18, THEN WHAT?
Not that I am discouraging you from buying an 18, but I own a Capri 22. I looked at the 18 and found that there really isn't that much room. The cockpit is short, the cabin is short and I needed and wanted more room in case I had at least two more adults on board with my wife and I. I like to race and the Capri 22 is better equiped to race than its cousin the Catalina 22. The reason I like the Capri 22 better is that the cockpit is very long for this size boat. The first time out on her we had 6 adults total on the boat, with the ability to still move around. The Catalina 22 with its swing keel is really a nice trailerable boat. I can't say from experiece that my Capri is easy or hard to launch or trailer. I look at it this way. Like motorcycles, you have a 125, you want to move up to a larger bike and consider the next size (a 250). How long will it be before you want to move up to a 500? If it is more room and trailerability you want. Why not move right on up to the largest size boat that can be trailered easily. ie. a 22 or even some 25's. I think you will be pleased in moving right up the extra 4' now instead of going to the 18, especially if you plan on sailing with more than two or three other people. Opinions are like armpits, everybody has them but some smell better than others. Good luck!
