After 40+ years of dinghy sailing (off and on) I finally decided to get a small cruiser - the very eye-catching Catalina Capri 18 (vintage 1998). Very pleased this craft moves so well in light winds and feels so stable compared to my little Sur Nomad 14. I got the C18 in June but lost much time (6 weeks) waiting for new trailer to be built and then going on a 4-week car trip visiting friends and family "back East." Even though I won't waste much time looking back, I have to admit there are plenty of trade-offs in convenience when you move from dinghy to keelboat. Most frustrating is that I can't trailer-sail single-handed because the mast is so heavy can't raise it alone. (Would appreciate any suggestions from other members of our esteemed group)! Finally got the boat in the water late August and decided to rent a slip so I could sail whenever, but found I'd rather trailer all around for variety. Hope to get a friend to go camping/sailing with me this January down to Lake Mead (Hoover Dam near Las Vegas) where it's far warmer than here. I am very lucky to be retired before I even hit 60 and I want to squeeze as much fun into my life as I can before it's all over. I've seen plenty of people who have had to sell their boat(s) due to economic reversals and I know the same could happen to me, so better get on with some good sailing for as long as I still can. Thanks to those you who have mentioned keeping a log, what a great idea! Every sailing day is a new adventure to be savored! Avast me hearties and shivver me timbers - see you on the water!
- Status
After 40+ years of dinghy sailing (off and on) I finally decided to get a small cruiser - the very eye-catching Catalina Capri 18 (vintage 1998). Very pleased this craft moves so well in light winds and feels so stable compared to my little Sur Nomad 14. I got the C18 in June but lost much time (6 weeks) waiting for new trailer to be built and then going on a 4-week car trip visiting friends and family "back East." Even though I won't waste much time looking back, I have to admit there are plenty of trade-offs in convenience when you move from dinghy to keelboat. Most frustrating is that I can't trailer-sail single-handed because the mast is so heavy can't raise it alone. (Would appreciate any suggestions from other members of our esteemed group)! Finally got the boat in the water late August and decided to rent a slip so I could sail whenever, but found I'd rather trailer all around for variety. Hope to get a friend to go camping/sailing with me this January down to Lake Mead (Hoover Dam near Las Vegas) where it's far warmer than here. I am very lucky to be retired before I even hit 60 and I want to squeeze as much fun into my life as I can before it's all over. I've seen plenty of people who have had to sell their boat(s) due to economic reversals and I know the same could happen to me, so better get on with some good sailing for as long as I still can. Thanks to those you who have mentioned keeping a log, what a great idea! Every sailing day is a new adventure to be savored! Avast me hearties and shivver me timbers - see you on the water!
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mast rasing
I own a macgregor 26 D, and the macgregor folks seem to have trailersailing down best. (some may knock the boats, but ease of in / out is by far the best.) macgregor-boats.com has some manuals and owners sites with info on mast raising. most use a gin pole, and the jib halyard. (with some baby stays). the tough part is raising the mast the first 20 degrees, and keeping the mast from rotating to the sides... I'm sure if you do research you will find a was to adapt to the catalina for single handing.
I own a macgregor 26 D, and the macgregor folks seem to have trailersailing down best. (some may knock the boats, but ease of in / out is by far the best.) macgregor-boats.com has some manuals and owners sites with info on mast raising. most use a gin pole, and the jib halyard. (with some baby stays). the tough part is raising the mast the first 20 degrees, and keeping the mast from rotating to the sides... I'm sure if you do research you will find a was to adapt to the catalina for single handing.
mast rasing
I own a macgregor 26 D, and the macgregor folks seem to have trailersailing down best. (some may knock the boats, but ease of in / out is by far the best.) macgregor-boats.com has some manuals and owners sites with info on mast raising. most use a gin pole, and the jib halyard. (with some baby stays). the tough part is raising the mast the first 20 degrees, and keeping the mast from rotating to the sides... I'm sure if you do research you will find a was to adapt to the catalina for single handing.
I own a macgregor 26 D, and the macgregor folks seem to have trailersailing down best. (some may knock the boats, but ease of in / out is by far the best.) macgregor-boats.com has some manuals and owners sites with info on mast raising. most use a gin pole, and the jib halyard. (with some baby stays). the tough part is raising the mast the first 20 degrees, and keeping the mast from rotating to the sides... I'm sure if you do research you will find a was to adapt to the catalina for single handing.
An easy mast raising system is the way to go...
I have a cut down Mac system on my C-18, and it makes it almost ridiculously easy. And I think it is a necessity if you have the furler. If you want, I could send you some pictures of mine, or give you the name of a local dealer that puts them together using Mac parts. Have fun with the boat - my wife and I went the other direction, and downsized to the C-18, and have sailed alot more, and spent more nights aboard, than we ever did with our larger boat. We keep ours in mast-up storage, so either of us can launch and sail single handed whenever we have a couple of hours.
I have a cut down Mac system on my C-18, and it makes it almost ridiculously easy. And I think it is a necessity if you have the furler. If you want, I could send you some pictures of mine, or give you the name of a local dealer that puts them together using Mac parts. Have fun with the boat - my wife and I went the other direction, and downsized to the C-18, and have sailed alot more, and spent more nights aboard, than we ever did with our larger boat. We keep ours in mast-up storage, so either of us can launch and sail single handed whenever we have a couple of hours.
An easy mast raising system is the way to go...
I have a cut down Mac system on my C-18, and it makes it almost ridiculously easy. And I think it is a necessity if you have the furler. If you want, I could send you some pictures of mine, or give you the name of a local dealer that puts them together using Mac parts. Have fun with the boat - my wife and I went the other direction, and downsized to the C-18, and have sailed alot more, and spent more nights aboard, than we ever did with our larger boat. We keep ours in mast-up storage, so either of us can launch and sail single handed whenever we have a couple of hours.
I have a cut down Mac system on my C-18, and it makes it almost ridiculously easy. And I think it is a necessity if you have the furler. If you want, I could send you some pictures of mine, or give you the name of a local dealer that puts them together using Mac parts. Have fun with the boat - my wife and I went the other direction, and downsized to the C-18, and have sailed alot more, and spent more nights aboard, than we ever did with our larger boat. We keep ours in mast-up storage, so either of us can launch and sail single handed whenever we have a couple of hours.
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