We're Selling JD our Catalina 250 Water Ballast

Retirement is approaching and we want to sail further than we can take JD.

Sweet/Sour moment.

We have really enjoyed the almost 10 years of owning and using JD, we have sailed her on many 3,5 even 10 day cruises. Sailed to Bimini, the Florida Keys, Trailed and sailed her in Pensacola and Cocoa Beach.

And of course, we have made so many modifications. Everything from Built in Air Conditioning, Digital Flat Screen TV, Garmin GPS, and the list goes on.

So, here's the sale info.

CATALINA 250 WATER BALLAST FOR SALE 2005 LOADED. WITH TRAILER ASKING $18,500

CATALINA 250 (WATER BALLLAST)


YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 2005

LOCATION: MARGATE FLORIDA 33063

Contact PAUL ALCOCK, BRITINUSAG1 at GMAIL dot COM

TELEPHONE #:954-736-7114


2005 CATALINA 250 WATER BALLAST LOADED.STANDARD FEATURES PLUS


Sails:
- 110% Furling GIB. Good
- 150 Furling GIB Fair
- 2 REEF MAIN Good
- Riding Sail (Sailright Patterned)
- Asymetrical Spinnaker - Fair - Chute Good, home made Tack Collar on Furled Jib stay

Deck:
- 2 Lewmar Single Speed Self tailing Winches on Cabin Top
- 2 Double Line Organizers located Port & Stbd Cabin Top
- Twin Line Stoppers(total of 4) on each side of Cabin Top (Main Halyard, Vang, Reef Downhaul, Reef Outhaul)
- Furling line cleat Port side
- Spinnaker Tack Block on Pulpit, then aft to Port Side Winch
- Spinnaker Sheet Blocks on Port & Stbd Catbird Seat Rails then to captured cam cleats on combings.
- Bow & Stern Nav Lights
- Mast Steaming Light and Deck Light (new 2015)
- Single Lifelines with Pelican hooks each side of cabin for easy opening.


Spars & Rigging:
- Standard Mast & Boom
- Boom Kicker & Vang
- In Boom Main outhaul & Topping lift
- Additional cleats on Mast (port & stbd)
- Lazy Jacks
- Flag Halyards Port & Stbd on the Spreaders
- Mast Raising Strap
- Stainless Steel stern Mast Support (removable) on dedicated pintals

Keel:
- Water Ballast Tank
- Swing Keel with modified lifting tackle

Running Rigging:
- Jib Sheets with track and cars inline with Shrouds
- Main sheet in Cockpit
- Spinnaker Sheets
- Spinnaker Tack line

Cockpit:
- Wheel Steering (Includes Arlyn's Wire Steering Upgrade)
- Stainless Pedestal Guard
- Ritchie Compass on Binacle
- Catbird Seats
- Outboard fuel tank locker aft of helm
- Manual Bilge Pump (port side)
- Stainless swing down swim ladder
- Inclinometer on stbd side cabin aft bulkhead.
- Extra Stainless Steel Handhold by Swim Ladder
- White Vinyl covered cushions (5) Port & Stbd cockpit seats, Port & Stbd Cat bird Seats, Fuel locker top

