• Home
  • Shopping
    • Boat Seats
    • Chartplotters
    • Dock & Boat Cleats
    • Dock Lines
    • Dry Bags
    • Fenders
    • Fender Cleats & Holders
    • Fender Covers
    • Fishfinders
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Inflatable Dinghies
    • Kayaks
    • Kayak Paddles
    • KeelGuard Keel Protectors
    • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
    • PFDs — Adult
    • PFDs — Children’s
    • PFDs — Dogs
    • PFDs — Infant
    • Propellers
      • Left-Hand Propellers
      • Right-Hand Propellers
      • Stainless Steel Propellers
  • Archives
  • About Tom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Favorite Links

Tropical Boating

Stories about Boats and Boating

  • Sailing
    • Races & Regattas
    • Sailboat Cruising
    • Sailboat Reviews
  • Powerboating
  • Kayaking
  • Fishing
  • Boat Handling
  • Repairs & Upgrades
  • Equipment & Gear
    • Dinghies
  • Boat Building
  • Boating Fun
  • Boating Safety
  • General
    • Trail Camera Pictures
You are here: Home / Sailing / Sailboat Reviews / The Catalina Expo 12.5: A Review

The Catalina Expo 12.5: A Review

June 15, 2007 By Tom Leave a Comment

Catalina Expo 12.5

The Catalina Expo 12.5

Reviewed May 2007

I took the Catalina Expo 12.5 out for small boat sailing day with the Punta Gorda Sailing Club and learned a bit more about how the boat likes to sail in light air. On the way out, I passed one of our gang in a Precision 15, returning to the dock because he had already been out long enough to drink all of his water. I turned around to chase him, and found that the little Expo could almost keep up, but not quite.

I turned and went back out the channel, messing with the outhaul tension as I went. Just a small adjustment of the outhaul substantially changes the amount of curve or camber in the sail. You can flatten it for strong breezes or let it assume a full shape in lighter winds, and the boat responds instantly to the changes. Weighing in at only 130 lbs and carrying 65 square feet of sail, the boat is naturally responsive to any changes made to the sail.

The free standing carbon fiber mast inserts easily into the deck, and we just leave the Hoyt boom in place when trailering the boat. I arrived at the park after almost everyone else, but sailed away while they were still rigging their boats. Because the sail rolls around the mast, it is possible to roller reef it, rolling up part of it when winds get strong, or let the whole thing out when winds are light.

Also present that day were a few Martin 16's with spinnakers and a nice Laser. All of those boats were considerably faster than the Expo 12.5, so our "races" in the very light winds were not very close. In the first race, they clobbered me badly because I did not have the sail set correctly to beat into the light winds. I had set it too tight, and it did not have the power to move the boat well at all. In the next race, I eased the outhaul just a couple of inches, and although pointing angle was not quite as good, the increased boat speed more than made up the difference. I still could not keep up with the faster boats, but they were noticeably closer as I came around.

A Sunfish also showed up, and provided at least a little closer competition, though that boat can also walk away from the little Expo. The guy sailing the Sunfish was curious about the Expo, so we abandoned one of the races and switched boats with each other.

I had not sailed a Sunfish in about 30 years, but remembered it being fun. It was still fun! I was racing it in what turned into our last race of the day when the wind completely died. As I approached the windward mark, I could hear Dennis yelling to me to just pick it up and bring it back with me. He did not want to try to sail all the way out to the mark to get it, and I can't say I blame him.

As we went back in toward the beach and boat ramp, the wind shifted and increased quite a bit as a small thunderstorm approached. I wished I had traded back into the Expo so that I could see how it would handle the gusts, but I did have a good time making the little Sunfish really move out as I headed to shore. Once we all got back, the rain started to fall. I quickly furled the sail on the Expo around the mast, pulled the boat up high on the beach, and got in my truck to wait out the rain. The rest of the guys were getting their boats on trailers and derigging them in the rain as I listened to the radio. When the rain let up a bit, I got the boat on the trailer, unplugged the free standing carbon fiber mast and tied it to my truck, and left as the rest of the soaked sailors finished getting their boats derigged and secured for travel.

I may not have had the boat to beat all those guys in a race, but I clobbered them in the race at the boat ramp, and I'll put the ease of use and sheer fun factor of the Catalina Expo 12.5 up against any other boat. You don't have to duck as the Hoyt boom goes overhead, and three lines allow you to control the size, shape, and angle of the sail. The side decks are wide and angled comfortably for any point of sail, and the cat rig really pulls the boat along with surprising power once you tune it correctly for the wind.

