We just launched our new-to-us Raya for the first time, and in so doing, I guess we've joined the ranks of the "Our first cruising boat was a Catalina 22" club. We cruised Breezy for ~12 years, but our kids are now adult-sized; my wife and daughter long shared the C-22's dinette berth, but at 5'8", our daughter was declining boating trips, saying (rightly), "There's no place for me to sleep".
Our criteria for a larger boat was:
26' overall, 8'4" beam (almost a foot wider than Breezy, but still road-legal without a wide-load permit); 4400 lbs dry displacement; 3'1" encapsulated keel (See SailboatData)
I wouldn't call our first long-extension ramp launch, "smooth", but we'll take, "successful." (sorry - the lack of pictures goes with the "not entirely smooth" launch)
Nearly-silent electric motoring is pretty magical (details and range calculations to follow eventually). And now we have lots of new-to-us experiences: Like: "a sink” or “standing up to change clothes” or “heating tea-water in the cabin”
Previous owners had cared for her well (and understood sailing better than Breezy's PO). But she had sat idle on her trailer for the past few years, and we had quite a bit of winter work. A partial list; some to be detailed in later posts:
* If I understand correctly, we can't speak of a former name, now that it's been properly returned to Poseidon
Our criteria for a larger boat was:
- Still trailerable
- Bunks to fit all 4 of us
- 3 H's : 1) Headroom; 2) (enclosed) Head; and 3) (space to install) Heat
26' overall, 8'4" beam (almost a foot wider than Breezy, but still road-legal without a wide-load permit); 4400 lbs dry displacement; 3'1" encapsulated keel (See SailboatData)
I wouldn't call our first long-extension ramp launch, "smooth", but we'll take, "successful." (sorry - the lack of pictures goes with the "not entirely smooth" launch)
Nearly-silent electric motoring is pretty magical (details and range calculations to follow eventually). And now we have lots of new-to-us experiences: Like: "a sink” or “standing up to change clothes” or “heating tea-water in the cabin”
Previous owners had cared for her well (and understood sailing better than Breezy's PO). But she had sat idle on her trailer for the past few years, and we had quite a bit of winter work. A partial list; some to be detailed in later posts:
- Replaced the trailer jack (that failed as we hitched her up) and trailer brakes (that failed partway home)
- 20 kWh of propulsion batteries; ~2.5 kWh (200 Ah) of house bank; and 6 MPPT solar controllers
- Nearly all wiring and most running rigging
- Installed MSD Head (same as on Breezy)
- VHF + AIS from Breezy
- Mattresses, cushion covers and decoration
* If I understand correctly, we can't speak of a former name, now that it's been properly returned to Poseidon
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