Hello Sailors!
I posted in the forum the winter of 2022-2023. Back then I acquired a lovely Catalina 18, built in 1993. (I am the third owner. The second owner never sailed it.) I got the boat in November 2022. At that time I posted as a newbie with a bunch of (probably stupid and naïve) questions. By now, we had a great season (despite the very rainy summer in the Northeast) on Lake Champlain (Mostly the south part). We are planning a few more overnight trips before the season ends. During this time, we got familiar with the boat and had a great time learning the ropes...ups. sorry, learning the LINES of sailing hands-on on which included a few scary incidents for which we are grateful. By now, I am completely addicted..and my appetite has grown. So far I feel that sailing is the only thing that gets you the closest (at least in the phenomenological sense) to what can be called freedom.
Thus my question. Does anyone have experience of coastal sailing (meaning not in-land lakes/rivers) with Catalina 18? I do understand it is not a blue water boat, thats why I am specifically referring to "coastal sailing." Next season we are thinking of trailing the boat down south to South Long Island and from there making a loop (or just up and down) around the coast of Long Island, and then trailing the boat back to Lake Champlain. Would anyone have any advice on coast-sailing Long Island with a small 18ft boat or similar? E.g. specifically updating the standing and running rigging, updating the cabin (Installing fresh water and grey water tanks), getting essential navigation equipment, or registering/taking courses with the Coast Gueard etc... Any ideas or advice would be very helpful.
Thank you all in advance. I am sorry about the long post.
I posted in the forum the winter of 2022-2023. Back then I acquired a lovely Catalina 18, built in 1993. (I am the third owner. The second owner never sailed it.) I got the boat in November 2022. At that time I posted as a newbie with a bunch of (probably stupid and naïve) questions. By now, we had a great season (despite the very rainy summer in the Northeast) on Lake Champlain (Mostly the south part). We are planning a few more overnight trips before the season ends. During this time, we got familiar with the boat and had a great time learning the ropes...ups. sorry, learning the LINES of sailing hands-on on which included a few scary incidents for which we are grateful. By now, I am completely addicted..and my appetite has grown. So far I feel that sailing is the only thing that gets you the closest (at least in the phenomenological sense) to what can be called freedom.
Thus my question. Does anyone have experience of coastal sailing (meaning not in-land lakes/rivers) with Catalina 18? I do understand it is not a blue water boat, thats why I am specifically referring to "coastal sailing." Next season we are thinking of trailing the boat down south to South Long Island and from there making a loop (or just up and down) around the coast of Long Island, and then trailing the boat back to Lake Champlain. Would anyone have any advice on coast-sailing Long Island with a small 18ft boat or similar? E.g. specifically updating the standing and running rigging, updating the cabin (Installing fresh water and grey water tanks), getting essential navigation equipment, or registering/taking courses with the Coast Gueard etc... Any ideas or advice would be very helpful.
Thank you all in advance. I am sorry about the long post.
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