My wife and I are getting ready to buy a sailboat. We want a boat that has: water ballast, can be trailered, and can be used for overnight stays. We have narrowed our search to either the Hunter 260 or the Catalina 250. What are the pros and cons of these two models. BTW, I have little sailing experience and need a boat that is easily sailed and can also be sailed singlehanded.
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Well ...
Can't really help with the Hunter but for information on the catalina look for responses here and also check out the link below. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Can't really help with the Hunter but for information on the catalina look for responses here and also check out the link below. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Done that!
I've been looking since October with the same objective. Budget wise, I've been looking at used. My conclusion is that the Hunter's extra 6 inch width and foot length make it really livable. Problem is that in many states that consitutes a wide load. In Iowa, it is only a $25 annual permit. I Checked on Missouri and theirs is $25 per quarter. Kind of depends on how far you plan to travel. I asked about trailering wide loads on the Hunter small boat forum. Four out of five said they didn't bother with permits and never were stopped. Check posts on that Hunter site for yourself.
I've been looking since October with the same objective. Budget wise, I've been looking at used. My conclusion is that the Hunter's extra 6 inch width and foot length make it really livable. Problem is that in many states that consitutes a wide load. In Iowa, it is only a $25 annual permit. I Checked on Missouri and theirs is $25 per quarter. Kind of depends on how far you plan to travel. I asked about trailering wide loads on the Hunter small boat forum. Four out of five said they didn't bother with permits and never were stopped. Check posts on that Hunter site for yourself.
Used
If you think of going that route, check with me. I know of a couple in your area. chocho41@aol.com
If you think of going that route, check with me. I know of a couple in your area. chocho41@aol.com
pros and cons,
Both are good boats , I have an h23 wing keel and the people at Hunter have been great to me when I need something , even if it is something they may not have , they always return my calls promptly and have made me a Hunter Fan , said it before, , I will never by a new sail boat, let some one else take the hit and install all of the extras that all owners, do , so thats my vote for hunter, I have never heard any serious complaints, which boat (talks ) to you when you walk around it ?? good luck Mike B
Both are good boats , I have an h23 wing keel and the people at Hunter have been great to me when I need something , even if it is something they may not have , they always return my calls promptly and have made me a Hunter Fan , said it before, , I will never by a new sail boat, let some one else take the hit and install all of the extras that all owners, do , so thats my vote for hunter, I have never heard any serious complaints, which boat (talks ) to you when you walk around it ?? good luck Mike B
Owner reviews of both on this site
You have to go out to the home page of this site (sailboatowners.com) Then you can access the Catalina owner's section, find the 25/250, and read the reviews. Same for Hunter. I own a 1995 Hunter 26, and although the boats have a nearly identical layout, the Hunter feels a lot bigger inside than you'd expect from just the extra foot in length. I don't know how they compare performance-wise.
You have to go out to the home page of this site (sailboatowners.com) Then you can access the Catalina owner's section, find the 25/250, and read the reviews. Same for Hunter. I own a 1995 Hunter 26, and although the boats have a nearly identical layout, the Hunter feels a lot bigger inside than you'd expect from just the extra foot in length. I don't know how they compare performance-wise.
Go with the one you like best
You should go with the one you like best. Both companies are still in business which is great for support. Plus both have very active (and vocal) owners' groups! LaDonna
You should go with the one you like best. Both companies are still in business which is great for support. Plus both have very active (and vocal) owners' groups! LaDonna
Brian, We looked hard at both models you are
looking at. We also sailed both. They sail about the same but the Hunter had more and better equipment. The Hunter had about 1 to 1 1/2 higher headroom in the cabin and with both of us at 5' 7" that made a difference as we could stand up in the Hunter. The water ballast tank is much better to work with in the Hunter. No running forward. The Hunter aft cabin was the real selling point with us as we liked that set up better. Also the head. The H26 also had a 2 burner stove and better laid out galley. The dislike on the Hunter was the large cabin table and I took 16 inches off the end and re-radiused it. What a wonderful improvement and you don't loose anything other than unused table space. Try it... you'll buy it... Hunter...Hunter...Hunter...YEA. Ray S/V Speedy Contact us by E-mail on this site if you'd like to talk more. I've got both brochere's in front of me.
looking at. We also sailed both. They sail about the same but the Hunter had more and better equipment. The Hunter had about 1 to 1 1/2 higher headroom in the cabin and with both of us at 5' 7" that made a difference as we could stand up in the Hunter. The water ballast tank is much better to work with in the Hunter. No running forward. The Hunter aft cabin was the real selling point with us as we liked that set up better. Also the head. The H26 also had a 2 burner stove and better laid out galley. The dislike on the Hunter was the large cabin table and I took 16 inches off the end and re-radiused it. What a wonderful improvement and you don't loose anything other than unused table space. Try it... you'll buy it... Hunter...Hunter...Hunter...YEA. Ray S/V Speedy Contact us by E-mail on this site if you'd like to talk more. I've got both brochere's in front of me.
