Catalina 22 swing or wing keel

Bad Obsession · Jul 21, 2014

Remember that a mid seventies boat is much older than a mid eighties boat. Make sure you really know what you are looking at before you buy.

There are a few books out there about purchasing older boats. This is a good start.

How long do you plan to keep this boat? What is the purpose of this boat?

Look around at different types and manufactures of boats. There are a lot out there. You may also find a different boat that you like better.

Bad Obsession · Jul 21, 2014

I just downsized from a Catalina 30 to a Compac 23. Take a look at the Compac 23. It is a neat little boat. The company still makes these and parts are easy to get. It is a little beefier than a Catalina 22.

Catalina is a nice boat and they are made pretty good. I loved my Catalina 30 but I wanted something a bit more unique than a Catalina 22. I also didn't want to deal with the swing keel. I have a fixed shoal keel and I draft 2'3".

I plan to do some cruising on my Compac 23. I tend to like longer cruises and this boat seems to fit the bill okay.

Crazy Dave Condon · Jul 21, 2014

You may want to look at the Catalina sport 22. Same hull as the catalina 22 but the Sport version comes only in the swing keel and with less amenities to keep weight down for racing. YOu can get a mast raise system with the boat and the Sport trailer is designed that the boat can be launched anywhere a power boat can be launched and it sits low on that trailer for easy towing and launching. As a former dealer who introduced that boat, I know. You might want to see if there are any used with those two features. By the way, the Sport 22 trailer will also work on the swing keel Catalina 22 as well.

Daydreamer · Jul 21, 2014

I think the swing keel model Catalina 22 sits lower on the trailer, which might make for easier ramp launching. My neighbor has one and it sits a little lower than my Oday 22 which has a 23" shoal keel. My 22 sets up an launches easily. The trailer has an extension if needed for shallow ramps, and is a blast to sail

rgranger · Jul 22, 2014

I have gone back and forth on this. I started with a Mac 21, then went to a Cornado 23 (fixed) then a Cornado 25 (fixed), then back down to a Mac 22 (swing), I now sail a Balboa 26 (also swing keel) and I am restoring a Rhodes 22 (swing dagger board with shoal fixed keel).

There are definite trade-offs for both kinds of boats. You have already thought about some of them (launching & maintenance). I think it will become a very personal decision that you will have to work out over time. I have settled in on the swing keel boats because I like to sail in very shallow water. My favorite sailing grounds are the North Carolina outer banks area and the water gets very thin there. I also like to be able to anchor close to shore in tucked away coves. So for me, the swing keel is ideal and I don't have to worry about hitting the bottom.

BUT! swing keels can be a pain. I've had to resurface the keels on the Mac 21 and the Balboa 26. I even had to sand blast the Balboa.... so lots more work. And my Balboa leaks a little water around the pivot pin when I'm underway. This seems to be a perpetual problems with the Balboas. And every swing keel boat I've had has been noisier underway, the keel cable will "hum" while under way if you leave any tension on it, and if you don't leave tension on the cable, the keel "rumbles" in the trunk.... but I kind of like the hum

What ever decision you make, it will be a trade-off. If where you plan to launch is not very steep, then strongly consider the swing keel. If where you plan to anchor for the night is very shallow, strongly consider the swing keel. Otherwise, a fixed keeled boat has less maintenance hassles.

You also said that you are good with fiberglass repairs. Something that is true about mid-70's boats is that they tended to have thicker hulls (more fiber glass). They also usually look bad... so you can get them cheap, sand paint and fix all the dings... and for a lot less money you have a very nice boat. I've done this to all of the boats I have owned and have been able to sell each for a nice profit (less my time and energy).

