Ya that is a big problem with a small boat. My wife and kids do not want to be on mine. My 5yo says I need one that is bigger. I am making my trips single and will still be pressed for room. I have an eight foot cockpit so daysailing is fine but going on a trip weight and space are a problem. Anyone with a small boat would have to agree with you that 27 and up is way more comfort and storage and 32 handles weather smoother. I will be buying a bigger boat if my family will sail. If not then I will keep my small one. I understand liking small boat, but also considered cost. There were a few boat that were solid between 27 and 32 for 2 to 5 grand. I paid one for mine and will have over 3500 in it. I could have bought a 27 that needed nothing for under 3. So I guess the question should be how can he mod a 22 cheap and how long can he stay comfortable. The basics add a thousand pounds. Someone told me a small boat was fine but leave the family and Take them to Disney when I get back. It made me realize that camping conditions are fine for one or two guys for a while but you are not going to spend that ling with a family.
why would i be adding a thousand pounds? I'm removing the old chainplates and adding some larger ones with a bigger inner footprint, i'm upgrading the standing rigging to 3/16 and upgrading the 3/8 2 pindle held rudder to a 3 pindle 1/2" sized rudder in all stainless.
My interior is gutted, probably due to vandals. Instead of a large holding tank I'll be adding a lighter "green" compost head. The solar panels weigh next to nothing and the water maker will be a small model with optional hand pump.
I'm not sure what size the stock water holding tank was but I'll be adding a bladder that holds 20 gallons, probably run it half full when making coastal jumps and filling up at anchor.
Since we are going to be jumping port to port the supplies will be low compared to those of someone crossing large bodies of water, some emergency MRE's, some cereal, noodles, bottled water and extra fuel. The honda engine I'll be picking up is pretty good on fuel compared to the 2 cycle i was planning on getting so while the motor is heavier I'll have to stow much less gasoline.
I have an inflatable 4 man dingy (paddle) that weights in at about 40 lbs, folds to about the size of a back pack.
We won't be bringing items that need refrigeration so our fruit/vegitables will either be bought fresh or dried.
And fishing gear.
We don't mind salt water baths so we will be going easy on water supply.
I'll be looking an auto pilot, I'm still trying to calculate the energy draw of 5 LED bulbs, VHF, GPS and autopilot hooked to 150-200 watt total solar panels.
We ill be packing light as possible, we don't mind roughing it a bit. Considering once we get down there we won't be wearing much more than swim gear.
Since i have an 88 model catalina I have the better of the two masts they put on these boats.
I am planning on stowing an extra rudder, again, not too much extra weight.
While us, all our gear and supplies will probably weight 1k, i'm not adding anywhere near 1k of weight to the boat in way of upgrades. The standing rigging weighs a little more but we are talking what...a couple pounds? I suppose i could go synthetic and have it weight even less than OEM.