The Catalina Expo is perfect for children, as well as for beginning sailors

The little Catalina Expo 12.5 may not be the fastest sailing boat in its class, but it's the fastest to rig and launch.

Filed Under: Sailboat Reviews Tagged With: Catalina Expo, review

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Newer: New Power Tilt and Trim for a Boston Whaler
Older: What Should Be In Your Small Boat Marine Toolkit

Recent Posts

  • ePropulsion Electric Outboard On A Picnic Cat
  • Com-Pac Picnic Cat Fun!
  • Selling the Stray Goat
  • June 2021 Stray Goat Projects
  • Finishing Up & First Sail in the Stray Goat

Topics

  • Boat Building (5)
  • Boat Handling (10)
  • Boat Repairs & Upgrades (49)
  • Boating Equipment (27)
    • Dinghies (4)
  • Boating Fun (29)
  • Boating Safety (7)
  • Buying & Selling Boats (5)
  • Classic Boating Tales (25)
  • Fishing (16)
  • General (37)
    • Drone Stuff (3)
    • Trail Camera Pictures (18)
    • Tropical Fruiting (1)
  • Kayaking (21)
  • Powerboating (17)
  • Sailing (71)
    • Races & Regattas (14)
    • Sailboat Cruising (15)
    • Sailboat Reviews (7)

Most Popular

  • The Perfect Solo Mast-Raising System for Small Sailboats
  • How to Dock an Outboard or Sterndrive Powerboat in 3 Easy Pictures
  • Small Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim: Theory and Practice
  • Tying Boats to Docks Using Springlines
  • Deep V, Shallow V, or Variable Deadrise Hull Performance

Shopping

  • Anchors
  • Boat Paddles
  • Boat Seats
  • Cam Cleats
  • Dock & Boat Cleats
  • Dock Lines
  • Dry Bags
  • Fenders
  • Fender Cleats & Holders
  • Fender Covers
  • Fishing
    • Fishing Reels
      • Spinning Reels
        • Abu Garcia Spinning Reels
        • Daiwa Spinning Reels
        • KastKing Spinning Reels
        • Okuma Spinning Reels
        • Penn Spinning Reels
        • Pflueger Spinning Reels
        • Quantum Spinning Reels
        • Shakespeare Spinning Reels
        • Shimano Spinning Reels
        • Zebco Spinning Reels
      • Baitcasting Reels
      • Spincast Reels
    • Rod & Reel Combos
      • Abu Garcia Rod & Reel Combos
      • Baitcast Rod & Reel Combos
      • Okuma Rod & Reel Combos
      • Quantum Rod & Reel Combos
      • Shakespeare Rod & Reel Combos
      • Spinning Rod & Reel Combos
      • Ugly Stik Rod & Reel Combos
    • Tackle Boxes & Bags
      • Tackle Bags
      • Tackle Boxes
      • Fly Boxes
      • Fishing Backpacks
  • Inflatable Dinghies
  • Inflatable Kayaks
  • Inflatable SUPs
  • Kayaks
  • Kayak Paddles
  • KeelGuard Keel Protectors
  • Marine Electronics
    • Autopilots
    • Chartplotters
    • EPIRBs
    • Fishfinders
    • Fixed-Mount VHF Radios
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Handheld VHF Radios
  • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
  • PFDs
    • Fishing PFDs
    • Inflatable PFDs
    • Kayaking PFDs
    • Survival PFDs
    • Survival Suits & Immersion Suits
    • PFDs for Infants
    • PFDs for Children
    • PFDs for Adults
    • PFDs for Dogs
    • Throwable (Type IV) PFDs
  • Propellers
    • Right-Hand Propellers
    • Left-Hand Propellers
    • Aluminum Propellers
    • Stainless Steel Propellers
    • Three-Blade Propellers
    • Four-Blade Propellers

Recent

  • ePropulsion Electric Outboard On A Picnic Cat
  • Com-Pac Picnic Cat Fun!
  • Selling the Stray Goat
  • June 2021 Stray Goat Projects
  • Finishing Up & First Sail in the Stray Goat