Tom G P-21 · Jul 22, 2014

Since you a looking for your first boat I would recommend the book "The Complete Trailer Sailor". When I first started looking I too thought I would end up with a Catalina 22 because of price and availability. I read the book which discussed the pro's and cons of different configurations, swing keel, shoal keel and water ballast for example. I ended up looking for and buying shoal keel with centerboard config. The book also goes through what to inspect when looking at an older boat. It also has short reviews of some select models. Overall I think its a good book to read while you are looking.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Trailer-Sailor-Sailboats/dp/0071472584

Crazy Dave Condon · Jul 23, 2014

RSGranger;

two more months and I will be knocking on your door. With the beginning of the James River in my backyard and 340 degree views of the mts., I am home.

jwing · Jul 23, 2014

I chose my boat for different reasons other than the keel configurations; it has a swing keel. Here's a little anecdotal info:

Easy launch/retrieve is a very big benefit to me. I keep my boat mast up on a trailer that I store at the marina. Since I can launch and retrieve by myself in just a few minutes, I can pop over for a quick sail after work or on a weekend afternoon after a day of house projects. What I see is the smaller boats get sailed more than the bigger boats that require more effort. +1 for swing keel.

I have not had the time to examine the keel or its pivot hardware. I know it works, but I don't know its condition or if it is close to failure. Hopefully, I can jack the boat up and drop the keel soon, but in the meantime, I have a bit of concern every time I take the boat out. +2 for fixed keel

I have sailed into mud with the keel down. I simply lifted the keel and was on my way. I've read that wing keels can be difficult to extract from mud. +1 for swing.

If you are considering a swing keel boat, don't buy it until you are sure the keel goes down and back up easily. There are a lot of ways swing keels can get messed up and you might not be able to see them when the boat is on a trailer.

Brian S · Jul 23, 2014

Personally, I like ballasted stub keels with centerboards. Shallow draft, reasonably low on the trailer, and a centerboard is not as heavy as a swing keel, and does not wear it's hardware as much. I pull mine up by hand. Some people don't even sail to windward with the CB down on a stub keel… I can't stand that, as I can see all the leeway I'm making.

The Precision 21 is an excellent example of such a combo, as are most O'days…

rgranger · Jul 23, 2014

Brian S said:
Personally, I like ballasted stub keels with centerboards. Shallow draft, reasonably low on the trailer, and a centerboard is not as heavy as a swing keel, and does not wear it's hardware as much. I pull mine up by hand. Some people don't even sail to windward with the CB down on a stub keel… I can't stand that, as I can see all the leeway I'm making.

The Precision 21 is an excellent example of such a combo, as are most O'days…

The Rhodes 22 is also set up this way. Brian is correct. You can pull up the "swing dagger board" with a simple rope and a cleat to hold it up. And the other advantage is that since the dagger board does not contain significant ballast, it will swing up out of the way if you graze the bottom. It is the largest 22' boat you will find. And Stan (the owner of www.generalboats.com) has set up the rhodes with a roller furled main and genoa, the pop top is also levered on a lift line cleated to the mast and the outboard is on an electric lift. It has a real head with mercerating discharge and 10 gal holding tank. I've chartered one before and loved it so much that when I saw a wrecked one for $250 I bought it. Mine is about 70% restored right now and when it is all set up the way I like it... I'll probably sell my Balboa 26'.

But Brian is correct, there are a lot of O'days on the market that would make a great entry boat. This sort of set up is kind of an in between of the two options you started this thread with.

Have fun shopping

boblufkin · Jul 23, 2014

For me, I have deep water and keep the boat at a slip, so the wing keel was the way to go. Less moving parts......

shnool · Jul 28, 2014

If you have a decently steep ramp, a wing keel is NOT hard to launch, barely get your tires wet kind of launch. Also many wing keel boat trailers have a tongue extension, so even IF you have a shallow ramp, its very doable. Obviously the Wing keel has less moving parts, and is therefore less maintenance.

My Catalina Capri 22 wing keel, which by the way is still a currently made Catalina boat, and parts are just as easily obtained, is a much sportier version of the Catalina 22, and has some bigger boat sail controls. The boat arguably sails better and responds better in light air. The Capri 22 in wing keel version draws 2.5' I'd strongly recommend the Capri 22 if you plan on most of your sails being day sails.

