Hunter 240 vs. Catalina Capri 22

[Doug]

Any thoughts out there as to which is better? My criteria is price, performance and trailerability.

 

[Frank Ladd]

They are not even close

I'd compare the Hunter 240 to the Catalina 250 or the catalina 22mark2. As compared to the Capri 22 they are totally different boats for different purposes. The Hunter is easier to launch, faster to rig, more comfortable inside, has a more roomy cabin, and is easy to sail. It is a great Weekend trailer cruiser that sails well enough to be an OK PHRF racer.The Capri has more expensive deck hardware, Much less room and comfort inside, is harder to rig and harder to launch. But the Capri is a great sport boat that would be a fine PHRF racer and an OK weekender.If you want the best bang for the buck in a sport boat PHRF racer, check out the new Hunter 216.

 

[Doug]

Catalina 22markII

Yep Frank, you are right -- I should be comparing against the Catalina 22markII. I would probably want to compare against the retractable keel version.

 

[Frank Ladd]

Ok so the difference is.....long

The Catalina 22 Mark 2 is the same under water shape and rig as the original 22. This boat is THE most sucessful trailer cruiser ever made. Something like 20,000 or more of them have been made and they are still one of the most popular new boats as well. If I was going to get one I'd get the wing keel version, but it depends on the ramps in your area. The wing keel needs a ramp like the big pontoon boats use but you aviod the maintenace issues of the big heavy swing keel and it's winch cable and hinge pin. The 22 is a great racer because it is so popular you can usually find other to race against. It looks more traditional than the more modern 240 and that is a plus for many. The standard traditional rig has a backstay that many like. I think setting up this boat, rigging and launching it takes much longer and is harder than the 240.The 240 is a modern design. Hunter updates their designs every few years so the 240 has upgrades that make it even nicer than the 23.5. the 240 sets up faster than anything else its size and I really like the B&R rig that does not have a backstay. I love water ballast for a boat that is trailered. I think the Hunter gives you more boat for the money, but they skimp on some hardware. If you are going to sail either boat single handed or in heavy weather you may want to improve the jib sheet handling by adding winchers or Spinlocks. I'd also recommend a longer tiller extention for the 240 so you can reach the jib sheet winches and the tiller at the same time. I think the 240 is a faster boat with more room. I'm very biased here because I have a 23.5 and now that I've been in really big waves with and open stern I'll never go back to a closed stern that only drains through a couple little holes. In big waves any water that crashes over the deck of the Hunter will wash right out the back as fast as it cam in.