The Catalina 250 Water Ballast and Trailer Cruising
These comments are written from the experience of owning a C250 for seven years and trailer cruising it now six times from Texas to the Great Lakes and once to Pensacola, Fl. It has now been over the road 18,000 miles and cruised 2,500 miles.
In the early '90s, I enjoyed a few cruising opportunities on the Great Lakes on a friends boat but he was selling it. At the time, I owned a C22 but felt it inadequate to handle some of the more open water of the Great Lakes. Its single axle trailer was also marginal to make the long hauls. The challenge was to find a boat large enough for reasonable cruising comfort but easily trailered. Quickly deciding on a 25 footer, I started looking around and asking questions.
The Catalina 25 was initially my prime candidate but an experienced sailor in Michigan had recommended against the swing keel version for open waters of the Great Lakes and a wing keel would require a heftier tow vehicle than I normally own and a more difficult launch. Two years went by and no boat decision was made. Then, the C250 was introduced and I was intrigued. Here was a 25 footer that was designed to make trailering easy.
Though I had hoped to find a used boat... the C250 water ballast seemed to be the right boat for my needs and after allowing some initial production, I ordered and took delivery of R&R in January of '96.
The C250 has proved itself very capable of trailer cruising. As designed, it is easily hauled, setup and launched from almost any ramp. It has proved to be capable of handling a wide variety of conditions including nasty. It lends itself well to many upgrades to enhance cruising comfort, ease and safety. It also makes a very easy to access camper while traveling to a distanct sailing location.
An area of concern to using an outboard-equipped boat has been prop spin out in rough conditions. The use of a motor well on the transom combined with an extra long shaft motor eliminates this problem. The open transom also mutes concern about scupper drainage.
After eight years of production, the stigma attached to water ballast has given way to the proof of its place in providing a trailer cruiser capable of easily getting to and comfortably and safely cruising nice waters.
Frank Butler (owner of Catalina Yachts) claims his goal is to provide the best boat for dollar cost available. I believe he has accomplished that for me.
Also good reading...my letter to Rik... Answers to Rik's query