Sailing From Kemah to Corpus Christi

Nov 1, 2017
635
Catalina 25 Sea Star Base Galveston, TX
Hey Everyone,
Good afternoon! As some of you may know, I am currently enrolled at a community college in Tomball to earn a two-year associates degree in business. The reason I've made that decision is simply for the sake of saving money, seeing as I have to pay for college tuition and books myself. After these two years, my plan is to transfer to Texas A&M Corpus Christi; they seem to have the business program that I need, and the campus is beautiful, right on the beachfront. Not too far from the campus is Corpus Christi Marina, which gave me the idea to just sail down to Corpus and live on Valiant, paying 250 bucks monthly rather than paying 1300+ for a dorm or apartment.
Recap on my boat stats:
She is a Catalina 25 tall rig, fixed fin keel, transom-hung rudder. Her draft is about 4'5" when she's loaded down and has a Mercury 8hp outboard with a 6 gallon fuel tank. As of this weekend, we are having the sunbrella on our jib replaced, and having a new custom mains'l made by our local sailmaker, Banks Sails. I am also fixing any electrical issues that we're having (nav lights and breaker panel) and plan to have the hull cleaned and inspected, the running rigging cleaned/replaced, and inspect the standing rigging myself (don't trust anyone else, I have my reasons). What do you think of the idea? Too risky? Any tips or opinions help!
 
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Likes: Will Gilmore
Sep 15, 2016
790
Catalina 22 Minnesota
Been there done that but not in a 25 foot boat. I lived on a Catalina 30 during community college in San Diego and loved it. Just remember it's small and you will not sail as often as you want to because of stowing your laptop, books, cloths, etc that tend to move about and not be put away with a busy school schedule.

The largest drawback was the restroom. I used the marina facilities for showers and things but this does take some getting used to and when you do get sick it becomes even more of a pain. All things being what they are I would do it all again. I lived onboard when I moved out as a sophomore in high school, met my wife in my senior year of High school and she lived onboard with me for a time while she was going to school as well. We finally moved off the boat when kids came along and it was hard to leave. In total I think it was somewhere around 11 years I had my boat at the marina and lived on it for most of that time.

Across the dock there was a good friend of mine that was a used car salesman that tried living aboard a Catalina 22 but he quickly realised it was just too small. So you will have to decide if the 25 provides what you need and then go from there.
 
Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
Shouldn't be a problem. But check around- there are other marinas in that area that are quite close by-- Ingleside comes to mind. May wind up being cheaper.

The trip itself should not be a problem,, other than offshore will likely be all to weather. But if weather is bad,, the ICW works well. If you happen to stop in Port Lavaca, give me a yell
 
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Likes: Simon Sexton
Mar 20, 2011
623
Hunter 31_83-87 New Orleans
Hi Simon. I used to be a live aboard many moons ago and can give you some points to consider. Send me a PM and we can swap phone details. I’m in Kemah and can also introduce you to some other live aboards in my marina for other advice. Bottom line, it’s doable but you want to go in eyes wide open. Jerry
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,390
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Your boat probably has more room than my first dorm room in college did at SWTSU. Some of the dorms there still do not have AC. If you're looking at it as a place to sleep while at school and can make it home most weekends I think it is a good possibility. Hopefully the marina you pick has wifi or there is a Whataburger nearby to get it. Whataburger started right there in Corpus on Ayers.
 
Oct 19, 2017
7,732
O'Day 19 Littleton, NH
I think it is an excellent plan, Simon. You will have a car, is parking included? What are your options when and if you pull the boat for work. We were able to stay on our boat at the marineways while on the hard. No one will probably allow that any more.
Using the marina facilities is just another "fact of life" that you get use to. You may just stop at the school's gym on the way home in the evenings.
A 25' boat that you are already use to is a fine size. I spent a lot of years in confined quarters like that. (Besides over three years in an aft cabin with two brothers and no headroom, we also spent 4 months driving around the country in a VW camper as a family of five in the early 70s). If you are good at taking whatever life gives you in stride, you'll do fine. I do understand you are a big boy, but you're a better judge about how you'll fit.
Get a good bimini or boom tent for all the hours you'll spend in the cockpit. If you cook for yourself, a rail mounted gas grill might be good to have. Learn your marina's rules about outside cooking, hanging of towels and clothes to dry, music and noise hours, dockside storage boxes, ... . Where is the laundrymat? Again, your school may offer that service too. One thing about living aboard, there are things you normally just do, that will now require planning ahead to do.
Good luck. Sounds exciting.

-Will (Dragonfly)
 
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Likes: Simon Sexton
Jul 7, 2004
8,402
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Yes, actually, portable.
That will be important as you try to study. Besides soggy books and shorting out your laptop, it's hard to concentrate in heat and humidity. I grew up in San Antonio.
You mention "we" in the OP. Will there be more than one living aboard? That will be tough.
Sounds like a cool idea all things considered.
Edit: no pun intended
 
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Likes: Simon Sexton
Jun 2, 2004
3,390
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Yes, actually, portable.
If you get to that point a sun shade over as much of the boat as possible will go along way to keeping the boat cool. Anything that keeps the sun off the deck will help. This gets into a bit of an issue in some marinas as the ubiquitous blue tarp over the boom is not the aesthetic that some enjoy. It's right there next to hanging your laundry on the lifelines.
 
Nov 1, 2017
635
Catalina 25 Sea Star Base Galveston, TX
You mention "we" in the OP.
Ah, you see, my family (mom, dad, brother and I) own the boat as we all pitched in to buy it; 1k each. The title, however, is in my name, as I'm the one with the most experience. I also pay for the majority of the repairs, but I told mom and dad during the Christmas season that I didn't want anything on Christmas day except to be with family...if they wanted to get me something, they could help pay for a new main. ;) Last week they brought it up and said they're willing to pitch in on the repairs! Hence, "we".
 
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Likes: Will Gilmore
Nov 1, 2017
635
Catalina 25 Sea Star Base Galveston, TX
blue tarp over the boom is not the aesthetic that some enjoy. It's right there next to hanging your laundry on the lifelines.
Yeeeaahhh, I'm gonna have to figure out some way to rig an easy-up tent, maybe a homemade one out of PVC. A friend of mine owns a Catalina 27, and lives up in Michigan; in order to keep warm, he bought a tent designed to fit on the bed of a truck and retrofitted it to the outside gunwale of the cockpit. Worked like a charm!
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,362
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Yeeeaahhh, I'm gonna have to figure out some way to rig an easy-up tent, maybe a homemade one out of PVC. A friend of mine owns a Catalina 27, and lives up in Michigan; in order to keep warm, he bought a tent designed to fit on the bed of a truck and retrofitted it to the outside gunwale of the cockpit. Worked like a charm!
I purchased one of these at a military surplus store


It is a tent designed to be carried by two different people. The peak snaps together and makes it very easy to connect over a boom. You can also lead a topping lift through the snaps. I used it on a MacGregor 22 I used to own. Here is a pic of it on my boat.
Coffee Saturday Morning.jpg
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,390
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
I purchased one of these at a military surplus store


It is a tent designed to be carried by two different people. The peak snaps together and makes it very easy to connect over a boom. You can also lead a topping lift through the snaps. I used it on a MacGregor 22 I used to own. Here is a pic of it on my boat.
View attachment 160570
That is actually 2. Two shelter halves brings back rotten memories. Just like the poncho not worth the hassle and weight.