for me the difference is in the mast raising
Unless I am mistaken, raising the mast on the Catalina requires the device on the front of the trailer. With my Hunter I can launch the boat first and raise the mast once I am in a slip. I can also lower the mast at the slip, where it is cooler and less crowed and then put it on the trailer. I liked features of both boats but the mast raising issue clinched it for me
Unless I am mistaken, raising the mast on the Catalina requires the device on the front of the trailer. With my Hunter I can launch the boat first and raise the mast once I am in a slip. I can also lower the mast at the slip, where it is cooler and less crowed and then put it on the trailer. I liked features of both boats but the mast raising issue clinched it for me
One choice
I have owned a Catalina 250 and it was a very poor performing boat. If you are planning to trailer it, you are in for a real chore trying to step the mast on this boat. Also, I was never able to get the darn thing into a slip without 4-5 attempts. It was like sailing with an anchor out. In short, I am boatless now because of my extreme distaste for this boat. It looks good, but you will regret buying one - based on my experience. You will find another, similar opinion plus some of my other posts on this subject in the archives. The new Sail magazine that came this week has a story about someone trailering a C-250, and how the other boaters were upset about how long it took to get the boat out of the water. I recognized every negative item. John
I have owned a Catalina 250 and it was a very poor performing boat. If you are planning to trailer it, you are in for a real chore trying to step the mast on this boat. Also, I was never able to get the darn thing into a slip without 4-5 attempts. It was like sailing with an anchor out. In short, I am boatless now because of my extreme distaste for this boat. It looks good, but you will regret buying one - based on my experience. You will find another, similar opinion plus some of my other posts on this subject in the archives. The new Sail magazine that came this week has a story about someone trailering a C-250, and how the other boaters were upset about how long it took to get the boat out of the water. I recognized every negative item. John
Another take . . .
Brian, I think you will be quite pleased with a Catalina 250 (water-ballast model). I wish John would have been more specific about his perception that the C250 is a "very poor performing boat." I have found it to be otherwise. It performs very well at about 15 degrees of heel. Anything 30 degrees or higher reduces performance. It is designed (like the Hunter 260) to be sailed more upright. It sails quick in light winds; I've sailed in up to 25 knots sustained with one reef. Two reefs may have been more comfortable. Unlike the wing keel model, you can rake the centerboard to reduce weatherhelm in stronger winds. This technique is very effective. Some complain about the unbalanced beaching rudder. You can make adjustments to balance it which makes a tremendous amount of difference in help pressure. The newer models come with a balanced rudder. John also mentions that the C250 owners in a recent SAIL magazine article had to deal with other boaters who "were upset about how long it took to get the boat out of the water." This had everything to do with the low lake levels in Lake Mead . . . not any flaw with the C250 (read the article!!!). Also, they were probably powerboaters not very patient with sailboat launching. You might note that the author of that story is Herb Payson. He and his wife are long-term contributors to SAIL magazine and recently bought their C250 to trailer-sail the US. I've read many of Herb's books. I think it is a testament to the C250 that Herb and Nancy Payson would purchase this model given their many years sailing aboard their 36' ketch "Sea Foam" and their 34' Crealock "Red Shoes". Herb made no mention of any difficulty stepping the mast . . . and he is 74 years old! Finally, I have never had a problem leaving or entering my wetslip. If John has difficulty with the C250, he might want to try the Hunter 260 which has considerably more freeboard. If you want to read a good story or two about a C250 that has cruised Lake Huron and beyond (including a 90 mile crossing from Michigan to Manitoulin Island), visit this link and scroll down the the "Adventures" section (see the story entitled "Halo Around the Sacred Isle"): http://www.catalina25-250.org/cruise.htm
Brian, I think you will be quite pleased with a Catalina 250 (water-ballast model). I wish John would have been more specific about his perception that the C250 is a "very poor performing boat." I have found it to be otherwise. It performs very well at about 15 degrees of heel. Anything 30 degrees or higher reduces performance. It is designed (like the Hunter 260) to be sailed more upright. It sails quick in light winds; I've sailed in up to 25 knots sustained with one reef. Two reefs may have been more comfortable. Unlike the wing keel model, you can rake the centerboard to reduce weatherhelm in stronger winds. This technique is very effective. Some complain about the unbalanced beaching rudder. You can make adjustments to balance it which makes a tremendous amount of difference in help pressure. The newer models come with a balanced rudder. John also mentions that the C250 owners in a recent SAIL magazine article had to deal with other boaters who "were upset about how long it took to get the boat out of the water." This had everything to do with the low lake levels in Lake Mead . . . not any flaw with the C250 (read the article!!!). Also, they were probably powerboaters not very patient with sailboat launching. You might note that the author of that story is Herb Payson. He and his wife are long-term contributors to SAIL magazine and recently bought their C250 to trailer-sail the US. I've read many of Herb's books. I think it is a testament to the C250 that Herb and Nancy Payson would purchase this model given their many years sailing aboard their 36' ketch "Sea Foam" and their 34' Crealock "Red Shoes". Herb made no mention of any difficulty stepping the mast . . . and he is 74 years old! Finally, I have never had a problem leaving or entering my wetslip. If John has difficulty with the C250, he might want to try the Hunter 260 which has considerably more freeboard. If you want to read a good story or two about a C250 that has cruised Lake Huron and beyond (including a 90 mile crossing from Michigan to Manitoulin Island), visit this link and scroll down the the "Adventures" section (see the story entitled "Halo Around the Sacred Isle"): http://www.catalina25-250.org/cruise.htm
Got to agree with Mark
I didn't realize Herb was now sailing a C250. That is quite a testimonial, indeed! The man's done some very serious sailing, not to mention some a great deal of writing and education!
I didn't realize Herb was now sailing a C250. That is quite a testimonial, indeed! The man's done some very serious sailing, not to mention some a great deal of writing and education!
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