Shortstop,
GREAT! Another C-22 sailor here in San Diego! We recently started a C-22 Fleet here in San Diego, so stand-by! Anyway, we sail with our little dog, and she always has a life jacket on, and I would recommend the same for cats. There is a handle on the back should she fall overboard, but the only time she has gone in the drink was at the slip when she slipped jumping to the dock while tied up. Used life line stantions for C-22's are always coming up because racers don't want them, but I have them on both our C-22's, and like to use them as a back rest when sitting on the combing steering with the tiller extension. So don't dispare, if you find a decent C-22 but it doesn't have life-lines, it's not the end of the world. Many C-22's already come with them, but some boats, especially the older models don't. Life lines or no life lines really won't make a difference in the value or price on an older used C-22. There always seems to be a C-22 for sale here in San Diego, and most are nice boats, but there are others out there that are someone elses troubles that they want to pass onto you. So be careful. A "deal" can often be hidding major problems that will soon discourage you. I've purchased several C-22's that I refurbished, and are GREAT boats. But then, I wouldn't sell a problem boat. Any boat I sell is ready to go from day one, and need no repairs. A swing keel C-22 left in a slip, or a mooring "can" be a problem. if it hasn't been properly maintained. If the swing keeled, or any C-22 that has been left in a slip, and has a bunch of growth on the bottom, you can pretty much assume, it hasn't been "properly" maintained, and I would recommend staying clear of the boat, regardless how cheap. Also, if a C-22 doesn't have a servicable trailer, it will appear to be a deal, but a decent trailer is a must have item for a C-22. I recently purchased a very nice swing keel C-22, and the boat above the waterline is beautiful. But they failed to properly maintain the swing keel, and kept the boat in a slip. The keel disolved away in the salt water and needs to be replaced. An expensive job to do "properly", but this boat is going to be worth the expense, time and trouble.
Anyway, we also hang with a local group of trailer-sailors called the "SoCal Potters". We have an outting every month around Southern California, and this coming weekend they will be at Mission Bay. Next month is our annual sailing trip to Catalina Island, and in August, I'm hosting the C-22 "Catalina's to Catalina" week long adventure to Avalon and Two Harbors.
Check-out their web site:
http://www.howies.net/socalpotter/
When we first moved back to San Diego, we also thought about a bigger boat, i.e. C-27 or a C-30. Then we met up with the trailer-sailors and it's been so much fun, we're over the bigger boat thing. The expense of the larger boat, and limiting yourself on your cruising areas, it just didn't make sense to us. We trailered to Florida last summer, and I'm leaving to attend the C-22 National's in Texas this week, so I'll miss our Mission Bay weekend this month. And after I retire next year, we plan on participating in several of the C-22 cruises around the country. Couldn't do that with a bigger boat.
Attached is a photo of our C-22's. Our MK-II version is normally kept in a slip at the Mission bay Yacht Club, but she was dry-docked for some maintenance before the big trip to Texas.
Good luck in your search, and looking forward to another C-22 owner here in San Diego!
Don Boyko
Commodore
National C-22 Association
