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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Final Project Questions

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DrDre
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/17/2004 : 09:50:10

The autumnal chill is in the air and plans are underway for a year-end passage around Manhattan to Ananda's winter home on the hard.

I've owned the boat for exactly a year and need to ask about some things I've noticed and some questions I have.

1) Weather-helm: WOW is there a lot of it. I've read extensively all over the web about different ways to alter weatherhelm, a lot from the forum, but nothing's working for me. I've tried adding a couple hundred pounds on the bow, different sheet and mainsail trim variations, weight distribution, and some rig tuning. Still I have a ton of fight on the tiller. I rigged the stays and shrouds myself this spring so maybe I've done something wrong from the begining and don't know it. Is there a comprehensive 250 Wing Keel rigging guide somewhere? What else could be causing such a pull on the tiller?

2) Jib Sheets: The working sheet rubs along the shrouds no matter how far forward or back I place the jib car. Am I missing something? How do others deal with this?

3) Reefing Lines: The set up for the 250 seems to be the cause of a great deal of angst, myself included. My question at the moment is what's to be done with the reefed part of the sail that's hanging loosely under the boom? I've read here about not tying the reef point lines that are in the middle of the sail because they will tear. So why are the lines there? And again what's to be done with the exess sail once it's been reefed?

4) Second Battery: I want to add a stereo, 12 volt power supply for GPS and VHF, a autopilot for the tiller, and an inverter plug for cellphone charger and computer. The question is do I need another battery for all of this? Can you point me in the direction of a book or manual on doing all this safely? Is the 9.9 hp outboard that I have going to be able to charge both batteries if I need a second one?

Thanks for your help and I hope all have a great autum.

Peace,
Andre' and Erica

1998 250 WK "Ananda" #373 City Island, New York

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2004 : 10:41:26

Andre,

The weather helm issue on the 250 is exasperated by excess heel do to the hull design... keep heel within 15 degees.

In that effort to reduce heeling, several disciplines are needed, chief among them is a good reefing discipline. Rig tuning does come into play, a loose forestay will add to heeling problems.

Your "98 model may be using the 2nd generation unbalanced rudder, a 3rd generation balanced rudder will not cure the weather helm but will remove the torque it causes from the tiller.

Here is a read on weather helm relative to the 250. http://stewartfam.net/arlyn/cause_of_weather_helm.html

Tieing the gaskets to tidy up a reef is optional and does include some degree of risk. If tied, be sure to remember to release the gaskets prior to releasing the reef to avoid damage to the sail. Don't tie the gaskets too tight. Gaskets are probably more often tied by cruisers who may be running with a reef for many hours.

If the motor is used very much, it may charge the batteries or help especially if its a high output alternator... if it doesn't keep the batteries up, a solar panel or shore power charging should be added.

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2004 : 22:48:53

Weather helm: We cured most of our weather helm with extra weight in the bow (if your water tank is there its probably enough when full) & the balanced rudder. Watch your angle of heel & reef as needed.

Jib Sheets: our jib sheets rub against the shrouds too a lot of the time. I don't think there's a fix with the track position, but I haven't really found it to be a problem either.

Reefing lines: we tie our first reef, but usually leave our second reef untied

Second battery: with the extra draw you will probably need a 2nd battery if you are out for more then a couple days. We added shore power & like knowing our batteries are fully charged whenever we start out.

Hope you've enjoyed getting to know your new boat.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2004 : 00:13:26

What generation rudder is on a 2004 catalina 250 WK ?
paulj

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2004 : 02:52:24

We don't have a C250 so my response is more of a general observation. When we start to get a lot of weather helm it usually means its time to reef the sails. I have found if I take three turns on the jib it makes an amazing difference on the helm and boat speed does not suffer. Reef the main and the boat sails flatter, again it usually does not hurt speed too much and the ride is a lot more comfortable.

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sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2004 : 00:09:01

Paul, that would be the 3rd, but on a wk it is longer than on a wb.

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2004 : 01:33:01

Sailgal
Thanks for the reply ,Just bought #719 wk today. I'm moving up from 03 capri 22 wk.
I've never sailed a c250 , so I'm comming up blind.
paulj

.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2004 : 10:06:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by johnsonp
 Sailgal
Thanks for the reply ,Just bought #719 wk today. I'm moving up from 03 capri 22 wk.
I've never sailed a c250 , so I'm comming up blind.
paulj
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That is very cool, I envy you. You are going to have a great time. The 22 is a nice boat but I bet you will not miss it.

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sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2004 : 11:54:39

Good luck with the new boat, we'll be here for ya when the questions start rolling in. You can't ask for a better association!

Edited by - on

frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2004 : 07:51:37

Congratulations on your new 250 WK. This is a great association for help and sharing of ideas and experiences. I, too, am learning my 200 SR C250 WK, wheel, 2nd generation rudder and this association has been an immense help. Be sure to check out the detailed pictures of other setups. Yesterday I went down to the docks to work on mine a little and the wind was perfect! I could not let it go, so I went single handed for the first time ever. What a rush for me! Went out on the jib, raised the main and sailed for 2 hours. Wind got a little too much for me so finished out the last half hour on the main alone. How do you rig and handle the jib when singlehandling?

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