I've been sailing a Cal 21 since 2015 and love this boat! What a sweet sailer! I can sail circles around the other boats on the lake. I bought a new suit of sails for her, sanded her bottom, applied barrier coat and ablative anti-foul, and in April I'm adding 100# of lead to the bottom of her keel to make her less tender. But . . .
This summer I'd love to cruise the Maine Island Trail. The cabin space in my Cal is way too cramped for even a week of cruising. I've been looking at the specs, pricing, and availability of a Catalina 25. They go for $5,000-$10,000. $5K would suit my budget nicely. There are versions with a swing keel, which I prefer, both for anchoring in shallow coves, as well as for trailering to the coast, to the lake, to my back yard for winter storage. But the performance specs on sailboatdata indicate the Cat 25 will be a sluggish performer compared to my Cal 21. So, I am looking for suggestions for other boats to consider.Requirements: $5K price range, swing keel, enough cabin space for a week of roughing it, AND sprightly performance.
This summer I'd love to cruise the Maine Island Trail. The cabin space in my Cal is way too cramped for even a week of cruising. I've been looking at the specs, pricing, and availability of a Catalina 25. They go for $5,000-$10,000. $5K would suit my budget nicely. There are versions with a swing keel, which I prefer, both for anchoring in shallow coves, as well as for trailering to the coast, to the lake, to my back yard for winter storage. But the performance specs on sailboatdata indicate the Cat 25 will be a sluggish performer compared to my Cal 21. So, I am looking for suggestions for other boats to consider.Requirements: $5K price range, swing keel, enough cabin space for a week of roughing it, AND sprightly performance.