Electrical
- 12v Distribution Panel with Circuit Breaker(standard)
- Garmin 562 GPS Chart plotter built in antenna
- VHF with Masthead Antenna with DSC & GPS interconnect & MMSI (transferrable via Boat US)
- Raymarine ST40 Wind display system - Display on Cabin outside bulkhead, Transducer at Mast head.
- Raymarine ST40 Depth/Speed/Water Temp Display at helm (Speed Transducer replaced new April 2015)
- Subaru 1700 Watt Generator (sits on Fuel Locker undersale, by swim ladder at anchor when needed)
- Marine Cabin Stereo in Cabin with Stereo speakers beneath Cabin table.
- 400Watt Invertor (Stbd Side forward of galley)
- Dual USB outlets (Stbd Side forward of galley)
- 2 - 12V DC outlet (Stbd Side forward of galley & below Power Distribution Panel)
- Dual Battery 110V smart charger
- 110V Shore power connector (Stbd side below Catbird seat)
- 110V Shore power pigtail (boat to Generator)
- 110V Shore power cable (boat to shore)
- 110V Blue Sea Main Breaker Switch (aft head bulkhead)
- 110V Sub Switch panel (aft head bulkhead - 3rd switch is spare)
- 110V CFGI Power outlet beneath Battery Charger on Quarter Berth Aft Bulkhead.
- 2 x 75 AH Wet Cell Batteries in Trunk behind Aft Berth
- Batteries have remote cell water top up system installed (top up without removing batteries)
- Cabin lights (Most lights have been swapped out with LED's)
- 19in Flat Screen TV on Swivel Mount(2014) on Forward face of Head Bulkhead, with Remote
- Pole mounted Unidirectional TV Antenna(2015) on port side catbird seat.
- 50W Solar Panel Stbd Side Catbird seat on directional swivel can point 360 horizontal, 135 vertical
- 15Amp Solar Panel Control Unit
- Off/1/Both/2 Battery control switch inside Stbd Cockpit Locker
- INSTALLED CABIN AIR CONDITIONING. (on shelf aft of head in quarterberth)
- 12V power wash pump below Galley cupboard - shower hose connection port side gunwhale.
- 110V/12V Dometic Cooler style Fridge Freezer Stbd Side aft of Galley
- 12V LP Air pump (Empty Ballast while on the water)


Galley:
- Single Burner Butane Cooker top with piezo start & flame protect
- Stainless Sink with manual whale pump fawcet.
- Cup and Plate rack built into back of Gallery counter
- Cutlery Draw beneath Cooker top with spring restrainer.
- Didi Draw aft end of Cooker top below counter
- Galley cupboard below Sink with two shelves inside
- Galley storage area beneath cutlery draw (can hold additional cooler if required)

Engine:
- 2007 NISSAN 9.8HP OUTBOARD.
- Detachable Hard Link to Rudder

Cabin:
- Custom drop leaf table - lowers to extend V-Berth
- Blue Catalina Cushions on V-Berth, Port & Stbd Settee, and Settee Backrests(3)
- 3 Steps ladder from Cockpit
- Water Ballast valve access under lower step of ladder
- Pop-Top support bar mounting below Companion way
- Pop-Top Curtains for privacy/sunshade when needed
- Magazine Rack on port side behind TV
- Companionway shutter mounted on raised supports port side of ladder
- 5Gallon Porta-Potti head
- Built in sink in Head
- Whale water fawcet in head
- Hanging storage locker aft head bulkhead
- V-Berth storage cover has Hinged mod to allow easier access
- Port & Stbd Settees with Storage below
- Aft Berth

Tanks:
- 17Gallon Solid Plastic water tank below aft end of V-Berth
- 26Gallon Flexi water tank below V-Berth
- 3.5Gallon Solid Plastic Fuel tank in fuel locker in Cockpit

Canvas:
- Blue Sunbrella Bimini on Stainless tubing (2013)
- Black mesh Sunshade zips into aft end of Bimini (2013)
- Blue Sunbrella Boom Tent (2013) zips into fwd end of Bimini covers Pop Top
- Original Pop Top Cover with clear windows and bug screens
- Line bags on Port and Stbd aft Cabin Bulkheads below winches
- Blue Sunbrella Binnacle Cover (covers GPS, Pod & Compass)
- Blue Sunbrella winch covers (2)

Trailer:
- Sailking Trailer
- New Axles 2013
- New Disc Brakes (all wheels) 2013
- New Suspension (2013)
- Most lights replaced with LEDs
- Trailer to Truck 7 pin round connector
- High Trailer guides posts
- Mast Raising Post on Trailer Tongue
- Mast raising post ladder
- Extra Length Trailer Extension tube (slides below fixed trailer tongue)

We have used JD (Joint Decision) to sail locally in Biscayne Bay mostly on 3 to 5 day adventures, also sailed her to Bimini (52miles), Outside down to the keys and inside back to Biscayne Bay on a 10 day cruise.
Our tow vehicle is a Ford F150 Super Cab which manages towing without any issues. (Truck not included but make me an offer :)
We have trailed JD to Pensacola for a 5 day cruise, to Cocoa Beach for a 4 day cruise. But most of our sailing has been in Biscayne Bay launching from Black Point Marina.
Launching JD is easy, takes a while to get her rigged. I'm 66 and in good shape, so I have no problems getting the boat prepped for launch or retrieving the boat for the tow home.

