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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

New guy from South Alabama

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ChipG
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/05/2013 : 21:56:17

Hey guys, I'm the new owner of an '85 C25 swing keel. I previously lived aboard an '84 C30 for 10 years, but sold it to buy a house after I got married. I picked up a Mutineer to keep me on the water, but after one sail my wife wasn't having it

Now my son is old enough to start learning, so I'm going to be raising sails again

With slip rent being as high as it is I'm going to give trailer sailing a shot, but I'm not sure Mobile Bay launch ramps will be suitable for a 25' boat. I'm really happy about getting back out and even happier about getting my son started. Here are a couple pics of my previous boats, I'll have some pics of the 25 soon

'84 C30, Wailing Soul. I lived aboard for 10 years, and cruised and raced from New Orleans to Naples, FL

My short lived Mutineer

Edited by - ChipG on 01/05/2013 22:00:05

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 09:23:49

Welcome to the community, Chip! The C-25 is a handfull for trailer-sailing--in fact many of us advise that while it's "transportable", the setup/takedown time is a bit onerous for trailer-sailing, but it would seem you have enough experience to judge that for yourself. What's your strategy for stepping/unstepping the mast? Or can you leave it up on the trailer somewhere? That would make a huge difference... (You aren't pulling her with that Mini, are you?

)

Two questions: Have you joined the association? And are you familiar with [url="http://catalinadirect.com/"]Catalina Direct[/url] and their C-25 Owner's Handbook? It's essentially their catalog for the boat, but for an initial $10 (with free updates) it's a valuable resource on keeping our boats "new" and safe.

Years ago I "owned" a Mutineer complete with chute-launcher and all the other toys, when we lived in Detroit and got a Chrysler employee discount through a friend... The day it was delivered to the dealer, I learned we were moving to CT, so I "sold" it back to him, unwrapped and sight-unseen. (He probably sold it for more than I had bought it for.) I had sailed one--very quick and nimble. Too bad you don't have it for your son to learn on--it's just about perfect for that! However, I can understand your wife's reaction to the dinghy experience--that's quite common.

Again, welcome! There's not a question you can ask that won't get a string of answers (and sometimes a spirited debate)!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/06/2013 09:27:50

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 10:43:53

Welcome Chip. Looking forward to details of your boat.

paul

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 13:54:31

Congrats...I also had a 84 C30, even lived on it for a bit, but no where close to 10 years. Enjoy the C25!

Edited by - on

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 14:06:00

Congratulations, Chip! You know the old saying about the two happiest days in a (person's) life, one of which is the day the boat is bought...

As to trailer-sailing (the racers call it "dry sailing"), if you can store the boat in the vicinity of a suitable ramp, with no overhead wires or tree limbs to have to go under, and if you'll mostly be out for the better part of a day when you do go out, dry-sailing makes a lot of sense. I've been doing it for over a year, now, and I've got it down to about 25 minutes to launch and 35 minutes to retrieve (including everything that wouldn't be part of sailing out of a wet berth). That adds an hour to the entire process of a day's sailing. But the rest of the non-sailing activities (driving to the marina, bringing everything down to the boat, uncovering everything and stowing stuff, and then putting everything back and driving home), can take so much time that an extra hour is relatively insignificant over the course of a full day devoted to going out on the boat.

For me, a big part of the incentive is being able to back my truck right up to the transom when I'm working on the boat (an oxymoron if there ever was one). Mine is a fixer-upper, because I enjoy making and modifying things. However, the cost differential between a wet berth and the storage yard amounts to 12 times the launch fee at the ramp, so if I launch/recover less than a dozen times a month I'm saving money.

Another aspect of this question (as with so many of the issues discussed on this forum) is how you'll be using the boat. If your plans include sailing in different locations, and you can set things up so you can take the boat "on the road" fairly easily, then you'll need to store the trailer somewhere even if the boat were living in the water. If, like me, storing the trailer for free in your yard isn't an option, and you have to pay to store it somewhere, then it makes even more sense financially to dry sail the boat.

I'm sure you'll check out ramp-and-yard situations before making a decision, and I hope you can find something conveniently close to home. In this forum, especially in the archives, you'll find a trove of invaluable information pertaining to your new acquisition. Good luck!

Edited by - on

ChipG
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 16:17:39

Got her home today, but didn't have time to get any good pics. I'm going to use a gin pole setup to raise the mast. Most of my sailing on the 30 was single handed so I've gotten pretty good at having a "system" to get things done, and I think I have a pretty good plan as far as rigging to launch(at least in theory). My biggest concern is finding ramps that are long and deep enough to launch and retrieve. None of the local ramps charge for use, and I have property to store the boat and trailer, so that goes a long way towards tolerating the pain of trailer sailing. I'll get some better pics once I scrub a little

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 18:25:53

Chip,

Welcome aboard! This site will be invaluable as you get your boat ready.

Your trailer looks very similar to mine. Is it a Magic Tilt?

Edited by - on

binky
Navigator

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USA
115 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 18:49:07

Welcome aboard. I'm still trying to figure out how you towed the 25 with the Cooper.

Edited by - on

ChipG
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 19:01:33

Yes, Magic tilt. Ha, the MINI has since been replace with a bit larger tow vehicle

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 21:40:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChipG
 Yes, Magic tilt. Ha, the MINI has since been replace with a bit larger tow vehicle

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Short hi-jack please. If this offends anyone let me know and I will move it to a separate thread.

When/if you get a spare minute would you mind measuring the length of each of the vertical uprights on one side of your trailer that support the bunks? My trailer was built for a MacGregor 260 and I modified it to fit my C25 but I'm not sure I have the correct length of each upright. Just need the distance from the top of the cross-member to the bottom side of the bunk.

