Hi all!
I have been following and gleaning lots of info from your posts here and enjoyed your Youtube adventures as well. I acquired this 1987 swing-keel Catalina 22 last year on the day of the Eclipse 2024... I drove quite distance to see it, instantly knew is was a good-un and sealed the deal, cash, and parted with it hooked up to my Tahoe about 35 minutes before the actual eclipse. 5 minutes down the road I noticed the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum where there were thousands of people sat out on deckchairs awaiting the big event ... I had no idea that I had just driven, on the day of the eclipse, to the main center of the eclipse (smack bang center of the track and longest viewing time) and bought a boat from a lovely family (that had bought it new in 1987) .. from the small town where Neil Armstrong was born - Wapakoneta, Ohio. Hence the boat name is now Eclipse... currently used on Kentucky Lake.
I have sailed extensively over the years and lived aboard a 33ft, pretty light racer/cruiser sailboat in Europe from England as far as Portugal. English Channel was my most hairiest in a force 7 that had only been forecasted as a force 4 while I was sailing between a port in Holland to Calais. The weather was so bad that the entrance to Calais was inaccessible even by Car Ferries that I could see the lights of in the dark that had anchored out in the deeper areas of the channel awaiting weather clearance, I ended up holding in place against the waves and weather outside Calais for about 7 hours until it was safe enough to get in. The English channel has a lot of banks and shallow areas (less than 4ft) resulting in troughs and wave heights of 12ft+. Coastal France and the Bay of Biscay not a problem, if offshore, head for the deep in any heavy weather if stuck far out. I am sure you have all heard of the saying 'any port in a storm'.. works when a young soldier on leave in a bar at midnight... but not applicable when sailing, FYI. Big waves break and shipwrecks mainly occur in the shallows... while out at sea they are just big swell.
I've read plenty here about the sailing capabilities of the Catalina 22. It's a very light boat, but, with the right experience, I am sure this can handle surprisingly more that most will ever need. Swing-keel worries can be put at rest with good maintenance and use of the locking pin/screw. The rigging is plenty for it's size, shorten sail and reduce power before you need to is always the best course of action. Plenty of storage to add 'stuff' and weight to down below. Fine and dandy for a couple. I've added most upgrades needed for handling, downhaul, lazyjack etc and comfort items including cockpit cushions, bimini, zerobreeze mk2 A/C and a small portable generator when needed. This Catalina in in exceptional condition, the keel is is very good shape, a couple of rust spots quickly sorted with wire brush and rust-oleum spray paint, done, hanger bolts changed just to investigate .. no problems. Have intentionally had it out in heavy rain just to check for top-side leaks, have tightened every screw by hand and added a bit of sealant anywhere on the top side of fittings that even looked like they may have potential for water ingress. Quick release on the forestay and quick release pins added where needed. Also added a solar panel that sits nicely on the bimini while sailing, stick on deck mat where needed .. cockpit, by mast and in front of anchor locker to save the knees while deploying. Might add some more of the stick on mat inside under cushion areas to help with comfort. Came with a 1987 two-stroke Mariner 4hp in great condition but have just bought a new Mercury 4hp 4-stroke. The only thing left on my list (at the moment) is a smaller Jib .. recommendations welcome.
I have enjoyed watching Gene Neill and wife's adventures down the Florida Coast... definitely on my list and would like to hear more about the Florida Keys area, anchorages, where to pull in/tie up for the night/anchor/dinghy docks etc for a cheap shower/resupply ... for a couple of weeks type cruise around. As for salt-water and swing-keel.. I would just wash that all off with a vinegar mix outside and inside (keel winch area) as soon as pulled out. Also, with the swing keel, I push plenty of marine grease up inside the keel hanger/pin area in an attempt to lube/seal that pin area just to ward off rust and wear. I've not removed the keel hanger/pin to check, but I am confident that it is all fine and still to spec. I will probably replace winch cable end of this year, then drop the keel in another year or two just to check. I also notice that this keel (1987) already has spacers fitted.. I am assuming that earlier models are the ones that folks have been adding spacers to.
Lake sailing... plenty of chop with the wrong wind pattern, hence I would like a smaller jib, I am confident that the boat will handle most weather, within reason, on a lake. I would have no concerns with the boat itself sailing offshore in known stable weather, in the right season. Big plans ahead, time will dictate whether I get to all of them on this boat or not. I would do a Bimini trip with the right weather/season window, and plenty of time to await the return leg, just to prove it... minus the wife.
