Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 22 by Stephen Dailey

Year built	1983
Location of boat	Carlyle Lake, IL
The boat is sailed on	Rivers
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	less than 10 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2006
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes. This is a wonderful boat to single-hand.
Gear that's been added	I have replaced some "tired" running rigging.Next year I need to get a larger mast crane and add a spinnaker block and rigging.
Structural or complex improvements	No. For my use I decided to remove the sliding galley sink. If I single-handed all the time I would have retained it, but the occassional over-night with my wife and son meant that I had to create more interior space. This unit slides under the cockpit seats out of the way, but it is not necessary for my purposes.
The boat's best features	Easy to find parts from Catalina Direct, a regional / local Catalina dealer and other Catalina 22 owners. Easy to find advice on how to repair or upgrade the boat.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The kick up rudder is not easy to lock down with the factory wing-nut. I will replace this with a more leveraged wing nut design (i.e. more like a wing nut with a permanent wrench designed on one wing).
Sailing characterisitcs	She is a very capable light wind boat (mine is a swing keel), points exceptionally well to windward and is well balanced. I use an adjustable traveler, a vang, and I adjust the stays for wind conditions and I have been pleased with the relatively light helm. I have sailed in little to no wind, 10 - 14 knots and several 15 - 20 knot conditions. I have enjoyed chasing down some of the bigger boats to windward on the light winded days (J-24's and J-105's). Bow Wow, Bow Wow down wind. The swing keel does not hold any momentum. Hence next year the addition of spinnaker gear.
Motoring characterisitcs	I have sailed all my life but never used a slip until now. I find reverse continues to be a learning process with my port side, stern mounted, 1983 vintage Johnson 4.5 hp motor. Prop Walk to Port... YES. The swing keel does not hold momentum as would a fin keel boat when docking. In tall waves (3 footers) the engine would occassionally cavitate but not sufficiently to cause harm. Motoring into a 25 - 35 knot wind (got caught as a T-storm approached) I wished for more horse power and ended up pulling up the motor and sailing on the jib into dock. At 25 knots the 4.5 hp was not enough. Boy I am proud of that one, as my slip was down wind... I dumped the jib when I was twenty yards away and sailed in bare poles when I got close. No dings! (I acted like I do it all the time...)
Liveability	Jump up 3 feet at a minimum if you really want to do this. I grew up as a teen living on a 20 footer in the summer time so I am used to it. My wife must love me because she has stayed overnight more than once but I suspect most won't! Two is tops. Our seven year old added is really pushing it. Three is Okay for an evening or two if you are at a dock with access to an onshore head. I wouldn't try to cruise and anchor with three on board for a weekend.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	Excellent advice and call backs to find out how I was doing.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	St. Louis Sailing Center was responsive and exceptionally helpful. I purchased this used of course. The outboard was properly prepared and started on the first pull when I launched. I consider this and the general condition of the boat they sold me to be commendable.
Other comments	If I had to do it again, I would buy a Catalina 22 with a fin keel (there aren't many out there but they do exist). I won't tow my boat but once / twice a year tops. Since I am at a slip the swing keel is just more upkeep and "another moving part" to worry about. The expense savings of the swing keel trailer haul out (cost $0) versus the cost of a hoist (cost $75) will be off set with maintenance on the swing keel and its components. I understand there is a wing keel model also. I just don't find that compromise appealing.

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