I'm relatively new to sailing and have been looking at Hunter 25 and Catalina 25. Most sailing would be done in Lake St. Clair, Erie, and Huron. Am I looking at a good size for those lakes? I would like to be able to do weekend trips, day sailing, etc. I have a small family (wife, 1 child, self) and those two models look like a comfortable fit. Hunter looks to offer more, but how do the two boats sail in comparison to each other, hold up, etc??? Any info would be helpful...
Advice in purchasing a 25' sailboat...
- Thread starter Alan7219
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New to sailing also and just bought a Catalina 25
Ask a lot of questions about the boat you are going to buy and make sure you take someone who knows sail boats, and what to look for concerning a used boat. The first boat I looked at by myself was a Catalina 27 that was very clean I thought to my self what a great boat looks like the one for us. Then I took a friend along who knew somthing, and what an eye opener that was. We went from one end of the boat to the other with my friend pointing out all the things that were wrong with the very clean boat like worn rigging, water damage on the chain plate threw bolts and other problem areas. By the time we saw the boat my wife and I bought, I knew what to look for and ended up getting a great deal for a wonderful boat, it still ended some maintenance but all things that I could handle myself as far as repairs went. If you do need to make repairs, make sure that they are things you can do yourself or have the money in your budget so you can get them fixed by someone who knows what there doing. You don't want to get out in the middle of some place and the repair that the not so handy, handy man fixed, break. I'm not sure about Hunter boats, but I know for sure that it's real easy to get very good product support with a Catalina boat, and parts are readily available. I would love to tell you all about my wife's and my sailing adventures on the San Francisco bay but we are still cruissing on the Delta, gainning expereance so that we can go to the bay and play. Good luck and happy sailing. Dan and Adrienne Dallas
Ask a lot of questions about the boat you are going to buy and make sure you take someone who knows sail boats, and what to look for concerning a used boat. The first boat I looked at by myself was a Catalina 27 that was very clean I thought to my self what a great boat looks like the one for us. Then I took a friend along who knew somthing, and what an eye opener that was. We went from one end of the boat to the other with my friend pointing out all the things that were wrong with the very clean boat like worn rigging, water damage on the chain plate threw bolts and other problem areas. By the time we saw the boat my wife and I bought, I knew what to look for and ended up getting a great deal for a wonderful boat, it still ended some maintenance but all things that I could handle myself as far as repairs went. If you do need to make repairs, make sure that they are things you can do yourself or have the money in your budget so you can get them fixed by someone who knows what there doing. You don't want to get out in the middle of some place and the repair that the not so handy, handy man fixed, break. I'm not sure about Hunter boats, but I know for sure that it's real easy to get very good product support with a Catalina boat, and parts are readily available. I would love to tell you all about my wife's and my sailing adventures on the San Francisco bay but we are still cruissing on the Delta, gainning expereance so that we can go to the bay and play. Good luck and happy sailing. Dan and Adrienne Dallas
We sail on Lake Michigan, and did weekend trips
with a family of 5 when we had our Oday 25. You might add that to your list of boats to look at!
with a family of 5 when we had our Oday 25. You might add that to your list of boats to look at!
open your options
I to looked at all these boats and I settled on a hunter 25.5. For a boat in the 25-26 foot range its cabin, cockpit, and beam 9'1" are similar in size to most 27-30 footers and the prices are very good for a mid 1980's boat. Also its a pretty quick boat.
I to looked at all these boats and I settled on a hunter 25.5. For a boat in the 25-26 foot range its cabin, cockpit, and beam 9'1" are similar in size to most 27-30 footers and the prices are very good for a mid 1980's boat. Also its a pretty quick boat.
Do look at a 240
My first boat 18 years ago was a 1988 O'Day 240. It was a great boat. Large enough to have room for my wife and two small girls. An enclosed head is a must if you have girls -- they won't sail with you if they don't have some privacy in the head department. All the systems on the boat are simple and easy to understand, use and maintain. The 240 was very responsive and, looking back, a great boat to have to really learn and understand how to sail. Three years ago I moved up to an O'Day 302. I love the bigger boat -- but there are days when I wish I had the simplicity of my 240.
My first boat 18 years ago was a 1988 O'Day 240. It was a great boat. Large enough to have room for my wife and two small girls. An enclosed head is a must if you have girls -- they won't sail with you if they don't have some privacy in the head department. All the systems on the boat are simple and easy to understand, use and maintain. The 240 was very responsive and, looking back, a great boat to have to really learn and understand how to sail. Three years ago I moved up to an O'Day 302. I love the bigger boat -- but there are days when I wish I had the simplicity of my 240.
