Important: this is a thread to discuss what upgrades you would do to a fixed keel catalina 22 to make coastal hops and sail from florida to the bahamas. ONLY add to this thread if you have a list of items you would upgrade or suggestions on what to upgrade. This is not a thread about why you would consider this a poor boat to cruise in. So please lets keep this thread on topic. Upgrades on the catalina 22 ONLY!!!!
I picked up a Catalina 22 fin keel about a year ago for next to nothing.
This boat has sailed up and down the southern Atlantic coast more than a few times under sail by her previous owners.
She sat neglected for years, I've picked her up and plan on using this boat as my lawn ornament/sailboat specifically for my winter break vacations.
I've brought a west wind 21 back from the dead (pre-macgreggor venture 21) so now project number two gets started.
I live on a local lake so my Venture 21 is my daily jump in and sail boat but I want something more off shore capable, not across ocean capable but tow down the florida, drop in the water then sail over to the bahamas, maybe around cuba and down to Belize along with many other island locations dotting from the bahamas all the way down to the ABC's
I realize that waiting on weather here will be key....I don't need any input from anyone saying "you need a bigger boat" Yes the catalina 22 will be uncomfortable in rough seas but the best part of being on winter break is I'm not in a rush to go anywhere. I'm fine sailing around the keys for a week or 3 for a window to head to mexico's yucatan or heading up toward miami to set across for the cays. Time will be no issue here...so again...people have sailed much greater distances in much smaller vessels.
So with that out of the way, I'm new to the Catalinas. I didn't do much modification to my v21 as i did updating just to take her from pre 1970's to the 2000 and teens.
With the 22 I'm missing my rudder, someone has taken everything out of the interior that wasn't bolted down along with boom and mast head. Most standing rigging is gone.
So with this in mind I'm pretty much left with a really nice bare hull to start with. Many who take Catalina 25's off shore upgrade the mast. What other mods should be done to the 22?
i've a few areas that i want to get opinions on before I start buying parts, my time line is to have her water ready next winter.
1. Mast, upgrade to thicker walled mast or not? along with this mast step?
2. Sail inventory, I prefer hank on head sails to roller furling, less moving parts to fail, I can' carry 2 maybe 3 head sails off shore (storm, maybe two full sized jibs)
3. I consider two good main sails a must both with a 3rd deep reef installed
4. What size running rigging would you run? I'm thinking all 3/8 for off shore, maybe 5/16 for sheets for main jib and spare.
5. Standing rigging: Should i go one size bigger on the rigging, i'll be putting all new for/back stays/inner/outer stays anyway along with new turnbuckles? in the past I've made my own rigging with the Hi-Mod swagless fittings. They are really nice as they have a higher failure rating than their related size wire. I also like that you can inspect all these easily for any corrosion and add some grease to them along with loctite seasonally or as needed
6. Chainplates: upgrade or no
7. For two adults and 1 child what size water tank and waste holding tank would you suggest? A small(ish) water making system will be installed but i would like to have enough water on board to last for at least 48 hours should it go down.
8. Any upgrades to the mounting of outboard or rudder to transome?
9. motor selection. I'd like a light weight 2 cycle 7-9 hp but I really want something to enable me to push this boat in a current. I want powerful without too much weight.
happy sailing!!!
I picked up a Catalina 22 fin keel about a year ago for next to nothing.
This boat has sailed up and down the southern Atlantic coast more than a few times under sail by her previous owners.
She sat neglected for years, I've picked her up and plan on using this boat as my lawn ornament/sailboat specifically for my winter break vacations.
I've brought a west wind 21 back from the dead (pre-macgreggor venture 21) so now project number two gets started.
I live on a local lake so my Venture 21 is my daily jump in and sail boat but I want something more off shore capable, not across ocean capable but tow down the florida, drop in the water then sail over to the bahamas, maybe around cuba and down to Belize along with many other island locations dotting from the bahamas all the way down to the ABC's
I realize that waiting on weather here will be key....I don't need any input from anyone saying "you need a bigger boat" Yes the catalina 22 will be uncomfortable in rough seas but the best part of being on winter break is I'm not in a rush to go anywhere. I'm fine sailing around the keys for a week or 3 for a window to head to mexico's yucatan or heading up toward miami to set across for the cays. Time will be no issue here...so again...people have sailed much greater distances in much smaller vessels.
So with that out of the way, I'm new to the Catalinas. I didn't do much modification to my v21 as i did updating just to take her from pre 1970's to the 2000 and teens.
With the 22 I'm missing my rudder, someone has taken everything out of the interior that wasn't bolted down along with boom and mast head. Most standing rigging is gone.
So with this in mind I'm pretty much left with a really nice bare hull to start with. Many who take Catalina 25's off shore upgrade the mast. What other mods should be done to the 22?
i've a few areas that i want to get opinions on before I start buying parts, my time line is to have her water ready next winter.
1. Mast, upgrade to thicker walled mast or not? along with this mast step?
2. Sail inventory, I prefer hank on head sails to roller furling, less moving parts to fail, I can' carry 2 maybe 3 head sails off shore (storm, maybe two full sized jibs)
3. I consider two good main sails a must both with a 3rd deep reef installed
4. What size running rigging would you run? I'm thinking all 3/8 for off shore, maybe 5/16 for sheets for main jib and spare.
5. Standing rigging: Should i go one size bigger on the rigging, i'll be putting all new for/back stays/inner/outer stays anyway along with new turnbuckles? in the past I've made my own rigging with the Hi-Mod swagless fittings. They are really nice as they have a higher failure rating than their related size wire. I also like that you can inspect all these easily for any corrosion and add some grease to them along with loctite seasonally or as needed
6. Chainplates: upgrade or no
7. For two adults and 1 child what size water tank and waste holding tank would you suggest? A small(ish) water making system will be installed but i would like to have enough water on board to last for at least 48 hours should it go down.
8. Any upgrades to the mounting of outboard or rudder to transome?
9. motor selection. I'd like a light weight 2 cycle 7-9 hp but I really want something to enable me to push this boat in a current. I want powerful without too much weight.
happy sailing!!!
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