I'm retiring in November 2015 and we want to go cruising to the Islands an up to Maine, we need a bigger boat.

If you are interested in being the next owner of our 2005 Catalina 250 Water Ballast, then please contact me.

Paul Alcock
Brit in usa g 1 at gmail dot com

Or you can call me on my cell phone: Nine Five Four hypen Seven Three Siz hypen Seven One One Four

I'll post a bunch of pics shortly.

Paul

Pics

What time is it?

Really! What time is it?

I may have a thing about Watches. They don't last very long for me, I'm tough on them. 

The bands break, the batteries fail, the winders snap or won't screw back in after making an adjustment.

So I started searching the web for a new watch, mind you! The one I have is not broken. Ok, so the strap broke after a year and I got a new strap from the local flea market (because I was there) for just $10. I could have bought a new watch at the same stall for that same $10.00 (with the new strap!)

Anyway, I have certain criteria for my new watch when I find it.

It must show the time, and pretty accurately. I intend to learn how to use a sextant as part of my Sailing Navigation skills, and that requires an accurate timepiece. It's no good having a watch but not know where you are because it lies.

The strap has to be water proof. Ok, so the watch has to be water proof too, but the straps are not normally marked as being waterproof. Have you ever had your watch band leak goo when it got damp? Well, Leather watch bands tend to do that. At least for me that has happened, I assumed the strap was REAL leather.

It has to be comfortable. It's not a weapon, I don't need it to have sharp edges just in case I'm stuck in a jungle and need to carve a dug-out canoe using my watch. And I don't want giant buttons that dig into my wrist or snag on my sailing gloves. So keep it smooth.

And, probably most importantly, the display has to be easy to read. My glasses may be encrusted in very cool looking salt from the spray over the bow of our sail boat as we beat to windward in some heavy seas. Arrrrh!

Then there is the night time thing. When I go below and need to sleep, I take my specs off. Now, I'm not blind without them, but trying to figure out if the watch is displaying ten after eleven (2310) or ten to two (0150)  in a dimly red lit cabin without my glasses... PAIN!

So my new watch will have a large digital display on a flat easily wiped clean surface, waterproof case and strap, no sharp edges, easy battery replacement (I plan on being away from home for weeks on end so need to have a spare battery just in case)

Still haven't found it!

Paul

Labor Day 2014

Labor Day 2014

We just don't get out on JD enough! I'm committed to work and Admiral Pegs is committed (very happily) to helping care for our granddaughter KT. So we just don't get out enough!

But when we do get JD on the water, we try to make up for it. Sailing has a high priority, safety is right up there too. So we tend to be the oddities out there. Sadly, most boaters on Biscayne Bay don't even have the correct safety equipment, including Life preservers, onboard, let alone use it. We tend to stand out because, as we come into the anchorages, other boaters will see we're wearing our auto inflate life preservers and they stay on until the anchor is secure and the boat is not moving (much :)

The trip this weekend included a self imposed challenge. We have owned JD for over 9 years since new, and we only have 2 pics of JD under sail and both of those were taken during the BEER cruise in Pensacola. So this weekend I set to get some 'Selfies' of JD under sail.

This is one of my favorite photos from the weekend. The weather had eased up enough to make sailing a pleasure, the skies were just cloudy enough to make them a great back drop. The water was crystal clear with a green tinge from the Bay floor and, most importantly, JD was carving it up with Admiral Pegs at the helm (note that JD is heeling ever so slightly!)

A great pic to start September's Sail!




This Labor Day weekend seemed a lot different from the past many years. As recently reported, there have been too many fatalities in the Bay, mostly up around Miami. So this weekend, it was very well reported that the Authorities would be on the water helping to keep drunken skippers under control. From our vantage point, they succeeded. Elliot Key Harbor was virtually empty, normally it would be packed over Labor Day Weekend, especially after the considerable rebuild that took place after the last Hurricane damage that closed the harbor for about a year! And the boats anchored off the North end of Elliott Key were at an all time low! I doubt there were 50 vessels in sight.

The good news is that we did not hear of any horrific boating incidents the entire weekend. Keep up the good work guys!

