Actual draft of a C25 wing keel?

Aug 20, 2012
33
Catalina 25 Punta Gorda
I just installed a depthfinder transducer in the bow of of my C25 about 1' in front of the forward bulkhead. The readout has a setting for "Keel Offset." Here's the problem; is the actual draft determined by the wing keel or the rudder? It seems that the rudder is deeper than the keel and if that's the case does that mean that draft is greater than 3' listed in the literature? It would be embarrassing to say the least, if I ran aground using a depthfinder. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
I can you from experience, having a depth-finder with NOT save you from running aground! ;^)
 
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Funny how that works Jack.

If you set the offset to something like a foot more than the real number, you'll always have a foot or more of advanced warning. The shallow alarm will take this offset into consideration, and the overall benefit is you won't get pooched by a "loon poop" bottom that doesn't read well. It still won't protect from that rock over there.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Amazed

Amazed


Yup, I’m constantly and repeatedly AMAZED that new skippers end up finding this great Catalinaowners.com website, but seem to completely MISS the Catalina ASSOCIATION BOAT SPECIFIC websites.

Almost ALL of those one-design ASSOCIATION websites are the very FIRST ONES that show up on any general (Google, DuckDuckgo, etc.) Internet search.

If I had a question about a Catalina 355, or a Hunter 34, that would be the phrase in the search engine I’d use.

If I typed in “Catalina 25” I’d find the Catalina 25 International Association. First.

I’d be very rich if I got $1 for every time I’ve suggested a new boat owner with a Catalina 25 go here: http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3

Why don’t new-to-them-boat skippers go to the Associations own websites to ask boat specific questions?

And they do NOT ask there. At all, based on my experience.

This is NOT a rhetorical question.

I’d really like to know.
 
Nov 9, 2009
69
catalina 25 wing keel rutledge tn.
I own a 1989 catalina 25 with wing keel. My owners manual says 2 feet 10 inches for draft.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Yup, all those Association website usually have the MANUALS posted.

How easy...
 
Oct 29, 2014
38
catalina 30 MKII DCYC
Hi Stan,

Don't worry, you'll find plenty other ways to embarrass yourself.

I happen to know for a fact that my C30 runs aground when the gauge reads 4 feet. My draft is 5'8" so I figure as the others pointed out, why bother with the offset, I got 1'8" of wiggle room, LOL.

Regards,
Nels
 
Aug 20, 2012
33
Catalina 25 Punta Gorda
Oops! Based on the easy response of the tiller I was sure the PO (who made many upgrades to the boat) had installed a modified rudder that was longer than the stock rudder. Having actually just measured the length of the rudder 68" and 34" below the waterline I now know the true draft of the boat. Sailing on the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor we have spots of skinny water so an alarm setting of 4' provides some piece of mind.

Bye the way Stu, what is the difference between asking for information on this site as opposed to any other? Most of us read both sites?
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Bye the way Stu, what is the difference between asking for information on this site as opposed to any other? Most of us read both sites?
Stan,

There's no way for me to know you do that. That's great that you do, but I'd have figured that question would be asked there. Why? Simply because that's where C25-specific issues get asked. That's all.

Glad you're taking the time to do both, great skippers on both forums. There is, for example, more good electrical system information and answers here, than there, based on my 17 years of experience with my C34 and 13 years with my C25 before that, and years and years on both of those forums, as well as many others.

In fact, many C25 questions that get asked here by new respondents indicate that they are unaware of the C25 forum.

I just met a new C25 couple in the boatyard the other day. They didn't know about the C25 forum (with their brand new-to-them boat). I hope they find it and avoid reinventing the wheel, which is what these forums try to do in addition to helping the learning curve on systems.

All the best,

Stu
 

azguy

.
Aug 23, 2012
337
Catalina 22 Lake Pleasant
Amazed

Yup, I’m constantly and repeatedly AMAZED that new skippers end up finding this great Catalinaowners.com website, but seem to completely MISS the Catalina ASSOCIATION BOAT SPECIFIC websites.

This is NOT a rhetorical question.

I’d really like to know.
Well, as in impartial 3rd party the c22 site looks like it was built 25 years, it weird and unfriendly to navigate and the traffic as regards posting is thin to say the least..
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Finding boat-specific websites

Well, as in impartial 3rd party the c22 site looks like it was built 25 years, it weird and unfriendly to navigate and the traffic as regards posting is thin to say the least..
That's true, point well-taken that some available websites are less useful than others, and also, IIRC, for the C30s. The reason is that those boats have sooo many hulls and have been built over so many decades that the skippers and groups who started those websites have moved one, one way or another. The information there, however, remains valid. Very valid. And, most of the time, includes answers to the questions raised.

IIRC, there is a thriving (?) C30 Yahoo group. The new C355 skippers have a Google group. We and the C25 & C36 skippers have healthy, robust and useable interatcive websites.

My only point is that one has to look around first, and all I was wondering is why, when someone has a BOAT-SPECIFIC question, like keel depth (that can be found in a manual most likely available only on a boat-specific website) or like today's question about a C34 anchor placement on the bow, that they end up here when an internet search shows those very boat-specific websites.

Using BOTH this forum and those would get answers, but as I mentioned, I spend lots of time (not complaining, mind you) pointing out those websites to questioners who don't seem to know they exist.

I just don't understand how they can't seem to find them, that's all. :doh::):):)