The Compac 23is a heavy boat by comparison over the Catalina 22, and Capri 22, or even the Catalina Sport... it's a GREAT boat, and if you lean towards "camping" the Compac likely IS your better choice. This shoal keel draws 2.25'

Another here recommended a shoal/centerboard. That TOO is a good compromise boat, much better honestly than the swing. If trailering is your biggest concern (say shallow ramp), I'd say consider either the Precision 18, or 21. P-18 draws minimum 18 inches, P-21 draws minimum 21 inches

So it comes down to your longer term focus... day sailing from a mooring/slip (Capri 22), launching all the time (P-18), or camping out (C-23).

I honestly think the Catalina 22, while a great boat in it's own right, is a compromise on every front. A Jack of All trades kind of boat... which is OK if you aren't sure what your major use of the boat will be (or it may vary depending on season).

Hope that helps not hinders.

CCrane2299 · Jul 28, 2014

For what its worth... I jacked my Catalina 22 '83 Swing keel up with a floor jack near the keel pin in order to paint the bottom. I leaned it against one bunk while I painted the over the other. I tried that again yesterday with my 89 wing and the bottom wanted to "oil can" on the starboard side.

HukilauMike · Jul 28, 2014

I've sailed both the swing and fixed keel versions of the Catalina 22. The fixed keel version sails better, no question. You can point higher, the boat is stiffer, and I thought faster too. The swing keel is easier to launch and retrieve on a trailer, no question. Your decision is really a question of which is more important.

I fully agree with the posters who have said that the stub keel/centerboard design is superior to the Catalina swing keel design. You don't need a winch to move the centerboard up and down. With the Catalina, you need mechanical help to haul the 800 lbs. of swing keel. Also, with the centerboard, you know where the centerboard is set just by looking at how much line is in the cockpit. With the Catalina, you have to swing the board all the way up or all the way down, then count crank revolutions to make sure you know where the thing is.

And even though Catalina has built about a zillion of the 22's (most successful production sailboat ever), the winch can (and does) fail. I would also recommend you look at the Oday 22 and 23. Both are similar in size and value to the Catalina 22. They both have the stub keel/centerboard design; however, early models of the Oday 22 had just a stub keel without a centerboard, and early models of the 23 had a strange cabin pop-top, and also a winch for the centerboard (even though there was no significant ballast in the centerboard).

However, one of the best features of the Oday 22 and 23 is that the head is behind a real door. Never underestimate the value of this feature when sailing with the ladies. Anytime you want to use the head on the C22, you have to close up the hatch boards to get any privacy. The door is a very nice feature that is quite rare on boats that size.

CaptDon01 · Jul 28, 2014

Well, I got one of each.....wing keel and swing keel C-22's. A lot depends on where you sail, and if you intend to keep the boat in a slip. The swing keel is more maintenance than a wing keel. Our wing keel is a MK-II version, and they use the wing keel off the Capri-22, which is different than the wing keels used on the 2nd generation boats. The photo attached shows a good comparision on the height of the boats siting on the trailer. Both boats are sitting on Trail-Rite C-22 trailers with the same drop axles. Look at the height of the hulls at the fenders. The photo also slows the difference in the beam of the boats with the MK-II hull sides angle out, vs the 2nd generation hull sides pretty much verticle. The swing keel boats can normally be launched without a tongue extension, I've never been able to launch the wing keel boat without extending the tongue.

We LOVE our wing keeled MK-II, and are looking forward to getting our 2nd generation C-22 back in the water to compare the sailing qualities of both boats.

Don

DAVA390 · Jul 28, 2014

Another vote for Precision here, still in production in Florida.

CaptDon01 · Jul 28, 2014

DAVA390 said:
Another vote for Precision here, still in production in Florida.

Can't help myself, C-22 still in production after some 44 years and thousands and thousands, and thousands produced.

Swing keel is 550 pounds, fin and wing keel models are more, I would say the keel system has stood the test of time with the majority of the C-22's produced being swing keeled versions.

Strong National Association, racing and cruising events around the country, bi-monthly publication.....

Must be a reason?

Don

(also manufactured in Florida)

Catalina 22 swing or wing keel

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