Hi-jack over!

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2013 : 22:37:36

Welcome aboard. I love having more swingers in the group (sometimes we get a little bashing from those less enlightened

)

Edited by - on

ChipG
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2013 : 00:29:16

It will be the weekend before I'll have a chance to, but I'll be glad to measure whatever you need

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2013 : 05:11:41

Welcome Chip... I'm sorta from UCLA..( upper corner of lower alabama )

Always wanted to move to Mobile, love the Gulf Coast.

Edited by - redeye on 01/07/2013 05:21:04

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2013 : 15:22:31

Wow. I'd love to live on a boat for 10 years. Cheers! Welcome!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2013 : 18:02:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChipG
 It will be the weekend before I'll have a chance to, but I'll be glad to measure whatever you need
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks Chip! Just whenever you get time.

Edited by - on

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 04:40:02

Welcome to the Catalina 25 gang.

I have a trailer for mine and I use it to go from lake to lake for at least a week t a time. It takes me about an hour to go from parking lot to sailing. I use an A frame to step the mast and have a 16' tongue extension with a third wheel that mounts to the front of the trailer. When I bought the boat we just used a rope to let the trailer in the water deep enough. I need about 5 1/2 feet at the wheels to get the boat loaded/unloaded, but my trailer is higher than most I've seen.

The Admiral is trying to talk me into taking the boat to Gulf Shores for a couple of weeks. She and her girl friends (no guys) go there for week of-who knows. They did charter the Joshua a couple of times.

Howard

Edited by - hewebb on 01/08/2013 04:47:57

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 06:34:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChipG
 Hey guys, I'm the new owner of an '85 C25 swing keel. I previously lived aboard an '84 C30 for 10 years......
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi Chip! Welcome aboard!
Cat 30's have always been one of my favorite boats, but my Cat 25 has been perfect for my family's needs for a long long time now (into our 3rd generation sailing on Confetti) This is a great group with a lot of experience you can draw on!

Cheers!

Chuck

Edited by - on

apiratelooksat40
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 07:53:45

Welcome Chip!

I'm also joining the Association & Forums from A C30 I co-owned with my father for years. They're great boats, and we had loads of adventures with her. Now, right-sized for the family and the waters we plan on sailing, I'm looking forward to being behind the tiller of our '83 Swinger. These boards are a great resource and a good community of sailors, tinkerers, and restorers that have already answered a bunch of questions for me before even getting our boat wet.

Cheers!

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 08:36:47

Congrats and welcome aboard Chip!

10 years living aboard a C30....that's quite impressive! I'd bet you have some great stories to tell....

Edited by - on

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 10:14:28

Welcome Chip!
I keep Promise on the hard with the mast up, 100 yards from the boat ramps. It does take practice (or a bunch of trial, error, and learning) but I have got it down to where I can launch and retrieve single handed. Howard Webb (above) has gotten stepping and launching down to an art, with an easy fool proof system.

Storing on the hard and launching at the boat ramp cost me about $30 a month. That is is key, critical factor in keeping my C-25 very affordable.
Doug

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 12:10:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Arlington
 Howard Webb (above) has gotten stepping and launching down to an art, with an easy fool proof system.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

....and I'm glad because I need to drop my mast & rewire it, plus replace lights.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 18:49:02

Hi Chip. Welcome to the C25 family. Check out the YouTube video by DavyJ on raising/lowering a C25 mast with an A-frame made out of 1" electrical conduit. I made one up like his and it worked great. Much safer than a gin pole.

Edited by - on

ChipG
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2013 : 22:17:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
Short hi-jack please. If this offends anyone let me know and I will move it to a separate thread.

When/if you get a spare minute would you mind measuring the length of each of the vertical uprights on one side of your trailer that support the bunks? My trailer was built for a MacGregor 260 and I modified it to fit my C25 but I'm not sure I have the correct length of each upright. Just need the distance from the top of the cross-member to the bottom side of the bunk.

Hi-jack over!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm going to be working on the boat Sunday, let me know if there are any other parts you'd like me to measure

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2013 : 08:46:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChipG
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
Short hi-jack please. If this offends anyone let me know and I will move it to a separate thread.

When/if you get a spare minute would you mind measuring the length of each of the vertical uprights on one side of your trailer that support the bunks? My trailer was built for a MacGregor 260 and I modified it to fit my C25 but I'm not sure I have the correct length of each upright. Just need the distance from the top of the cross-member to the bottom side of the bunk.

Hi-jack over!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm going to be working on the boat Sunday, let me know if there are any other parts you'd like me to measure
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Maybe the distance from the deck down to the bow eye?

I appreciate you taking the time to take these measurements!

Edited by - on

BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2013 : 18:23:53

Hey Chip -

I'm a swinger too and sail on a lake up here in CT. I found a ramp that is steep and deep so launching mine was not a problem. Do you have a tongue extension? I'm told that will help a lot on a shallow ramp. The C25 SK only draws 30" but definitely remove the rudder when launching. My rudder draws about 36". even if you don't have an extension, launching shouldn't be too bad but retrieving might be more difficult. Mine is a roller trailer so I can always winch it the rest of the way but bunks might be a little different. Good luck with the new boat and keep us up to date on your progress. Where did you buy the boat from?

Best regards,

Edited by - on

ChipG
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2013 : 01:44:54

I plan on using a tow strap. The ramps here are not that steep and I really don't want to dip my vehicle in salt water. The boat was in Milton, FL when I bought it

Edited by - on

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