Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 25 by Brooke Willson

Year built	1985
Location of boat	Urbanna, VA
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1998
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Absolutely. When I bought her, I needed a comfortable boat with shallow draft that I could also overnight on. This boat has been everything I wanted and so much more.
Gear that's been added	Much. New main and roller furling genoa, bimini, tillerpilot, new Honda 9.9 outboard, new ICOM VHF, replaced alcohol stove with butane, replaced all water hoses, rewired mast lights, Cruiseair airconditioner, fans in cabin, relocated traveler to just aft of companionway to accomodate bimini.
Structural or complex improvements	See above.
The boat's best features	I have sailed in absolute safety in 25-30 knot winds and 6 foot seas. To do that in a boat that draws 32 inches with the keel up is remarkable. No, it's not the most finely crafted vehicle on the planet, but the combination of great design, roominess, solid handling, safety, and sheer fun are unbeatable.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	After 22 years, the gelcoat is beginning to chip a little. Running the wiring between the liner and hull was a dumb move by Catalina. The accordion fold doors on the head are a poor choice. The traveler location is guaranteed to clothesline you, which is one reason why I moved it. The head sink is completely unnecessary in aboat this size, and should have been a wet locker or other storage.
Sailing characterisitcs	See above.
Motoring characterisitcs	The swiveling outboard makes maneuvering in tight quarters easy. Especially with the new 4 stroke outboard, the boat moves well under power forward and aft.
Liveability	Maybe for midgets (I'm 6'3"). Two people can survive for a weekend or more, but it's really not built for more than two adults. What do you expect in 25 feet?
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	N/A
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Bought from a delightful private owner, who had bought the boat new.
Other comments	It's a great boat if you want to daysail in comfort and overnight or weekend. Low maintenance, great value, and fun to sail.

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