Live in low tide area and difficulty getting to ship channels in Gulf. I am not a trailer sailor and plan to moor the boat in the back yard access to the Gulf. Rather than stick with a Cat 22 Swing Keel at 24" Draft, I keep going back to the 250 Water Ballast. From what I have read, the WB Boat does not do well up wind needing to add extra ballast ( +200lbs. forward ) to correct this problem. What is of course convenient with the 250 WB is the 20" Draft. We have a lot of Sand Bars in the Gulf where beaching and hull diving clean up is an advantage. All that said, I am concerned about leaving salt water ballast in the boat for the sailing season ( Florida typically 10-months out of the year ). I have read about treatments to the water in the ballast, the ballast area membrane separating and leaking and a lot of other hoarer stories. I am a seasoned long ago sailor, had a Cat 25 in 1984 and all this quibble is really about is wanting a 250 but realizing the Cat 22 SW is the best scenario. Raising and lowering the mast is not my idea of a full day of sailing, so the trailer would only suffice in emptying the ballast, storing the boat for two months then back in the water...........
