my wife and I are cought between purchasing a 2003 catalina 250 or a2003 hunter 260 water ballast boat. catalina seems to have more standard equipment and better harware and is less money. hunter has more headroom in the salon and the cockpit seems bigger. i think the decision comes down to sailing. does anybody have any comments. hopefully the decision will be made while at the newport boat show this weekend. thanks
- Status
Hunter H260
I had the same decision approximately 4 months ago. I sailed the Catalina and was impressed, but I needed the more room of the Hunter H260 since I live aboard it on Lake Conroe, Texas. I sail it just about everyday and love it. It sails well with just the standard equipment it came with. I plan on adding a roller furling jib and that's about all it need. I have really enjoyed the Hunter and plan on moving up to at least the 30' in the near future.
I had the same decision approximately 4 months ago. I sailed the Catalina and was impressed, but I needed the more room of the Hunter H260 since I live aboard it on Lake Conroe, Texas. I sail it just about everyday and love it. It sails well with just the standard equipment it came with. I plan on adding a roller furling jib and that's about all it need. I have really enjoyed the Hunter and plan on moving up to at least the 30' in the near future.
Go with the
headroom. When I first when on the catalina 250 I couldn't believe you couldn't stand up! If your going to overnight, your going to need to walk around. Why do you want to trailer. It's a pain in the neck to put the mast up, rig the sails and put the boat in the water. Then do it all over to take it out!
headroom. When I first when on the catalina 250 I couldn't believe you couldn't stand up! If your going to overnight, your going to need to walk around. Why do you want to trailer. It's a pain in the neck to put the mast up, rig the sails and put the boat in the water. Then do it all over to take it out!
ford or chevy LOL!
hell I rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy! Hunter or Catalina??? you trying to start war here?
hell I rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy! Hunter or Catalina??? you trying to start war here?
Who wins? We do!
They are totally different boats, but here's my take. The Catalina has better hardware, is more stable, looks more like the traditional idea of a sailboat, is easier to tow and takes longer to set up. The head is a joke to me so actually get in it and close the door and try to turn around before you buy. I'd rather have a portapotty under the v berth like the C22 than that "enclosed head" i think it is wasted space. The Hunter is faster and less stable. It has the cheapest hardware that will work well which leave the individual owner to decide what he want to upgrade. The head on the Hunter is the smallest one I'd actually ever use and you can have a portapotty or a real marine head with a holding tank and pump out. This pumpout can be modified for use at RV pump outs by the addition of another pump and some fittings. This makes a lot of sense but also costs a lot more. The 260 is easier to set up at the ramp but harder to tow and actually a couple inches wider than legal (most owners ignore this fact and don't bother getting a towing permit). the 260 has that modern Euro look that I think is OK but many just hate. And finally the Galley in the 260 is really usable for a person to cook underway. both are great boats.
They are totally different boats, but here's my take. The Catalina has better hardware, is more stable, looks more like the traditional idea of a sailboat, is easier to tow and takes longer to set up. The head is a joke to me so actually get in it and close the door and try to turn around before you buy. I'd rather have a portapotty under the v berth like the C22 than that "enclosed head" i think it is wasted space. The Hunter is faster and less stable. It has the cheapest hardware that will work well which leave the individual owner to decide what he want to upgrade. The head on the Hunter is the smallest one I'd actually ever use and you can have a portapotty or a real marine head with a holding tank and pump out. This pumpout can be modified for use at RV pump outs by the addition of another pump and some fittings. This makes a lot of sense but also costs a lot more. The 260 is easier to set up at the ramp but harder to tow and actually a couple inches wider than legal (most owners ignore this fact and don't bother getting a towing permit). the 260 has that modern Euro look that I think is OK but many just hate. And finally the Galley in the 260 is really usable for a person to cook underway. both are great boats.
Permits!
