Looking to buy a Capri 22

[john_mn]

Looking at a 2005 Capri 22 for sale online. Looks to be in good shape with a trailer, newer motor, and full complement of sails and equipment on board. They're asking $14k for it. I'm currently sailing a 1972 O'Day Mariner 19 which was my first sailboat. When I bought it eight years ago, I wasn't able to sail it before purchasing, but being only $2,000 for boat, trailer, motor, the risk was minimal. The boat I'm looking at now is on a trailer and sold "as-is", and it's a 6 hour drive away. Just wondering if it's crazy to buy a boat in this price range without trying it out first, or is that fairly common practice?

Thanks for any help on this!

 

[dlochner]

If you can arrange to sail it before buying it, that's always a plus. However, plenty of boats have been sold without having been sailed before purchase. The Capri 22 is a fairly well known boat, a careful pre-purchase inspection of boat and trailer would be wise. If you have a knowledgeable friend to help out, that would be a plus. Be prepared to walk away once you get there if the boat is not what it seems.

Capri 22 owners here can advise you on what to look for. With a 6 hour drive pay attention to the trailer bearings, tires, and brakes before you leave.

 

[john_mn]

Thanks for the response! I'm going to put together a checklist for going over the boat and trailer.

 

[Sail22Capri22]

I am an owner of a 2022 Capri. I bought it new for various reasons, one being that I could afford it and I thought it would be nice to be the first owner and not buy a boat with the unknowns of its past. However, I feel like I should have just bought an older boat like you are thinking of doing. I would have saved a ton of money and I think these boats are simple enough to not have to worry to much about its past. I have only had the boat for one full summer so I am still learning about it myself. However I can tell you that I have really enjoyed it so far. I think you will be ok if you just look the boat over really well. Look around the hull, check the deck, feel for any soft spots. Take a deep look around the cabin, pull up the cushions and look into the compartments. You can see most of the inside of the hull on this boat and if you look really well you will be able to tell if any previous repairs have been done to the fiberglass. Try to look down the length of the mast, is it straight? How do the sails look? I do not think with this particular boat there are any specific quirks to try to search for, just a throughout and general look over should be fine. Also as @dlochner mentioned, ask about the condition of the tires and bearing on the trailer. I have had more trailer issues over the years then issues with my boats. My Capri has a wing keel and towing the boat has been fine.

 

[john_mn]

Thanks much for your thoughts on this! The one I'm looking at has a wing keel as well which seems like a good compromise for non-competitive sailing on inland lakes. I'm going to make an offer today contingent on inspecting the boat in person.

 

[Sail22Capri22]

Let us know how you do! Post some photos if you end up buying it.

 

[bjorn von euler]

I am an owner of a 2022 Capri. I bought it new for various reasons, one being that I could afford it and I thought it would be nice to be the first owner and not buy a boat with the unknowns of its past. However, I feel like I should have just bought an older boat like you are thinking of doing. I would have saved a ton of money and I think these boats are simple enough to not have to worry to much

Thanks much for your thoughts on this! The one I'm looking at has a wing keel as well which seems like a good compromise for non-competitive sailing on inland lakes. I'm going to make an offer today contingent on inspecting the boat in person.

about its past. I have only had the boat for one full summer so I am still learning about it myself. However I can tell you that I have really enjoyed it so far. I think you will be ok if you just look the boat over really well. Look around the hull, check the deck, feel for any soft spots. Take a deep look around the cabin, pull up the cushions and look into the compartments. You can see most of the inside of the hull on this boat and if you look really well you will be able to tell if any previous repairs have been done to the fiberglass. Try to look down the length of the mast, is it straight? How do the sails look? I do not think with this particular boat there are any specific quirks to try to search for, just a throughout and general look over should be fine. Also as @dlochner mentioned, ask about the condition of the tires and bearing on the trailer. I have had more trailer issues over the years then issues with my boats. My Capri has a wing keel and towing the boat has been fine.

 

[bjorn von euler]

Hi I recently bought a Capri 22 1998. Wing keel. The boat had been sailed in the ocean for most of its time. I’m sailing it in fresh water and thought I can easily take of the below waterline paint and create a faster non aggressive paint (vc17). However that turns out to be a big job. Something to think about.
Go out and sail with the seller and get to know your boats secrets and check the sails.
And that you understand reefing system Cunningham outhaul etc and the electricals (most boats have owner inventions) you save a lot of time by having the owner demonstrate and you tape it for future developments.
Preferably you shoul be part of stepping up the mast and taking it down again. Mark all turnbuckles. (Starts you off in much situation for your fine tuning)
Good luck

 

[john_mn]

Thanks for the additional tips! A 1999 Capri 22 just went up for sale only a 30 minute drive away from me so I'm going to take a look at that boat. Also it's in the water and ready to sail, a big plus. If I decide to purchase that one I'll post some photos.

 

[bjorn von euler]

I paid $ 10k of which trailer was 1k and the almost new Honda 5hp was valued 1k.
The sails are old and is the next investment approx 2.5k.
Good luck!

 

[john_mn]

He's asking $12.5k, I'm thinking about offering about $10.5k and see what they say, depending on what kind of shape the trailer, motor, and sails etc. are in.

 

[bjorn von euler]

Sounds pretty much correct and you end up w a very easy boat to own and sail.
Be aware of the two rigs standard and tall.
Mine is a standard. The mast is 28 feet and tall is 30.
if you run into questions this site is full of knowledgeable 22 owners.

 

[john_mn]

Well, the boat that was near to me turned out to be a Catalina MKII rather than the Capri model. And, the Capri that was six hours away has sold, so now I'm back to searching for a boat. If anyone knows of a Catalina Capri 22 with wing keel/standard rig, in excellent shape for sale in the midwest, let me know. The closest one I can find right now is in Colorado, about 12 hours away Actually there's one in Wisconsin but it's a 1987 model and I'm hoping to find a somewhat newer one, like 1995 or newer.

 

[Ben4195]

Good luck in your continued search. I'm in Central Ohio and had been looking for a smallish racer for a year or more, with the Capri 22 among the boats on my shortlist. I got lucky late last year and a local put a 2003 Tall Rig Wing Keel up for sale so I pounced on it. Paid $16,000, and the boat came with a new racing main, new or new-ish 135 headsail, a new 6 hp Tohatsu engine, and of course the trailer.

I had owned a Capri 14, Cal 21, Catalina 25, Catalina 22 and a Beneteau 361 before this (downsized to the Capri from the B361), and I have to say the TR/WK Capri 22 gets quickly overpowered in winds above 12 knots. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to sail the Capri 22 in those 12+ knot winds, but I'm still trying to learn how to comfortably sail it in those conditions. Unfortunately it's often only me on the boat, so more difficult to keep the boat from excessively heeling.

I purposely was looking for the Tall Rig version because my local waters tend to have light winds in the summer, and this boat seems to do very nicely (compared to my prior boats) in light airs. I'm not sure if any of this is helpful to you, but thought I'd pass along my experiences a bit since you're in the same boat as I was last year.

I'm really loving my Capri 22, seems very nimble to me compared to the other boats I've owned.

 

[john_mn]

Thanks for passing along your experience and thoughts, it is helpful. I didn't even know the tall rig was available with the wing keel, for some reason I thought it was only offered with the fin keel. I will now add that to my search criteria to make sure I get a standard rig. I'm not a racer and prefer more stability when encountering the often gusty winds on my local waters.