Hello sailors!
Newbie here, both to the forum and to the world of sailing. I have what is probably a ridiculous question but, you never know if you don't ask.

A Catalina 250 MkII (fixed fin keel version) recently caught my eye. It's exactly what I've been looking for in terms of size, price, features etc. for a first yacht.
My biggest speed-hump at the moment is that the vessel is in the Gold Coast, QLD. I am happen to be a few clicks further south in Geelong, VIC.

I've emailed a transport company who have quoted $8.8k to deliver the boat down by truck. Which is a quarter of the cost of the boat itself. A price I'm not all that keen on paying.

I'm hoping to get some input if anyone has any tips on some other transport companies or methods that may be a bit cheaper, or. Call me crazy. But whether the trip would be out-of-reach for a relatively green sailor such as myself, who could take a few weeks off work and sail it down the coast to home? Or whether this boat could even make such a journey? I could potentially drag a friend or two along for the ride, but again, all involved would be quite new to the world of coastal cruising.

I wouldn't be purchasing without a survey, so assuming the boat is in a seaworthy condition, would this be an unrealistic endeavour?

Open to all input/ideas/feedback and or criticism.
Thanks!

Hello Malachi

Welcome to the forum. Is this the fin keel or wing keel version? Google them to get a lot of comment from owners.

sailboatdata.com/sailboat/catalina-250

As you allude to imho this is going to be a really tough ask to sail that size yacht you potentially have just bought so far, with "inexperienced crew". Obviously I am not casting doubt on your capabilities or tenacity just wanting to respond to your post and be helpful.

There are numerous posts on this site of passages by new owners given sublime assistance by experienced sailors, to successfully make such trips from port of purchase to home port. For example this is a recent excellent one from Yeppoon to Gold Coast, and a bluepint for planning such a passage down the east coast. Obviously down the coast from the Gold Coast to Geelong throws up an absolute multitude of other hazards. Can't imagine you contemplating this trip with all on board being "quite new" to coastal passages.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/A-Hullabaloo-along-the-Coast-

I would strongly advise that you pursue more cost effective road transport methods - but the road transport operator would need to be comprehensively insured for such a trip. having said that such a more cost effective option may be hard to find.

To comment on some of your text;

1 A good survey result does not necessarily mean that the yacht is seaworthy - the surveyor can only comment on visual inspections (and hull rubber mallet tapping etc for sandwich core delaminations which I don't believe you will have the 250 is probably solid grp but check....and other such push and poke non destructive examinations............) so what happens when you get out into the Tasman Sea is what will happen depending on the conditions nothing to do with the survey report.

2 Tophat 25 footers have sailed a long way but the TH25 is a far different yacht design to the 250.........it is heavier and designed to sail offshore......and those who have sailed it a long way offshore have been very experienced and knew their yacht inside out.

Trust this is of use.

I thinks it's a shoal draft version.. although fixed?

Hi Malachi26,
good luck with the purchase, if this boat or the next one to come along.

Have you got a mooring (or pen) already sorted in Geelong?
You might want to suss that out beforehand if you havent already.

Select to expand quote

r13 said..
Hello Malachi

Welcome to the forum. Is this the fin keel or wing keel version? Google them to get a lot of comment from owners.

sailboatdata.com/sailboat/catalina-250

As you allude to imho this is going to be a really tough ask to sail that size yacht you potentially have just bought so far, with "inexperienced crew". Obviously I am not casting doubt on your capabilities or tenacity just wanting to respond to your post and be helpful.

There are numerous posts on this site of passages by new owners given sublime assistance by experienced sailors, to successfully make such trips from port of purchase to home port. For example this is a recent excellent one from Yeppoon to Gold Coast, and a bluepint for planning such a passage down the east coast. Obviously down the coast from the Gold Coast to Geelong throws up an absolute multitude of other hazards. Can't imagine you contemplating this trip with all on board being "quite new" to coastal passages.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/A-Hullabaloo-along-the-Coast-

I would strongly advise that you pursue more cost effective road transport methods - but the road transport operator would need to be comprehensively insured for such a trip. having said that such a more cost effective option may be hard to find.

To comment on some of your text;

1 A good survey result does not necessarily mean that the yacht is seaworthy - the surveyor can only comment on visual inspections (and hull rubber mallet tapping etc for sandwich core delaminations which I don't believe you will have the 250 is probably solid grp but check....and other such push and poke non destructive examinations............) so what happens when you get out into the Tasman Sea is what will happen depending on the conditions nothing to do with the survey report.

2 Tophat 25 footers have sailed a long way but the TH25 is a far different yacht design to the 250.........it is heavier and designed to sail offshore......and those who have sailed it a long way offshore have been very experienced and knew their yacht inside out.

Trust this is of use.

R13, thank you for the comprehensive response. Really appreciate the advice. I'll keep doing some research and see what I can come up with ??

Select to expand quote

crustysailor said..
Hi Malachi26,
good luck with the purchase, if this boat or the next one to come along.

Have you got a mooring (or pen) already sorted in Geelong?
You might want to suss that out beforehand if you havent already.

Hi Crusty, haven't sorted one yet but I'll have a chat to RGYC and see what's available. I've spoken to Western Beach Boat Club who do have some moorings available but I'd prefer a pen if I can get one. Thanks for the tip!

The best solution would be to spend the same amount of money on a local boat. Buy a boat from one of the established production boat builders fully fitted out with all the equipment. Bonus would be a boat and mooring in your vicinity.

This is just an example, I would prefer it if it was not a centreboader but it has an inboard diesel and full head room which is pretty much a necessity for a first timer.
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/cavalier-28/277206



This looks nice but it is a bit light for Victorian waters.
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/catalina-250-mk-ii-shoal-draft/281892

I know Argos previous owners. They used to sail and race her on Lake Macquarie. I don't believe that they ever took her offshore, when they started looking at coastal passages they upgraded to a Catalina 320, then a Catalina 355. The Catalinas are isually a good solid boat, well built and structurally sound.