A few short Cat22 newbie questions

cephius (Dave) · 2026-08-17T02:28:48-0700

If you felt overpowered, you were! 10-12 knots is about the max for a day sailor. Reduce sail! You know your overpowered when the rudder can't correct the weather helm. As for heel, racers try to keep their boats flat. The C22 is well designed. Sail at a heel angle you are comfortable at. Keep water out of the cockpit

You will soon learn where the boar performs best at.

ShawnL · 2026-08-17T04:02:42-0700

I have a '74. Most of the things you mention were considered "normal" from the factory. No boom vang, tiny traveler, small winches. Mine didn't even have cam cleats, old-school T-cleats.

I've never needed the winch handle. The loads are small enough that with 2-3 wraps on the winch, my wife can manage the jib just fine. I added harken cam cleats a year or 2 ago, just to make life easier. Added a bang a year or 2 before that.

My mast wasn't marked or anything either. When I got a new main last year, I just raised it all the way, pulled the boom down until it was pretty much as tight as I thought I would ever want it and tightened the stop the boom sits on.

If you want to switch to all rope halyards, I believe you need to change the rollers at the top of the mast. Take look at the Catalina Direct kits -- see what parts they provide for the conversion. CD is not always the lowest cost, but their kits are usually well put together and will show you what they think you need for the job.

Stu Jackson · 2026-08-17T09:55:10-0700

BVLew said:
went with "Barton Winchers" for now until I get the boat-bucks for new self-tailing winches (I mostly singlehand)

I did the same with our 1981 C22 from 1983 to 1987, and with our 1981 C25 for 11 years from 87-98. Neither boat had cam cleats, just horn cleats, which i rarely used (in windy SF Bay!). You may well consider there are better places to put your $$ than self tailing winches because what you have with the Winchers is more than adequate.

BVLew said:
I've decided to address electrical in the off-season.

Buy Charlies Wing's book:

Amazon.com

Benny17441 · 2026-08-17T11:43:46-0700

BVLew said:
Thanks for earlier replies to my queries about scuppers and mast/electrical connections. Scuppers are in, I've decided to address electrical in the off-season.

Now that I've had the 1984 C-22 out a few times, I'm wondering if the POs EVER actually sailed with it over the last 42 years! No outhaul, no boom vang, original Arco winches with cam cleats not on risers so the winches jam with more than 2 wraps.....

New 4-1 outhaul now on, vang goes on next weekend, went with "Barton Winchers" for now until I get the boat-bucks for new self-tailing winches (I mostly singlehand). Also added a Tiller Tamer, winch handle holder (I don't have coaming cubbies -- again, where did POs put the handle while out?), miscellaneous little tweaks.

Now a few quick questions, even after reviewing the various editions of the Tech Manuals....

* What tiller extensions are people using? I don't quite have the tools/skills for making the one in the 2014 Tech Manual. CD offers two: 19-32" and 27-48". Any preferences? Other options?

* I still have a wire main halyard, no winch on mast or cabin-top. So: Can I switch to all-rope halyard? If so, recommendations for what to use? I have no bands on mast or boom -- does main just go up as far as I can get it (I do have a downhaul, no cunningham), or does head end up caught by backstay? Where does band go on boom?

* What amount of heel does the C-22 like? I was surprised to be at 15-20 degrees in 10-12 knots, with full main and 135 genoa, just me on board. Felt overpowered but it wasn't that windy. Is this normal?

* If I decide to just remount cam-cleats (instead of getting self-tailing winches), is the CD (Harken) angled cleat riser the best option? Other choices people have preferred?

More to come, I'm sure . Thanks for all your help and wisdom.

Bruce

Don't get hooked on gadgets or fixtures designed for much bigger boats, them will just complicate your sailing. The C22 will not need a boom vang, self tailing winches, lazy jacks, roller furlers, or anchor windlass. For sailing solo an outhaul for the headsail is a safety item. The Tiller Tamer is just part of the equation to keep the boat on course while unattended, the sails must be trimmed for balance to maintain a course without fighting the rudder. Some use bungy cords on the tiller for "sheet to tiller steering" . Tiller extensions, some like them, I tried one and found it clumsy. A 10-12 knot breeze is a respectable wind speed for a C-22 and a heel of 15 to 20 degrees under those conditions seems normal. There is a saying of old, that when you first feel the boat is overpowered, that's the time to reef. You can sail it in higher winds but you should be willing to work harder powering and depowering through the gusts with the main sheet in hand or quick changes in course to adjust the angle of attack. It is best to learn how to sail with the most basic tools and once you gain some experience your own needs for any changes or improvements will become evident.

Stu Jackson · 2026-08-17T13:21:55-0700

A boom vang is definitely a good thing to have on a C22 because once the mainsheet is let out some the boom WILL rise; you want and need to be able to control it. Winchers would be great to have. Otherwise, I agree completely.

Benny17441 said:
The C22 will not need a boom vang, self tailing winches, lazy jacks, roller furlers, or anchor windlass.

Woodworks1 · 2026-08-17T16:51:45-0700

At 10 knots of wind, a sail experiences roughly 0.33 to 0.40 pounds of wind pressure per square foot. A Catalina 22 has 200 sq ft of sail area or there about.
I am in my 70s and sailing larger sail planes now. I miss being a real part of the naval architecture ratios.

morbidfollower · 2026-08-17T19:02:53-0700

Idk, I regularly sail in over 20knots with no problem. 1 reef in and working jib. I like the boat to sail as flat as possible. However to achieve this you need all the sail controls. Boom vang, outhaul, Cunningham, jib sheet tracks, working traveler, adjustable backstay. IF you're just lake sailing you can get by without some of these just fine, but for flat sailing you need the proper controls imo. Also mind how you load the boat with stuff, it makes a difference.

Project_Mayhem · 2026-08-17T23:57:41-0700

Cam cleats are great except when under great load. Then they're a bear to release. Horn cleats take a few extra seconds but are pretty versatile and are easy to release under load if wrapped correctly. My O'Day 25 had a cam cleat on the main sheet and horn cleats on the genoa sheets. The genoa was a large 150%.