Thinking of buying a Catalina 25

[Jon]

I am thinking of buying a 1980 Catalina 25 with a swing keel. The boat looks like it has been well taken care of. The boat is on a trailer so I can't check out how it sails. Is there anything I should pay particular attention to? The current owner has had it since 1993 and has never serviced the keel cable or bolts. Is the keel likely to be a problem it has only been used on freshwater. He wants $8400 which seems high. Thanks.

 

[Dave LaPere of Nature's Cradle]

Well Consider this

Hi,8,400.00 may seem high, but when you compare it to a new one I wouldn't think that that would be out of line.I paid close to 18,000.00 for my 22' MarkII memorial day last year.THe second comment I would make about the boat that if it has only been sailed in fresh water you stand a pretty good chance that it will not have the corosion factor salt water does.It's easy to check the keel bolts, and the bilge area. I would look for stress cracks at the mounting bracket for the o.b. motor and any other joint area.If you still aren't convinced the boat is worth that much , but you still can't live without it, thenget a survey done. A good surveyor can tell you within a few hundered dollars whether the price is right or not.They usually charge by the foot so it shouldn't be that much.Well hope this helps,Happy Sailing ,Dave LaPere

 

[F SONDERGAARD]

CAT 25

THE KEEL IS PROBABLY NOT A PROBLEM, BUT THE CABLE SHOULD BE CKECKED EVERY TWO YEARS. WE HAVE A 1982 CATALINA AND PAID OVER 7000 FOR THE BOAT AND 3000 FOR THE TRAILOR. CHECK FOR WATER LEAKS IN THE PORT LOCKER, THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE OURS LEAKED.GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Jon W.]

Buying C25

Funny, ours leaked in the port cockpit locker also. I can't comment on a swing keel model, ours was a fixed keel. Freshwater boats do hold up much better over time. If the boat has been out in the elements, check for water penetration in the deck. Ours had some soggy core material near the mast (where the electrical connector is), but anywhere hardware is bolted on could be suspect.We sold our 1984 for $7000 last year, but there was no trailer included. It was a great boat for us!

 

[Larry]

I love mine

I would sell my 1984 for 13,000 with trailer. It has a swing and I love the boat Good sailing I am 6'3" and we stay every week-end on the boat. I would recomend this boat to anyone get a newer one pay a bit more because you will have it for a long time. I do not trailer this boat but I can no problem