types of keels

[Guest]

i am wanting to buy a 25 catalina that is trailerable.what i need to know are the different types of retractable keels and if they are all water balasted.i talked to an owner of an 81 swing keel and he said that it didn' have water ballast.thanks

 

[Jon W.]

C25 trailering

The earliest model Catalina 25's, built before 1982 or 1983 were offered with fixed or retractable keels. Some early fixed keels and all retractable keels are iron. A retractable keel continued to be an option throughout. In about 1984, some minor changes were made to the deck and cockpit. A wing keel option was added in about 1986. In about 1988 considerable changes were made to the interior floor, cockpit and deck. Production slowly wound down until 1994 when a completely redesigned model came out, with water ballast. This was designated the Catalina 250. This design offered reduced trailering weight.More information can be found on the C25/C250 website at www.catalina25-250.org/ Jon W.

 

[Gary Bruner]

Swing keels

Jon: The older Catalina 25's have a weighted, iron keel that pivots up and down (winched with a cable). That was the program up through at least most of the 1980's. I am not sure when Catalina redesigned to a water ballast system, perhaps as late as the 1990's. Check out the Catalina 25 owner's group on another website; there's a host of info. on water ballast versus weighted keels. Personally, my boat trailers just fine. I wouldn't have a water ballast system; I want to keep water OUT of my boat! Gary Bruner (molika@teleport.com)