I have just sold (unloaded) my 1997 Catalina 250. What a relief. I bought the boat last year after owning a Hunter 23.5 for a few months and deciding to move up to a larger boat. It was a huge disappointment. I regularly see on this site where people are asking about the choice betweeen a 23.5 or 240 Hunter versus the C-250. I thought it sailed like a tub. It had a bad case of weatherhelm and was very difficult to dock. Unlike my 23.5, the 250 cannot be steered with the motor. The shift lever on my Honda 8hp on the 250 was on the bottom starboard side of the boat. Looking down and back, while steering just with the rudder on an unresponsive boat made for some interesting attempts to get in the slip, at least for this inexperienced sailor. The other major item is the system for stepping the mast. Again, the Hunter wins hands down. It took two of us about an hour and a half to step the mast on the C-250. It has to be on the trailer and out of the water before the mast raising system on the trailer can be used. No comparison! For any of you out there who may be thinking of moving up and are considering this option. My advice is to be very careful, particularly about docking and stepping the mast. One final note, check out the battery location on the C-250. It's in a cave. John