Does anyone have opinions on the Catalina 250 wing-keel?
Any issues with the balsa-reinforced cabin top?
How does she sail? Thanks for any info.

Does anyone have opinions on the Catalina 250 wing-keel?

Great for camping. If you want to sail buy a Merit 25 or an Olson 25.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
Trains are a winter sport

Does anyone have opinions on the Catalina 250 wing-keel?

Great for camping. If you want to sail buy a Merit 25 or an Olson 25.

Here's some advice you can actually use.
The Merit and Olson are fast race boats with a fine history, but lack the
Catalina's cruisable nature. They are also not suitable for safe and relaxed
family sailing, if that's what you're looking for. Consider that the Merit
rates much like a J24, while the Catalina clocks in with a slow rating of
around 240, far less performance, but a stiff and stable platform for family
daysailing and weekend cruising. The Olson and Merit have interiors that are
something less than inviting, but then cruising is not what they're about. That
said, people have taken long trips on even smaller boats.
There's nothing wrong with the 250, if it fits your needs. Ignore the negative
types who will try to tell you to buy the boat "they" like.
Good luck!

RB
C&C 32
NY

The Merit and Olson are fast race boats with a fine history, but lack the
Catalina's cruisable nature. They are also not suitable for safe and relaxed
family sailing, if that's what you're looking for.

Dipwad, not suitable for safe sailing? A Merit 25 has been safely sailed to
Hawaii singlehanded. I wouldn't try that on the Catalina. Check the numbers.
To the original poster I encourage you to look at the 3 boats. None of them
are designed for extended cruising but the Merit and Olson have fine "camping"
interiors every bit as servicable as the slug Catalina so why not buy the
better made and better sailing boat that will provide the most fun. Both the
Merit and Olson are dual purpose boats. The Catalina is a single purpose boat
and it ain't sailing.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
Trains are a winter sport

Dipwad, not suitable for safe sailing? A Merit 25 has been safely sailed to
Hawaii singlehanded. I wouldn't try that on the Catalina.

I said safe and relaxed for a family. A j24 wouldn't be a great idea either.
You don't know what you're talking about. You don't understand that not
everyone wants a racing boat, so you hand out the same dumb advice again and
again.
The Catalina 250 is a fine little cruising boat, FAR more comfortable for a
family.

RB

The Catalina is a single purpose boat
and it ain't sailing.

What an idiot.

RB

And here's another opinion, which agrees with mine. It also gives a good idea
of what the loco character deems important in a boat, which is not to be
ignored either taken with a grain of salt.

http://old.cruisingworld.com/ssbk/catabrem.htm

Good luck. Don't let blowhards like Loco tell you what kind of boat to sail, No
one can determine what's right for you except YOU.

RB

You don't understand that not
everyone wants a racing boat, so you hand out the same dumb advice again and
again.

You should take a look at the Olson 25 interior dipwad or maybe do a little
research by reading an old review. Everybody called it a dual purpose boat.
If you knew the boat you would know that the slug Catalina offers nothing over
the Olson or Merit. They all have basic accomadations. Does the Catalina
offer pressure water? no. Does the Catalina offer a marine head? no. Does the
Catalina offer an oven? no. Just what does the Catalina offer over the two
other better boats? Answer: nothing. In fact it offers less sail area, less
stability, less quality and less of anything else you could come up with. It's
not even as good looking as the Olson or Merit. Go away .... YOU KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT BOATS.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
Trains are a winter sport

You should take a look at the Olson 25 interior dipwad or maybe do a little
research by reading an old review.

Bwahahaha! It has maybe half the volume of the 250.
Not even close. Go buy a speedboat. You just don't get than not everyone wants
a "performance" boat. Some people just want to get their families on the water.
As we've learned, you generally sail alone.

RB

They all have basic accomadations. Does the Catalina
offer pressure water? no. Does the Catalina offer a marine head? no. Does the
Catalina offer an oven? no. Just what does the Catalina offer over the two
other better boats? Answer: nothing.

Good lord, Loco.
Most 250's have a marine head and it's enclosed! Pressure water...yup. (ANY
boat can have these!) A large cabin that's better than the Olson's coffin? Yup!
A pop-top cabin for more room for a family. Walk through transom...yup. A huge
cockpit with stern seats...yup. It's a FAMILY boat, Loco. Get it through that
raisin sized brain of yours.
Here's the 250 interior:
http://www.texassailor.com/c250bro99b.jpg
Now....here's what you claim has the SAME interior....
http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/0/8/5/2/1085203_2.jpg

Case closed!

Capt RB