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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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2000 Catalina 250

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NewSailor
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/15/2012 : 23:54:26

As luck would have it I just received a 2000 Catalina 250 as a gift. While I am an avid watergirl (I surf, dive and grew up on powerboats), I have no idea how to sail. I'm reading as much as I can but about half the words are foreign.

I have the boat wet slipped in a lake for about $100 per month. It seems to be intact and in good condition, albeit very dirty and covered in bird droppings.

So what should I do with it? Should I learn to sail (how long will that take?) Should I sell it (What's the value - I have seen $6k - $20k)? Should I lease is to a sailing club?

All helpful and thoughtful feedback is welcome and appreciated.

Edited by - on

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 04:51:52

you should sell to me for the $6k range since it is so dirty.....:O)

If you love the water, then definitely learn to sail. There are many books to help with the basics and terminology. In addition there are sailing classes, or better yet, find someone in your area to take you sailing. How long will it take to learn? a day or two will have you sailing, while a lifetime of learning can follow. If you find sailing isn't your thing, then selling your boat shoud command top of the range, a 2000 C250 is still a very new boat. Check for comparable year, model, condition and esp. the condition of the gear. But from a group of people talking on the net about their hobby/passion/life of sailing, I think the overall suggestions will be to SAIL IT. Welcome to the forums, enjoy!

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 07:55:01

Sail it! As Michael said above, you can learn to make the boat move the way you want it to in a weekend. Then, like the rest of us, you can spend the rest of your life learning to sail her.

Her monetary value really depends on condition under all the bird poop. I think around $15k is a reasonable price for my 1999 model along with its trailer. If yours doesn't have a trailer, the market may be a bit more limited and the price a bit lower. The condition of the motor is also a factor. A new outboard will cost in excess of $2,000. Sail condition is another big factor. New, off the shelf, sails will be around $1,400 or so. Since it's dirty and covered with droppings, I assume it has been out in the elements for some time. UV radiation is not your friend. Running rigging (aka ropes) may need replacement if they've been improperly stored. That's another $500+/-. Somebody with some experience should look at the standing rigging (aka wires that hold up the mast) and a few other things.

Basically, your boat is a plastic bucket with an aluminum stick on top. Not a lot can go wrong with it just sitting around. There's a big exception to this. That is if it has been storm damaged. You're not in New Jersey and just got this from somebody along the coast?

Do you know if the boat is water ballast or a wing keel?

If you add your location to your signature block, you may find somebody here may be close enough to be of help.

Edited by - John Russell on 11/16/2012 08:01:09

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 08:08:13

I'll play the Devil's Advocate here--at great risk I might add... There are lots of questions to ask you, but let's just speculate that you've never thought much about sailing, don't have a family that wants to sail with you, haven't considered overnighting on a boat, have lots of other stuff you love to do on/in the water, the lake isn't that big, and since you never mentioned anything about winter storage, maybe you're in Florida or somewhere warm...

Does any of that ring bells? If so, I'd consider finding someone (maybe right here) to help you check her out and clean her up for sale, and in the process take her (and you) out for a test sail--this will give you an idea of what's involved... and then, if that doesn't light your fire, put her on the market through a broker who will know how to price her, how to advertise her, and will take care of all inquiries, showings, trials, and the transaction (which could involve a survey by the buyer, etc.). You'll get a check for 90% of a number that I'd bet will be bigger than what you'll get on your own on Craigslist or wherever. With that check, if sailing seemed like it just might be interesting, take a sailing course, rent a boat or two, or even buy a nice little day-sailer (even a Sunfish or Laser--the two most popular small sport-boats), and have a ball with the wind! That can be a lot more fun and less hassle, especially for one person on a lake.

If some day your life leads you to wanting a 4000 lb. cruising sailboat that has to be slipped, maintained, (and stored?), well, you'll have an idea of what that's about. Just remember, with regard to boats like the C-250, the acronym BOAT stands for Break Out Another Thousand.

[End of speculation]

I'll add that I love sailing as much as most of the people here, although I may not be as passionate as a few... I no longer own my C-25 for a collection of reasons having to do with changes in my life, but I sail anything and everything when the opportunity arises, and continue to consider possibilities of also owning a little sailboat or, who knows, maybe switching back from the Dark Side.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/16/2012 11:28:42

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 19:08:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NewSailor
 As luck would have it I just received a 2000 Catalina 250 as a gift...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
HA, I've never had any luck! Apparently you do!

Where in the world are you? Sounds like you live near one of the coasts.

Edited by - on

NewSailor
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 19:37:06

Thanks for all of the feedback!! I did a little more research today and came up with some additional info and also wanted to answer some of your ??

1. I live in Los Angeles and the boat is in Ventura in a lake slip.
2. The boat is NOT a 2000, but is a 1979. (I feel like that fact might change everything)
3. I think its a keel, not WB, but I'm not positive.
4. I don't really have family or people around to sail with, but that doesn't really matter all that much; with the ocean, you're never really alone.

