Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 250 by Frank Farmer

Year built	2001
Location of boat	Long Beach, CA
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2005
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Absolutely. I wanted a boat as new and as large as I could get for my budget and powered by outboard, from a manufacturer still in business.
Gear that's been added	I replaced the oversized cabin table with a 2'X 3' marine ply table fitted with fiddles I made for around 30 bucks. Also installed homemade lazy jacks for under 10 bucks. Installed vent to V berth hatch, anchor roller, handles and porthole to main cabin hatch board. Added amber LED bulbs to all six interior lights.
Structural or complex improvements	The boat was installed with a marine head flushed into a holding tank. I added a Y valve allowing us to flush directly overboard while out at sea.
The boat's best features	Foot for foot, the larget interior layout of any 25 footer, inclosed head, furling jib, single line mainsail reefing. And, of course, the catbird seats!
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Strictly a light air boat; reefing has to begin around 15 knots of wind. Transom too narrow for the outboard. Limited lazarette stowage area, especially the starboard with the large propane tank for the stove.Had to add 180 lbs in the bow to improve handling and lower the waterline.
Sailing characterisitcs	Very tender, strong weather helm, but points to windward well.
Motoring characterisitcs	Motors well with the 9.4 long shaft Tohatsu. But DON'T motor with the main up on a starboard tack: the motor cavitates, lifts the prop out of the water.
Liveability	Okay for occasional overnights and/or long weekends.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	Positive. When I contacted them about possible tear from main rubbing against the spreaders on downwind tacks, they sent me adhesive sail cloth strips to attach free of charge.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Also positive. Boat had an overpriced asking, broker suggested a much lower offer which the seller accepted.
Other comments	I highly recommend the Catalina 25/250/Capri Owners Association website: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13970for its tips and forums.

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