What should I pay for Catalina 22 with trailer and motor?

[dailytrek]

What should I pay for each end of the spectrum on condition for a 22 with trailer and operable engine?
High end is a boat, galvanized trailer and newer motor which have been well cared for and needs little work.
Low end is no major damage or fiberglass repairs, everything in working order but needs upgrading.
I live in Port Townsend WA.

 

[morbidfollower]

I'd easily pay 12k for a new design fully loaded. On the low end I wouldn't buy a boat unless it was in good shape. maybe 3k. And I'd personally avoid any that are worth less than that. But some guys enjoy working on boats as much as sailing them which is cool but if I had to start over I would look for a turn-key boat and just go sailing.

 

[Gene Neill]

The spectrum is going to be very, very blurry at each end. Luck plays a huge role, as does the way each individual defines terms like "little work", and "needs upgrading".

Having said that, I would not expect to easily find any model year C22 boat/motor/trailer in decent shape, with no major work needed, for less than about $4500. It could happen, but some luck and patience would be required. I've bought a couple C22's for less than that, and deeply regretted it both times.

On the high side, I would expect to pay a lot for a 1988+ boat from a seller who loved it, maintained it, and rigged it well. If you could find such a thing at all. (Once again, luck and patience come into play here.) We bought our 1988 for $5500 in "ready to sail" condition, but she had a crappy trailer, crappy sails, a crappy motor, and crappy electronics. Not to mention plenty of long-overdue maintenance needed, and undoing all the idiotic things the PO had done to her. By the time she was fully up to speed, we had 20K in her, and countless hours of labor.

So, I think I would happily give $15K for a near-pristine C22 boat/motor/trailer combo with good electronics, 1988 or newer. If one could be found.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

I believe that both Gene and morbidfollower have hit the nail on the head. A well maintained boat with good maintenance records and receipts is generally worth every penny the owner is asking for. On the bright side, if you are handy with tools, with the abundance of spare parts available for Catalina 22s, taking on a project boat that is in sound condition structurally can make for a very enjoyable experience.
George

 

[Stu Jackson]

Only Gene mentioned a YEAR. Without knowing that, or at least a range of years, the question is unanswerable. We bought a 1981 C22 in 1983 in immaculate condition, as was its trailer. The price of the same rig, even if kept in immaculate condition today would be quite different. As would a later model C22. C'mon folks...

 

[AaronD]

Low end: negative $1000 or more. Few parts worth selling. Pay someone to haul it away. Run away! Run away!
High end: Like others have said - $15k or even more for a well-maintained boat equipped how you want it (sails, rigging, ground tackle, electronics...)

We really narrowed your range, didn't we

 

[morbidfollower]

Only Gene mentioned a YEAR. Without knowing that, or at least a range of years, the question is unanswerable. We bought a 1981 C22 in 1983 in immaculate condition, as was its trailer. The price of the same rig, even if kept in immaculate condition today would be quite different. As would a later model C22. C'mon folks...

True, I mentioned a "new design" in my reply as imo those are the only ones I would look at if I was in the market for a cat22. But to the op he might not know what that is or the years they were made.

 

[Rick Webb]

Location and time of year are going to affect the price of the boat and the seller's eagerness to sell.

 

[dailytrek]

I’ve learned a lot from you all and appreciate the input.

Does anyone trailer sail their 22 on a routine basis? If so, how long to set up and tear down? How well does it trailer?
I’ve been referred to a Montgomery as an option for ease of set up and trailering.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

Plenty of folks trailer sail their Catalina 22. I was one of them some 45 years ago. The more often you do it, the easier and more familiar it becomes. Age and agility play a part for sure. There was a time when raising the lighter 1974 mast by hand was easy peasy. Forty-five years later, on my 88 New Design C-22 I use an A-frame and the trailer winch to raise the mast. Quick release turnbuckles on both the forestay and lower forward shrouds coupled with an adjustable back stay save a bit of time and importantly, help keep the rigging in tune as your not loosening the shrouds and forestay to release them. Depending on how organized you are, I’d give it 60 to 90 minutes on each side of the sail until you get the routine down pat.

Regarding on the road manners, each of my C-22s came with Trailrite trailers and they each handle the road with aplomb.

George

 

[Gene Neill]

We're trailer sailors. I think our best time preparing for launch would be about 35 minutes, but an hour is more common. Typically, we do things like tightening the rigging, running the control lines, choosing and prepping a headsail (we don't use a furler), etc., after we've launched and are still motoring out to wherever.

Conversely, when returning to the dock, we do as much prepping as possible while we're still motoring in. All our gear gets bagged, sails bagged, boom removed and stowed, rigging loosened, etc, before we ever get to the dock. It's much less unpleasant to do on the water than in a parking lot, and it saves time. 45 minutes is about all it typically takes to get on the road.

A C22 behaves well on a trailer. A transom strap is a must! Some people remove their motor when trailering; we just use a ratchet strap to snug it up so it can't bounce around. Also, some people put a block under the mast to keep it from constantly flexing on the road. I just sit on the mast and cinch it down with a sail tie. Either way works.

 

[ShawnL]

I paid around $1500 for my '72, with a motor and ok trailer. Then I paid $300-ish to have the motor fixed up. And who knows how much in fiberglass and epoxy, new blocks, etc. And close to $1000 for new sails a couple of years after. But I enjoy working on it (and of course sailing it).

 

[morbidfollower]

We're trailer sailors. I think our best time preparing for launch would be about 35 minutes, but an hour is more common. Typically, we do things like tightening the rigging, running the control lines, choosing and prepping a headsail (we don't use a furler), etc., after we've launched and are still motoring out to wherever.

I took gene's advice about a year ago and switched to a hank on instead of furler. Really made rigging and launching the boat and really the whole trailer experience better. The sail shape and performance is better too.