Popular

  • The Perfect Solo Mast-Raising System for Small Sailboats
  • How to Dock an Outboard or Sterndrive Powerboat in 3 Easy Pictures
  • Small Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim: Theory and Practice
  • Tying Boats to Docks Using Springlines
  • Deep V, Shallow V, or Variable Deadrise Hull Performance
  • The Com-Pac Sun Cat: A Review
  • Building a Live Bait Well For A Small Boat
  • Choosing the Right Propeller For Your Boat
  • Rebuilding Whaleboat Tenders Part 5: Boat Parts Shopping Day
  • More Boston Whaler Modifications

About Tom

Starting with the little two-person inflatable raft I had as my very first boat, I have always loved the freedom and the feeling of being out on the water. With my father's help, I added a hard plywood floor to that little inflatable, and that was the beginning of a long chain of boats I have owned, loved, maintained, modified, fixed, enjoyed, and scared myself to death on over the past few decades. [Read More …]

Topics

  • Boat Building (5)
  • Boat Handling (10)
  • Boat Repairs & Upgrades (49)
  • Boating Equipment (27)
    • Dinghies (4)
  • Boating Fun (29)
  • Boating Safety (7)
  • Buying & Selling Boats (5)
  • Classic Boating Tales (25)
  • Fishing (16)
  • General (37)
    • Drone Stuff (3)
    • Trail Camera Pictures (18)
    • Tropical Fruiting (1)
  • Kayaking (21)
  • Powerboating (17)
  • Sailing (71)
    • Races & Regattas (14)
    • Sailboat Cruising (15)
    • Sailboat Reviews (7)

Links

  • Antique Fishing Tackle
  • Big Air Wakeboards
  • Binocular Bargains
  • Boat Parts Online
  • Boat Seats for Sale
  • Boat Wear Bargains
  • Boating Memorabilia
  • Discount Marine Electronics
  • Ice Fishing Shop
  • Maritime Antiques
  • Nautical Motif Gifts & Decor
  • Slingin' Steel Spearfishing Bargains
  • Sun Cat National Championship Regatta
  • Tropical Affiliate Marketing
  • Tropical Web Works
  • Tying Flies

Shopping

  • Anchors
  • Boat Paddles
  • Boat Seats
  • Cam Cleats
  • Dock & Boat Cleats
  • Dock Lines
  • Dry Bags
  • Fenders
  • Fender Cleats & Holders
  • Fender Covers
  • Fishing
    • Fishing Reels
      • Spinning Reels
        • Abu Garcia Spinning Reels
        • Daiwa Spinning Reels
        • KastKing Spinning Reels
        • Okuma Spinning Reels
        • Penn Spinning Reels
        • Pflueger Spinning Reels
        • Quantum Spinning Reels
        • Shakespeare Spinning Reels
        • Shimano Spinning Reels
        • Zebco Spinning Reels
      • Baitcasting Reels
      • Spincast Reels
    • Rod & Reel Combos
      • Abu Garcia Rod & Reel Combos
      • Baitcast Rod & Reel Combos
      • Okuma Rod & Reel Combos
      • Quantum Rod & Reel Combos
      • Shakespeare Rod & Reel Combos
      • Spinning Rod & Reel Combos
      • Ugly Stik Rod & Reel Combos
    • Tackle Boxes & Bags
      • Tackle Bags
      • Tackle Boxes
      • Fly Boxes
      • Fishing Backpacks
  • Inflatable Dinghies
  • Inflatable Kayaks
  • Inflatable SUPs
  • Kayaks
  • Kayak Paddles
  • KeelGuard Keel Protectors
  • Marine Electronics
    • Autopilots
    • Chartplotters
    • EPIRBs
    • Fishfinders
    • Fixed-Mount VHF Radios
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Handheld VHF Radios
  • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
  • PFDs
    • Fishing PFDs
    • Inflatable PFDs
    • Kayaking PFDs
    • Survival PFDs
    • Survival Suits & Immersion Suits
    • PFDs for Infants
    • PFDs for Children
    • PFDs for Adults
    • PFDs for Dogs
    • Throwable (Type IV) PFDs
  • Propellers
    • Right-Hand Propellers
    • Left-Hand Propellers
    • Aluminum Propellers
    • Stainless Steel Propellers
    • Three-Blade Propellers
    • Four-Blade Propellers

Back to Top
Contact Us · Privacy Policy & Disclosure

Copyright © 2007-2023 · Tropical Boating
Site managed by Tropical Web Works