We had the chance to anchor with a small sailing fleet out of Dinner Key, there were 6 sailboats and one power boat. All really good people and we were invited aboard for sundowners. We got to see some great pics of their boats. I took several pics of them during the afternoon and the following morning after we had sailed up to Sand Key and back.

We dragged anchor and had a close encounter with the power boat, but no harm no foul. Glad that the owners were decent people and they helped us free JD which was stuck on their anchor line between our rudder and our center board/swing keel.

Sadly all good things must come to an end, but that only moves us closer to our next trip. We anchored off Elliott Key, just to the north of the harbor, over night. And before Dawn we had our Cereal and Yogurt breakfast with some hot coffee, then it was up anchor and motor with our Running lights till Dawn, getting back to the Marina before 8am. Sure is good to get the boat prepped for trailing home before the heat is turned up.

Back home safe and sound. Over the next few days we power washed the boat, flushed the Outboard engine, emptied the porta potti, and pulled all of the food, drinks and linens off the boat. Of course, I have a list a yard long of things to do on JD, including replacing the mast lighting electrical connector, fixing the cracked stern light lens, fixing a couple of fiberglass dings that we found (they appear in the gel coat almost by magic.) and fixing the rudder hard link that got bent.

But we did get some great pics - check them out here

Keep sailing!

Paul

I celebrate the 4th too!

Having lived in the USA since 1988 emigrating from the UK after 25 years in the British Navy (The Royal Navy) I celebrate the 4th with my family here in Florida.

Of course, as we own a sailboat, we try to get out on her for a long weekend during the 4th of July. It's well into the annual Hurricane season, but 4 days out on the boat are worth the risk.

This year (2014) we headed down to Biscayne Bay after dark on Wednesday July 2nd, arriving at Black Point Marina at 2315 (those of you reading this with a military background will appreciate the 24 hour time format here ;) We slept aboard JD intent on getting the boat ready to launch with an early start at 0600.

By 0600, trucks were pulling into the Marina with their boats trailing behind them. They may have been surprised to see a sail boat in the staging area so early. Breakfast on board and then a couple of hours work on JD and she's ready to take to the ramps.

We're out of the channel by 10am in stormy looking weather. By the time we had cleared the shallows surrounding the Bay, both sails were bent on and we were ready to sail. But the stormy conditions were building and we decided to motor further south and hope for better weather.

Lunch time, so we dropped the hook off of Elliott key for a lazy break. Big surprise, not many boats around! I expected hundreds, barely a dozen in sight! Are they not celebrating ... .oh! it's us! We're a day early ... Woohoooo! A really nice sail after lunch is cut short by quickly rising winds, not going to get better, so time to head up to the anchorage on the north side of Sand Key.

By dawn there were four boats anchored off the key, a couple of Catamarans and a power boat. Nice! didn't even realize the power boat was there till we looked around after dawn. It's a very nice anchorage, providing shelter from winds from the East veering around to the South. Cooked breakfast of Eggs, Corned beef hash, tomatoes, and toast and of course, a cup of fresh hot coffee to get the day going.

Determined to get in some sailing today, we motored south west to the south of the Feather Banks looking for wind. There wasn't much, but enough to fill the Spinnaker. So we decided to fly the Asym over towards Homestead (Turkey Point Power Station) then tack over to Billy's Point. We hit 5.2 knots under our golden Asym spinnaker, felt good to get the boat doing what it is supposed to do! Then a couple of hours tacking with the 110 jib south east to Billy's point. The wind dropped down and coming directly from our destination we motored the last mile south east and dropped anchor off the point.

Still not many boats around, several family's were bobbing around astern of their anchored power boats in about 4+ feet of water. Everyone was having a good time. But it's the 4th! Miami is about 20 miles north of us, too far to enjoy the fireworks, so after a couple of Totts of Rum we turned down for the night. Our handheld GPS setup as anchor alert.

During the night we tried out our new Mosquito repellent lamp unit. Worked well but smelly. At least I thought it was the lamp that was smelly~! NOT! A power boat east of us was running a genny all night long. At dawn, we noticed a slick stretching back to the stern of their boat! Diesel! We reported it to the Florida wildlife patrol down at Elliot key. Later we heard the Coast guard was checking it out. Phew, as well as the environmental impact!