Shannon

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 20:31:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NewSailor
 Thanks for all of the feedback!! I did a little more research today and came up with some additional info and also wanted to answer some of your ??

1. I live in Los Angeles and the boat is in Ventura in a lake slip.
2. The boat is NOT a 2000, but is a 1979. (I feel like that fact might change everything)
3. I think its a keel, not WB, but I'm not positive.
4. I don't really have family or people around to sail with, but that doesn't really matter all that much; with the ocean, you're never really alone.

Shannon

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Whole differeent kettle of fish.

To begin with, it's not a Catalina 250. The 250 didn't start production until the 90's. It's more likely a C 25. Unfortunately, it's probably worth what you paid for it.

It could be very sound but, more likely, you've been stuck with the disposition of several thousand pounds of fiberglass and cast iron.

Sailing is a terrific sport but, unless you're really dying for a project, getting a boat of this vintage that hasn't been maintained for aperiod of time could turn you against sailing forever.

Edited by - John Russell on 11/16/2012 20:34:08

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 20:56:03

Check this out very carefully before you accept this gift. You are not the owner until you secure the title, and I would advise caution before you accept what could well be a big liability. A "project boat" is not the right way for any newbie to start out sailing. You will risk your life if you go out into the ocean in a boat that is not seaworthy.

There are some 1979 vintage C25's out there that are in great shape, but for every one of those there are a dozen of them that are worth less than $0.

Edited by - TakeFive on 11/16/2012 23:04:26

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2012 : 21:21:41

Yup--"the gift that keeps on giving"... 1979 was the second real production year for the C-25, which is a completely different boat from the C-250. The C-25 was built until 1991, and then the C-250 began production in 1995. There is no such thing as a C-25 water ballast--it only came with a swing keel made of cast iron, a fixed keel, and later in its run, a wing keel. The swing keel has its own set of reliability and maintenance issues, which is why Catalina abandoned it after about 10 years in favor of the shoal draft wing keel.

I hope this "gift" is something you can say "no thanks" to at this point. If not, some "friend" may have made your life very complicated in order to avoid the same complication in their life. Since you know nothing about sailboats, even to the point that you don't know what you've been "given", you should not accept something that you could end up not being able to dispose of other than paying for its disposal. (Sorry if this is overly harsh--it's just meant to keep you from getting into something you never imagined.)

1979 C-25s can be sold, and are sold--especially if they've been cared for and upgraded. Prices are probably $3000 and under. A neglected one can possibly be virtually given away, but if not, you'll have to pay to keep it somewhere until you come up with a solution. If it's usable and sell-able, you're in luck. Otherwise, you just got hosed. (What do you do with 1500 lbs. of cast iron and 3000 lbs of fiberglass?) There are some organizations that accept boat donations (for tax deductions) and sell them as-is for almost nothing...

You need to get a knowledgeable opinion very soon on what it is you have been "given".

"When something's too good to be true, it usually is."

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/16/2012 21:25:53

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2012 : 17:11:44

Why not post some pics of the boat and we can help you with a first assessment. Here is a link to a couple of Catalinas the same year that are for sail. Look at their condition and compare it with what you have and that might help you determine what ballpark you are starting in regarding value.
[url="http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/cache/searchResults.jsp?cit=true&slim=quick&ybw=&sm=3&searchtype=advancedsearch&Ntk=boatsEN&Ntt=&is=&man=catalina&hmid=0&ftid=0&enid=0&fromLength=25&toLength=25&luom=126&fromYear=1979&toYear=1979&fromPrice=&toPrice=¤cyid=100&city=&pbsint=&boatsAddedSelected=-1"]Yachtworld Search[/url]

Mod edit to keep URL from expanding screen.
C250 Editor

Edited by - C250 Editor on 11/23/2012 18:26:20

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2012 : 17:19:43

Should you decide you are going to continue with the boat, and I hope that works out for you...here is a link to a great and easy to use book on fundamentals. DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED. Sailing is pretty "intuitive", and if you get the feel for most things easily, it will not be hard. That being said I would stress (as have others in this thread), that you do NOT take the boat out without someone that knows what they are doing for the first couple of times. That would allow some inspection by someone that knows how to sail before you head out! Good luck and I hope it works out for you...SAILING IS BIG FUN!!!!!!!!!
Willy
[url="http://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Fundamentals-Gary-Jobson/dp/0743273087/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353715436&sr=1-4&keywords=gary+jobson"]Sailing Fundamentals[/url]

Mod edit to keep URL from expanding screen.
C250 Editor

Edited by - C250 Editor on 11/23/2012 18:27:56

NewSailor
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2012 : 08:34:41

Excellent comments and feedback. This is very helpful guys .. keep it coming. If you all have convinced me of anything its that this situation is a calling and one way or another, I will learn to sail.

I plan to have 2 different people meet me at the boat next weekend and check her out. I'm additionally looking into a proper survey depending on the price (I think it has to be sailed to a boat yard and airlifted out of the water)

Here is a link to some pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/home/Photos/SailBoat

Thx Shannon

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