I have been following and gleaning lots of info from your posts here and enjoyed your Youtube adventures as well. I acquired this 1987 swing-keel Catalina 22 last year on the day of the Eclipse 2024... I drove quite distance to see it, instantly knew is was a good-un and sealed the deal, cash, and parted with it hooked up to my Tahoe about 35 minutes before the actual eclipse. 5 minutes down the road I noticed the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum where there were thousands of people sat out on deckchairs awaiting the big event ... I had no idea that I had just driven, on the day of the eclipse, to the main center of the eclipse (smack bang center of the track and longest viewing time) and bought a boat from a lovely family (that had bought it new in 1987) .. from the small town where Neil Armstrong was born - Wapakoneta, Ohio. Hence the boat name is now Eclipse... currently used on Kentucky Lake.
I have sailed extensively over the years and lived aboard a 33ft, pretty light racer/cruiser sailboat in Europe from England as far as Portugal. English Channel was my most hairiest in a force 7 that had only been forecasted as a force 4 while I was sailing between a port in Holland to Calais. The weather was so bad that the entrance to Calais was inaccessible even by Car Ferries that I could see the lights of in the dark that had anchored out in the deeper areas of the channel awaiting weather clearance, I ended up holding in place against the waves and weather outside Calais for about 7 hours until it was safe enough to get in. The English channel has a lot of banks and shallow areas (less than 4ft) resulting in troughs and wave heights of 12ft+. Coastal France and the Bay of Biscay not a problem, if offshore, head for the deep in any heavy weather if stuck far out. I am sure you have all heard of the saying 'any port in a storm'.. works when a young soldier on leave in a bar at midnight... but not applicable when sailing, FYI. Big waves break and shipwrecks mainly occur in the shallows... while out at sea they are just big swell.
I've read plenty here about the sailing capabilities of the Catalina 22. It's a very light boat, but, with the right experience, I am sure this can handle surprisingly more that most will ever need. Swing-keel worries can be put at rest with good maintenance and use of the locking pin/screw. The rigging is plenty for it's size, shorten sail and reduce power before you need to is always the best course of action. Plenty of storage to add 'stuff' and weight to down below. Fine and dandy for a couple. I've added most upgrades needed for handling, downhaul, lazyjack etc and comfort items including cockpit cushions, bimini, zerobreeze mk2 A/C and a small portable generator when needed. This Catalina in in exceptional condition, the keel is is very good shape, a couple of rust spots quickly sorted with wire brush and rust-oleum spray paint, done, hanger bolts changed just to investigate .. no problems. Have intentionally had it out in heavy rain just to check for top-side leaks, have tightened every screw by hand and added a bit of sealant anywhere on the top side of fittings that even looked like they may have potential for water ingress. Quick release on the forestay and quick release pins added where needed. Also added a solar panel that sits nicely on the bimini while sailing, stick on deck mat where needed .. cockpit, by mast and in front of anchor locker to save the knees while deploying. Might add some more of the stick on mat inside under cushion areas to help with comfort. Came with a 1987 two-stroke Mariner 4hp in great condition but have just bought a new Mercury 4hp 4-stroke. The only thing left on my list (at the moment) is a smaller Jib .. recommendations welcome.
I have enjoyed watching Gene Neill and wife's adventures down the Florida Coast... definitely on my list and would like to hear more about the Florida Keys area, anchorages, where to pull in/tie up for the night/anchor/dinghy docks etc for a cheap shower/resupply ... for a couple of weeks type cruise around. As for salt-water and swing-keel.. I would just wash that all off with a vinegar mix outside and inside (keel winch area) as soon as pulled out. Also, with the swing keel, I push plenty of marine grease up inside the keel hanger/pin area in an attempt to lube/seal that pin area just to ward off rust and wear. I've not removed the keel hanger/pin to check, but I am confident that it is all fine and still to spec. I will probably replace winch cable end of this year, then drop the keel in another year or two just to check. I also notice that this keel (1987) already has spacers fitted.. I am assuming that earlier models are the ones that folks have been adding spacers to.
Lake sailing... plenty of chop with the wrong wind pattern, hence I would like a smaller jib, I am confident that the boat will handle most weather, within reason, on a lake. I would have no concerns with the boat itself sailing offshore in known stable weather, in the right season. Big plans ahead, time will dictate whether I get to all of them on this boat or not. I would do a Bimini trip with the right weather/season window, and plenty of time to await the return leg, just to prove it... minus the wife.
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(my kids' favorite Orca, so I have to stay up on these things).
