1980 Catalina 25 - Hull#1698

So today I went and picked up another sailboat.  I drove to Ashville, AL to get it and I have to say it is beautiful over there.  Lot's of hills, rocky by-ways, and lush farms.  Anyhow, I located this Catalina 25 swing keel thanks to my buddies Todd and Spencer over at SailTrailers.com who happened to spot it on Craigslist.  The boat is a 1980 model with a tandem axle, hydrolic brake, trailer.  The rig was light enough that I was actually able to tow it 100+ miles with my Jeep Grand Cherokee (diesel - I wouldn't attempt it with a small liter gas motor). 

The boat needs work (that's where I come in) and a lot of cosmetic stuff like sanding down the bright work (teak) and refinishing.  The bulkheads also need to be replaced, but that is a job that can be done working steady on a Saturday afternoon.  After close inspection, the boat has a lot of potential.  Whoever sailed the boat before had it well outfitted and rigged with lots of goodies to make it easy for single handed sailing.  After tossing out two bags of trash, I found several stainless snap shackles (about $25 each) and some other valuable goodies, but mostly a bunch of crap that needed to go straight in the trash.  There is also a small refrigerator which is going to be removed as soon as I get up the nerve to wrestle it out.  I found a total of four sails, one of which was stuffed into the ankor locker.  Only two of the four sails are serviceable:  the mainsail and a 110 jib.  There was a 90% jib that was as thin as a sheet and looked like swiss cheese.  The other sail is a second mainsail from some other boat.  I'll probably sell it since it's too small for this boat and is a NorthSail.

I bought the boat with the motivation to clean it up and sell it - that is exactly what I'll do.  Then I'll do it again as I have like half a dozen times now.  Depending on how it goes, I may launch the boat but it won't be compulsory for me.  I would share picks of the interior, but I think it would just scare most of you.  For now, just know it is very roomy with a large V-birth and even larger galley area.  The boat could comfortably sleep four adults.   There is plenty of room under the starboard cockpit to also sleep another person.  It is a pop-top model, which means you can raise the top over the cabin and affix it to the mast, which would allow even a tall person ample head-room to stand below deck.

I'll be posting picks of progress on the restoration, which will not be a complete ground up job this time, so check back often to see how things progress.  You'll be amazed at what she looks like in just a few months.  If anyone is interested in purchasing the finished product, let me know or pass along to someone who wants a great boat.