn't. It fell out and slid off the open transom in slow motion. Too bad my reaction was slower.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 16:10:19

John, while I haven't lost my extension(yet), there are plenty of other things I too have seen fall overboard. But for me they fell in "fast motion" due to my "slow reaction"!
Steve A

Edited by - on

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2010 : 21:02:19

Hi, my story is pretty much the same as above with the exception that I ordered the "Cat Seats" about ten years ago for my 250 WB. I also recieved dire warnings that I would need to make "major mods" to the seat frames to make it fit my "older" boat. They fit absolutely perfect, to the point I even thought I knew what I was doing. I went to the single backstay as on the newer 250s which is a big help when setting up the bimini. I also cannot tell any difference in performance, pointing, or handling.

Edited by - on

djbano
1st Mate

Members Avatar

67 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 14:06:43

Sort of OT: Where can I find padded backrests for the seats? Mine cam with nice cushions for the bottom that snap in place. The back...ouch.

Edited by - on

c-lake250
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 14:52:38

Paul, thanks for the confirmation that the seats worked so well for you. I'm sure we'll proceed after this weekend. By the way, my boat came off Lake Tahoe last fall and now resides at Clearlake.

Edited by - on

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 20:22:22

I think it is the company "Topsiders" that have a backrest special at the "Sail only" Expo at Jack London Square each year. They had them this year for about $40.00 which is still kind of expensive.

It is getting harder each year to sail Tahoe. Now you have to have the boat inspected, washed and compliance to a bunch of new rules. They are trying, possibly in vain, to keep invasive species of shell fish and aquatic plants out of the lake.

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.