After our visit to Elliott key to report the diesel spill, we decided to practice sailing from an anchorage. That went really well! Hoisted the main before pulling the anchor. Once free, Peggy turned the boat and I unfurled the jib. We were soon moving 180 from our point of anchor heading north east in a light wind on our stern.

We sailed up towards Sands Key for our anchorage overnight before heading back to the marina in the morning. Of course, there are lots of boats around now! Party boats everywhere and all of them seemed to be pumping out the stereo amps. We anchored further from the shore hoping to be away from the noise. Didn't work :( Perhaps it would quieten down after dinner. Nope! Perhaps after we turn in for the night.. Nope! Perhaps after the midnight hour ... Nope! This is getting silly! We had our alarm set for 4am to beat the heat.. Did they turn the volume down at 4am? Nope! 5am! YEAH!

So, and here's the point of my rant (sorry, not really!)

If you take your power boat out across the bay for a PARTY, especially on the 4th of July weekend! Go for it! But... by midnight you have probably told your life story to everyone on the boat. Probably tried to talk the panties off every girl on the boat. Eaten every hot dog, beef burger, pizza, steak, and every bag of chips and dip. You have probably drunk every bottle of cerveza, even every tott of rum (my fav) and smoked every cigar on the boat and perhaps shared all of the exotic drugs that made your trip worthwhile.... BUT why the heck did you have to keep your damned super amped stereo revved up till 5am! Come on, you are not the only folks around and we don't all appreciate your taste in music.

So at dawn we hoisted anchor and headed back to black point marina to get the boat on the trailer and head for home.

Then it was all put in perspective. We had a great weekend on the boat, got some great sailing, and got home safely. While up at the north end of the bay the power boater lunes were being stupid and we all know what happens when stupid power boat owners rush to the dock after the 4th of July fireworks. And sadly, again, more people were killed during a multi power boat accident!

We all celebrate the 4th, but lets not allow it to be our last celebration. We feel for the families of those killed this weekend. So stupid, so needless, and sadly so predictable.

Let's be a bit more considerate of each other next year!

Sail - it's the safer way to be there.

Link to the NBC News Miami


Paul

Looking past Issac

Hoping that the remnants of Issac are past us and that his little sister goes elsewhere, we're planning on our trip to the Bay next weekend.

Peggy has been charged with taking plenty of pics so that we can add an album to our Gallery at the Catalina -Capri-25s Association website.

Here's a link to one of our recent albums.

Here's a link to the Association Gallery

Vacation 2012

Short vacation this year. Headed to our favorite venue, Biscayne Bay.
We'll try to keep this updated during our breaks.
Here's a link to our Spot (if it's turned on :)

Hopefully lots of pics.

Anniversary Sail.

24 Years - Phew!

We survived 24 years together (Peggy & I, we have only owned JD for 7 years ;0)

So this weekend we planned to be trailing JD to Black Point Marina on Biscayne Bay by crack of dawn Friday. But ... Chloe, our 75lb 14 year old German shepherd was demanding attention, she deserves it, and our daughter Pam was stuck in Georgia for an extra day. So re-plan, leave pre dawn Saturday. Just as well, we were not ready for a dawn departure Friday anyway. Maybe flexibility is the reason for making it to 24!

Easy drive down to BPM. and no snags as we prepared JD to launch. It takes between 90 mins and 2 hours to get everything ready. The grumpy weather suggested that we rig everything before the launch, rather than my normal procedure of  bending on the sails as we take the 25 minute channel out of BPM. Another good idea that day. The winds were up in the low to mid 20s from the East. The Bay had white caps and, before we got to our anchorage, there were streaks of white foam flying towards our port bow. Regular salt sprays over the deck had us both wearing foul weather jackets. We arrived at the anchorage where there were about a hundred power boats, only two other sail boats, it was Mother's Day Weekend. No sailing today.

Things Break

The wind indicator display failed as we headed to our anchorage, started chirping to us in what seemed morse code, I planned to take a look at the deck connections in the morning. We only recently had the entire system serviced by Raymarine, something's up with it. It's all magic, so I'll re-inspect the deck connection.

