We've been sailing our Catalina 25 for the past 5 years - longest trip has been a 3 week sail into Lake Ontario from Cornwall, Ontario last September. We managed to take advantage of some good winds due to the hurricanes and tropical storms that eventually end up North - it made for some interesting sailing experiences on Lake Ontario.
We've now decided - it's time to let someone else take over the Fat Cat - and take the next step towards a bigger boat - maybe blue water friendly - we're not sure. We've got a few weeks off - and are taking a gander at a few boats along Lake Champlain that are up for sail. One of them has got us interested - as it's much like our Catalina 25 - but has more headroom - and is 5 feet longer. It's a Pearson 303! Crossing our fingers that the survey comes out good.
UPDATE: The Fat Cat departed to a new port of call today. On July 1st, Canada Day - a young couple from Toronto came by to see a few boats at our yacht club. Ours was one of the two boats they were interested of all the boats they'd looked at at various yacht clubs. Within a few days - they put in an offer - boat was inspected a week later. You can check out the Fat Cat leaving our club (myself and another lady sailor helped the driver with preparing the Fat Cat for it's adventure westward hoe) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWVcDttrhf0The Fat Cat has a history - and you can read about it
here - from a blog I posted a few years ago at Diabetes1.org - where I work as a Diabetic Mentor.
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Thanks for adding me as a friend. Just my opinion, but if you purchase the C30, sail/motor it home, afterall, thats what theyre for, it'll be a great adventure. Mast down at Rensealar(sp), mast stepped at Oswego. The story I wrote is about our trip, but I made it goofy just for fun. We travelled the canal from Cayuga Lake to Oswego. Its good to have two people for the locks because they place the lines far apart.
Now I need 32" x 48" 1/2 inch marine plywood to redo the floor. The previous owner cut out a big hole to replace the fuel tank. He (or She) did a crappy job on patching the hole and with this rain we had, I ended up with approx. 50 gallon rain water in the bilge.
My wife don't mind piddling with my boat, but she is not the type to live on one.
Oh yes, a larger boat is sometimes a pain in the behind. Expensive to move, repair etc.
a catalina 25, even though the headroom is ..., it's much easier to pull with a pick-up. My boat required a commercial hauler to get it to my home (~1000 bucks) not counting the trailer I had to buy (4500 bucks). I might recoupe the trailer though.
Marinus
I'm close to retirement also. I also bought a larger boat and I'm selling my Catalina 22. I love the C22 like you love the C25, but its time to grow I guess. I'm hoping to live aboard and sell the house and just about everything I own. Its easier because I'll be traveling solo. Not easier traveling, just easier getting rid of stuff and minimalizing, if thats a word.
Good Luck. its fun shopping for a new boat.
Dan
our CS is moored at the HSCM marina in Arnprior, Ottawa River, Ontario, 50 k north/west of Ottawa.
But, we tow the boat to different bodies of water. Last August we spent some time on the North Channel of Lake Huron and are hoping to return there next year for a longer period.
Then there's Lake Nippissing which isn't very far from us .
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