If I remember correctly the beam on the H 260 is over 8'6"......in most, if not all, states that requires a PERMIT to go over the road. And you need a permit for every state you go through, and they cost $$$. Also, there are restrictions which are, of course, different for every state. Things like: No movement on weekends/No movement after sunset. Etc. etc.....Personally I want nothing to do with all that. There are folks, including dealers, that will tell you "It's not a propblem as long as you keep it under 9'6".....tell that to the pro-bono lawyer for the family of nine at the other table who's 15 year old Yugo you creamed with your filthy rich bas^%$* yacht.......
If I remember correctly the beam on the H 260 is over 8'6"......in most, if not all, states that requires a PERMIT to go over the road. And you need a permit for every state you go through, and they cost $$$. Also, there are restrictions which are, of course, different for every state. Things like: No movement on weekends/No movement after sunset. Etc. etc.....Personally I want nothing to do with all that. There are folks, including dealers, that will tell you "It's not a propblem as long as you keep it under 9'6".....tell that to the pro-bono lawyer for the family of nine at the other table who's 15 year old Yugo you creamed with your filthy rich bas^%$* yacht.......
Permit! We don't need no stinkin'...
Link below has size limits for all US states. Many have an 8' limit but all federal highways are 8'6" regardless of state laws. If your boat is more than 8' wide, just make sure you have enough gas to make it across those short-sighted states without getting off the interstate. Boat widths: Catalina 250 8'6" (Not legal in 7 states and DC) Hunter 260 8'11.5" !!!(Legal only in Hawaii!) MacGregor 26M 7'9" (Legal anywhere) Enjoy, MArk
Link below has size limits for all US states. Many have an 8' limit but all federal highways are 8'6" regardless of state laws. If your boat is more than 8' wide, just make sure you have enough gas to make it across those short-sighted states without getting off the interstate. Boat widths: Catalina 250 8'6" (Not legal in 7 states and DC) Hunter 260 8'11.5" !!!(Legal only in Hawaii!) MacGregor 26M 7'9" (Legal anywhere) Enjoy, MArk
Hunter 260
I looked at the Catalina 250 first, then the 260 and never looked back. I owned a 260 for 2 years before moving to a 326. I miss the sailing speed and ability of the 260.
I looked at the Catalina 250 first, then the 260 and never looked back. I owned a 260 for 2 years before moving to a 326. I miss the sailing speed and ability of the 260.
thoughts
I looked real hard at the Catalina before I bought my Hunter 240. What scared me was trying to tow it and then trying to stop it, especially at highway speeds. The 240 tows great, not sure about the 260. At the recent boat show, they had the Hunters next to the Catalinas which made for good comparison. The Cat seemed to be less cluttered that the Hunter on the inside. The mast raising system for the Hunter is great. Had I bought a Cat I would have tried to jury rig a similar affair. If I had it to do over, I would look strongly at buying a used boat. They are reasonable in price and most are in good shape.
I looked real hard at the Catalina before I bought my Hunter 240. What scared me was trying to tow it and then trying to stop it, especially at highway speeds. The 240 tows great, not sure about the 260. At the recent boat show, they had the Hunters next to the Catalinas which made for good comparison. The Cat seemed to be less cluttered that the Hunter on the inside. The mast raising system for the Hunter is great. Had I bought a Cat I would have tried to jury rig a similar affair. If I had it to do over, I would look strongly at buying a used boat. They are reasonable in price and most are in good shape.
H260
I have sailed my H260 for 2 years now and I love it. I too looked at the Catalina 250 and opted for the bigger H260. I am glad I did, since I have spent alot of days and nights with family and friends on this boat and the extra room has made this much more enjoyable. The H260 feels like a larger boat. It sails excellent too, and I have had fun sailing with larger 30-34 ft boats and it holds its own. I have not trailered as I have kept it at a Marina, so this also figured in my decision.
I have sailed my H260 for 2 years now and I love it. I too looked at the Catalina 250 and opted for the bigger H260. I am glad I did, since I have spent alot of days and nights with family and friends on this boat and the extra room has made this much more enjoyable. The H260 feels like a larger boat. It sails excellent too, and I have had fun sailing with larger 30-34 ft boats and it holds its own. I have not trailered as I have kept it at a Marina, so this also figured in my decision.
- Status