C 250 wb centerboard need bushings??

[mspiers]

C 250 wb centerboard need bushings??

Just purchased a 2007 c250 wb with swing centerboard last friday.

No complaints except one:

I got into a semi-protected anchorage.. the little island had no protection from 15 mph winds, but we were on the windward shore so waves were fairly small. (1 ft at most) 14 feet deep. We were swinging on anchor much more than i would have liked (I assume the wind fighting against the current flowing around the edge of the island.

Anyways: This was the loudest danged boat ive ever tried to sleep in. At first I had the centerboard down, then I put it halfway up, then all the way up. no difference in the slightest.. Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom constantly like someone was hitting the underside with a sledgehammer every second for 8 hours. Needless to say we are exhausted with no sleep last night.

It basically felt like there was a 1/2 inch swing bolt going through a 3 inch hole.

Figured I would post on here to see if anyone knew of any known issues, then Tuesday im gonna have her hauled out again and checked.

Ive swayed that much at anchor in one of the old classic mac 25's with a swing keel and never dealt with anything like that.. my ears are still thudding..

 

[CaptDon01]

We have friends with a C-250 WB and they glued some carpet in the trunk to stop the "clunk". Only issue they have had with their C-250 WB.

Don

 

[jackschafer]

This has been a problem with the 250. Have you checked the Catalina 25-250 forum? There are many threads on this problem. I have installed tapered shims in the trunk to keep the centerboard from slapping. I put them about 2' back from the pivot and pull the centerboard up when at anchor. www.catalina-capri-25s.org

 

[mspiers]

We have friends with a C-250 WB and they glued some carpet in the trunk to stop the "clunk". Only issue they have had with their C-250 WB.

Don

Hey Don!

Man can she sail though! Im glad you mentioned checking out a c-250 cause she definitely feels right. We had 20 mph sustained with up to 30 gusts, and approx 4 foot waves, in front of that northern we got.
I played with the sails, starting out with main only, then double reef with most of the roller furler out, then no main and all furler, and finally back to unreefed main.

My first time with a roller furler after all the different boats Ive owned, and its definitely a different animal, very convenient, not as efficient as im used to but the tradeoff is nice not to have to send anyone forward in 4 ft waves..

Where people come up with a water ballast being "tender" I dont think have been on a c250. Now unreefed in those conditions it does require an active captain cause i was constantly trimming and releasing the main with those 30 mph gusts, but the one time I didnt get the mainsail released in time on a really bad gust, she simply turned upwind causing the 38 footer trailing me to think i was needing another tack before I could make it around the point.
But i was really impressed with the water ballast system under sail. At anchor, i was ready to unbolt the centerboard though..lolol

 

[mspiers]

This has been a problem with the 250. Have you checked the Catalina 25-250 forum? There are many threads on this problem. I have installed tapered shims in the trunk to keep the centerboard from slapping. I put them about 2' back from the pivot and pull the centerboard up when at anchor. www.catalina-capri-25s.org

Hi Jack,

I have not.. I get a little lost on this site, i need to re-learn my way around. It seems different than it was last time i was really active here. Im glad to know Im not alone in this. I was worried i was having a maintenence issue and needed her hauled. I will def go check out the link you posted so i can see what the rest of you guys are doing about this. If you can just shut her up when pulled up Id be happy.

 

[CaptDon01]

Glad your enjoying "my" dream boat..... I was so against a WB boat, sometimes I just have to eat some crow.....it's not too bad with some BBQ sauce.

Don

 

[mspiers]

Glad your enjoying "my" dream boat..... I was so against a WB boat, sometimes I just have to eat some crow.....it's not too bad with some BBQ sauce.

Don

Well, youre welcome to head off with us any time

I had a wb hunter 19, 1993 model, and when you caught wind, youd think you were going over fast, and water would come over t he coamings.. THAT was definitely wht they call "tender".. This boat is a lot bigger, but i really cant tell its wb. I couldnt get the mast to the water, shed turn up if i didnt ease the main every time.. Like I said, about the rubrail was as high as the water gets... Im still not convinced losing the headroom was so great, but when i put it back on the trailer and/or beach her which ive done neither, then she may shine. For me it was either wb or have them crane it off the trailer and leave it in the slip most of the time. Im not sure which was the best idea. Cedar Mills does not have a good ramp and the lake is waay low, so we put water in the bed even on the extension getting her in. My dually has a 10 foot extension coming off a class 5 hitch, Putting the two extensions together would give me about a 20-25 ft extension,so that would actually put me in better shape but that truck needs some work to go from farm truck to vacation vehiclle

 

[mspiers]

Basically, if cedar mills can quiet that center board for me this week, ill be really happy with her.. My wife named her "Sea Alice" LOL

 

[SailorRob]

First off, I'm not familiar with that boat. I had the same problem when I had a Mac 26. I used large rubber stoppers drilled out in the middle and installed on either side of the board. They took up the space and softened the sound. Until you can get to it, send a line under the board (board up) and tension it.

Good luck!
Rob