Catalina/Boomaroo 25

[sailingdog]

Be nice Chuckles... be nice...

Originally Posted by chucklesR

Hartley, you ever look at the Mac 26? It sure seems to fit your requirements

[Sailormon6]

Originally Posted by Hartley18

So.. are C25's any good?? The swing-keel version that is... the keel looks really flimsy.

The inside and outside of the Boomaroo 25 looks almost identical to the Catalina 25, so I'm fairly sure it's the same design. I sailed a Catalina 25 (fixed keel) for many years, and liked it very much. It's a fairly rugged boat, but has its limitations. Most in the US came with a pop top, for more interior head room, but that made them unsuitable for sailing in heavy weather. The swing keel weighed about 1500 pounds, and was suspended on one steel pin and a cable. That also made it unsuitable for heavy weather sailing. Nevertheless, I would estimate that 1000 or more were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and most are still sailing. As long as the keel mechanism is well maintained, it has a good history of durability. If you allow the cable to rust or fray, then you take a risk that it will part suddenly, allowing the 1500# keel to drop about 4', causing severe structural damage to the hull. Therefore, the Cat 25 with swing keel is a good boat for sailing inland lakes and coastal cruising in fair weather. It has large interior volume and furnishings for it's size, and sails nicely.

For more information, go to Association Forum. They can tell you all you care to know about the boat.

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

Hartley, you ever look at the Mac 26? It sure seems to fit your requirements

What was that? Did someone say something??

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by Sailormon6

The inside and outside of the Boomaroo 25 looks almost identical to the Catalina 25, so I'm fairly sure it's the same design. I sailed a Catalina 25 (fixed keel) for many years, and liked it very much. It's a fairly rugged boat, but has its limitations. Most in the US came with a pop top, for more interior head room, but that made them unsuitable for sailing in heavy weather. The swing keel weighed about 1500 pounds, and was suspended on one steel pin and a cable. That also made it unsuitable for heavy weather sailing. Nevertheless, I would estimate that 1000 or more were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and most are still sailing. As long as the keel mechanism is well maintained, it has a good history of durability. If you allow the cable to rust or fray, then you take a risk that it will part suddenly, allowing the 1500# keel to drop about 4', causing severe structural damage to the hull. Therefore, the Cat 25 with swing keel is a good boat for sailing inland lakes and coastal cruising in fair weather. It has large interior volume and furnishings for it's size, and sails nicely.

For more information, go to Association Forum. They can tell you all you care to know about the boat.

Thanks for the tip! I'm 99.9% sure it's the same boat.

I've seen a few (obviously 25') Catalina 250's around - a completely different boat - and it never occured to me that the Boomaroo 25 might be an earlier version of the Catalina 25. Same designer, different builder.

{RANT}Makes it interesting for people looking to buy a boat. You could spend your entire time thinking, for example, "woe is me - there are no Catalina's on the market this week", when there are loads of Boomaroos exactly the same!! Sucks, really... **/RANT}

Sailormon, it's nice to know what to look for when we take one for a trial. Rep coming your way..

[blt2ski]

Camaron,

I still have to wonder out loud here to a degree. With the what seems like amount of racing you do, if there is not a better cruiser/racer or racer cruiser style boat to fit you needs "better" than a Catalina. They are excellent boats for what they are, ie cruiser oriented, that will race when you want them, but on a boat for boat basis, not always the fastest, nor setup the best for this style use.

Anyway, enough of my thoughts. For what they are or are not worth.


I did find in the book I have, the name Jaguar and Puma for europe. Being as it was pulished in 72 or there abouts, there is no reference to the Boomaroo's, which as you say, appear to be a Down Under produced version of a Catalina. Along with I do understand you rant as far as you thinking that you see a great boat elsewhere, but do not realize it is made where you are under a different name!

Good luck with search for new boat.

marty

[Sailormon6]

Cameron,
If you intend to look further at the Boomaroo 25, you can find a fairly helpful article on self-surveying a Catalina 25 by clicking on the following hyperlink. It isn't as good as a professional survey, but it'll help you decide whether the boat is worth giving a second look. Self Appraising a Catalina 25

[ilnadi]

if you write to Catalina Yachts, they are pretty good at answering questions. Also someone at the Catalina 25 forum may know.

Originally Posted by Hartley18

BOOMEROO 25 boat details - BoatPoint Australia

I've read that they were designed by one Frank Butler at Catalina Yachts, but can find nothing much else on the web (there's plenty on the 22, but nothing on the 25).

[Faster]

Originally Posted by ilnadi

if you write to Catalina Yachts, they are pretty good at answering questions. Also someone at the Catalina 25 forum may know.

Yeah, from what I hear Frank Butler is quite approachable, and an email to Catalina may well be answered directly, but by all accounts you're looking at a licensed version of the Catalina 25.

Seems to me you need to decide whether you're going to stick with the trailerable plan, or go to a mooring arrangement. Obviously there are financial factors to this decision.

Lots of way cool sport boats now with lift keels, and I'd imagine in the land of Oz you were a few years ahead of NA in that regard. Given your obvious enjoyment of racing perhaps that's a direction to look. Many of these boats can still be used for "camper cruising" if you're prepared to carry on that way.

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by Faster

Yeah, from what I hear Frank Butler is quite approachable, and an email to Catalina may well be answered directly, but by all accounts you're looking at a licensed version of the Catalina 25.

Seems to me you need to decide whether you're going to stick with the trailerable plan, or go to a mooring arrangement. Obviously there are financial factors to this decision.

Lots of way cool sport boats now with lift keels, and I'd imagine in the land of Oz you were a few years ahead of NA in that regard. Given your obvious enjoyment of racing perhaps that's a direction to look. Many of these boats can still be used for "camper cruising" if you're prepared to carry on that way.

It's a little off-topic, but since I started this thread, I suppose that's okay: I know I'm looking for a trade-off.

I honestly didn't expect the Boomaroo to turn out to be a Catalina in sheep's clothing. I don't want a Catalina, but having had a few days on a Catalina and finding the First mate loved the hot/cold water, marine toilet, oven, fridge and aft cabin I figure whatever we move to better have these things (or at least be able to have them) or whatever I choose will be vetoed instantly.

Dunno if you've ever been to Melbourne, but Port Phillip Bay sucks really - compared to the places you'all know and love (for a little background see the Mornington Photos thread). The Lakes is great, but getting there in your own boat is either:
(a) A four-hour drive towing a trailer-sailer.
(b) A 5-7 day cruise in Bass Strait - assuming the weather is okay. If it's not? Well, I'm sure you've all seen photos of the 1988 Sydney-Hobart race... plus I have an office job I need to keep.

We're on waiting lists for moorings at the sheltered end of the Bay, but the maximum size is 25', because to apply you have to already have a boat... and we could put the Hartley on it if we wanted to.

A 25' trailable would be an option (mooring or hard-stand) if we could get one with an inboard (hot/cold water) and toilet (to keep the First Mate happy) and one that doesn't travel through the water like a harpooned whale (to keep me happy!)... otherwise we'd be better off sticking with the Hartley.

If we get a keel-boat of any kind we'd have to give up the Lakes or pay haulage - unless we got something seaworthy >30' - but then we'd have to pay +$10,000pa to store it plus, plus...

Anybody in Melbourne got a decent boat we can borrow from time to time? I'll give it back.. honest...

[RXBOT]

Endeavour 24 $12,000 Adelaide
Quest 26 $30,000 Brisbane
Compass 28 $28,500 Adelaide
Starfire 32 $29,900 South Australia

Could you keep your present boat and keep it at the lakes and buy another 4 cruising with the Sheila?