Didn't mention years
You didn't mention which years you are looking at and whether you want a fixed keel or something more portable on it's own trailer. The quality between the two boats is pretty equal. Keep in mind, the new ones are designed as somewhat of an entry level boat. If you are looking at newer, you might consider the Hunter 260 which, as I understand, is now out of production. One foot of length doesn't sound like a lot but they have standing headroom, and the cabin is well laid out if you have weekending in mind. Surveying various online classifieds, you will find them w/ trailer anywhere from $15K to $30K. I don't think you would outgrow this near as quick as a newer H-25 or C-25. I've looked at the new H-25 and C-25. They are nice boats but as far as usable space, wouldn't offer much improvement for me from my MacGregor 25. If you think you will be "moving up" in the future for certain buy a used boat instead of taking a huge depreciation hit. If you want something heavier and stable, I don't think you'd go wrong with one of the Cherubini-designed H-25's from the late '70's early '80's like Jeff Bryant bought. They are a little cramped in the cabin (my perspective as a 6' 215# man), but with a small family, might be perfect for your needs.
You didn't mention which years you are looking at and whether you want a fixed keel or something more portable on it's own trailer. The quality between the two boats is pretty equal. Keep in mind, the new ones are designed as somewhat of an entry level boat. If you are looking at newer, you might consider the Hunter 260 which, as I understand, is now out of production. One foot of length doesn't sound like a lot but they have standing headroom, and the cabin is well laid out if you have weekending in mind. Surveying various online classifieds, you will find them w/ trailer anywhere from $15K to $30K. I don't think you would outgrow this near as quick as a newer H-25 or C-25. I've looked at the new H-25 and C-25. They are nice boats but as far as usable space, wouldn't offer much improvement for me from my MacGregor 25. If you think you will be "moving up" in the future for certain buy a used boat instead of taking a huge depreciation hit. If you want something heavier and stable, I don't think you'd go wrong with one of the Cherubini-designed H-25's from the late '70's early '80's like Jeff Bryant bought. They are a little cramped in the cabin (my perspective as a 6' 215# man), but with a small family, might be perfect for your needs.
Here's One
I don't want anyone to think I'm spamming, I have nothing to do with this boat other than if it were for sale in my neck of the woods, I'd be all over it if I were in your shoes: '27 ft. O'Day in excellent condition with new sails and many upgrades. Alan, it's up in Ohio.
I don't want anyone to think I'm spamming, I have nothing to do with this boat other than if it were for sale in my neck of the woods, I'd be all over it if I were in your shoes: '27 ft. O'Day in excellent condition with new sails and many upgrades. Alan, it's up in Ohio.
Catalina 25
The C25 is a tough boat to beat for all around performance, versatility, reliability, safety, plus many thousands made, great support from Catalina, a very informative forum: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/
The C25 is a tough boat to beat for all around performance, versatility, reliability, safety, plus many thousands made, great support from Catalina, a very informative forum: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/
You are choosing among
two of probably what are the most popular 25-footers ever made --- and still being made (although the newer ones are quite different from the older ones). Think about all the other companies that made 25 footers that are no longer in business. There are a lot of people out there who own these two model boats and love them. That should say a lot. In my mind, condition and price would be the deciding factors as these two boats really meet the needs of a lot of sailors.
two of probably what are the most popular 25-footers ever made --- and still being made (although the newer ones are quite different from the older ones). Think about all the other companies that made 25 footers that are no longer in business. There are a lot of people out there who own these two model boats and love them. That should say a lot. In my mind, condition and price would be the deciding factors as these two boats really meet the needs of a lot of sailors.
Remodeling the Cabin of an Oday 23
Jon, The galley you installed in your Oday 240 is impressive. I'd been thinking about something similar in our 23. My wife and I use the boat for the occasional overnighter, and we'd be considering ways to make it more comfortable as a pocket cruiser for the two of us. I'm wondering how difficult it was for you to create the galley in your boat. I assume you had to remove part of the settee on that side of the cabin. I realize the 23 has less room than the 240, but what advice would you have for someone who is considering similar improvements to a 23? Bob
Jon, The galley you installed in your Oday 240 is impressive. I'd been thinking about something similar in our 23. My wife and I use the boat for the occasional overnighter, and we'd be considering ways to make it more comfortable as a pocket cruiser for the two of us. I'm wondering how difficult it was for you to create the galley in your boat. I assume you had to remove part of the settee on that side of the cabin. I realize the 23 has less room than the 240, but what advice would you have for someone who is considering similar improvements to a 23? Bob
Cabin Remodeling
Thanks for the additional information, Jon. It looks like the layout of your cabin is quite different from the 23. But you've given me some good ideas. First, though, I need to fix all the leaks! Bob
Thanks for the additional information, Jon. It looks like the layout of your cabin is quite different from the 23. But you've given me some good ideas. First, though, I need to fix all the leaks! Bob
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