Our new Dometic Freezer works great! Sucks power big time, drawing around 4amps when set to stay at -2degrees C. Have to get a bigger solar panel! We flashed up the Generator so that we could have the AC running, and charge the batteries at the same time.

Dinner was to be Lasagna. In the weeks leading up to our sailing date, I always cook extra and Freeze a few meals. This trip I brought with us Lasagna, Shepherds Pie, Baked Chicken, & Chillie. So the planning was good. But then the Seaward Princess Stove failed! The gas flow stopped almost instantly. So I checked the seal where the can engages with the pressure control system, that was ok. Took the pressure control system apart looking for blockages, nothing there. Removed the stove from it's housing in the counter top and inspected for any other issues. 

The only thing I can think of is a stuck Flame out preventor. It looks like there is some kind of thermo coupler that turns the gas off if the flame goes out. I'm guessing it's stuck. Will have to call Seaward after trip.

So, how to cook dinner without the stove! I purchased a new Magma Grill from West Marine a few weeks ago, and we checked that it would mount to the stern rail. But how to cook Lasagna on a Grill? 

I put a skillet with the Lasagna on the grill, but could not close the lid as handle would burn. Nasty plastic skillet handle. I was able to shield the grill from the high winds using a bath towel, Peggy holding one side, me the other. It took ages to heat the meal.

Sunday Morning

Tried to perk some coffee on the Grill, that's not going to happen! But was able to fry up some corned beef hash, and Eggs. No Coffee!!!

Let's go sailing! We raised the anchors ( I had put out two to handle the high winds overnight). Turned to the   Northwest, once in deep water, we turned into wind, raised the Main with one reef, then turned off the wind and unfurled about 50% of the jib. 

Heading towards the Feather Banks channel, we hit 6 knots several times even reefed, and the boat was sailing pretty level most of the time. It was a great ride to the channel, and we were able to continue sailing though the short channel with the wind just off the stbd beam. Beautiful day to be sailing.

I had thought of sailing up to Coral Gables Yacht club, but re-thunk that one. It's Mother's day, so there will likely be a lot of families celebrating, not really the time for 'guests', we'll head that way another day. So we turned back south and headed back for the channel.

The wind had really not dropped much, but without the wind display we had to guess. Anyway, we were able to tack to the East and back to the Sands key Anchorage. Only a couple of sail boats there now, I guess they all headed home to take Mom out to Dinner. A couple of hours sailing and we joined the other boats with the prospect of lower winds overnight. Upon anchoring, a quick dip in the 'just too cool' water to freshen up, followed by a rinse down.

Some as%$^*^&(le creamed though the anchorage at very high speed, tossed the boat around and I clambered up to see what the heck was happening. His prop wash was only 20 feet from our port side and he passed over our anchor line! He was fortunate that he did not pick up the line! He was not so fortunate when the blue and red lights started flashing and pulled him over! He got to enjoy a full on the water inspection, and got at least one ticket and spent nearly 40 minutes along side the patrol boat. Way to go guys! Glad to see you are there when we need you. 

Dinner tonight was Shepherds pie on the grill. This time I put the meal onto some cooking foil rather than heat up the skillet. Cooked great in a fraction of the time. Looks like we're ok for meals.

TV columbo, then hit the sack.

Breakfast was another challenge, but the aluminum foil process worked a charm. Eggs, Corned Beef Hash, Tomatoes. Still no coffee! (that's 2 days without java!)

The forecast is looking bleak, storms headed our way late Monday/Tuesday. re-plan. We'll head back today but for a change, we'll sail back to BPM, great chance to fly the Asym.

Peggy took this pic just after I hoisted the sail. Looks like a dobie hitch at the tack.

The chute scoop control line is hanging down loose too!

Finally, got the lines sorted out. Added a sail tie as a Tacker, raising the tack to level with the clew, and she Flew! Even in the much lighter winds today, we hit 5.5knots. Made all of the work getting here worthwhile. We should have got the Asym years ago! It's Awesome! 

We were able to sail under the Asym to within a quarter mile of the BPM channel entrance. What a great sail today. Boat is covered with Salt from the Spray, so we'll have some heavy cleanup to do. But this is why  we do all it takes to make these trips possible. It would be great to be able to go out every weekend, but once a month will suffice till we win the lottery.