First Sail with New (to Me) Boat. Catalina 22

[rwdsr]

Friday,  I built the new bunks for the trailer and they came out just fine.  Everything works the way it was designed and the boat sits on the trailer real well.  I only have two more supports to put on the trailer to finish it, I have them built but had to reposition the boat on the trailer to be able to get them on.  Of course after everything going smoothly on the build Friday, I had a glitch - the bolts I bought were too short and it was late in the evening and I had to wait till Saturday morning early to go get the right size and finish the job.  It froze hard here Friday night and there was ice over everything Saturday morning.  Once the sun came up though it got up into the mid to high 70's and sunny, winds 15 - 20, and steady at first, gusting to 25 toward the end of the afternoon.  It took us a while to rig, this being the first time rigging this boat and there were new lines and configurations to figure out.  This was our first sail with a boom vang, I really like it!  The boat handled beautifully, and really sail no different than the little 16, except that it's bigger.  Marie and Justin, my daughter and grandson, and wife Joyce were all aboard, and were really tickled at the room we have on this boat.  Marie brought the makings for lunch and sat at the table and made sandwiches and passed them all around.  Of course, I was busy at the helm, and that Catalina got a bone in her teeth, and up the lake we went!  We have never had a day when all of us were on the boat at the same time that the wind held as steady for as long as it did today.  We really got a workout, but they handled her like champs.  The only mistake that happened today was on me - I did an accidental gybe, scared me and everyone else half to death.  It happened so fast and put one of the rails in the water, and dumped a pair of shoes Justin had laying up on the top hatch in the drink.  We weren't able to safely recover the shoes.  I'l bet he doesn't leave anything else he doesn't want to lose laying on deck anymore.  The wind was blowing so well that we only ran the motor for just a little bitgoing out and coming in.  Coming back to the dock, I chopped the throttle and we just coasted up to the dock, and the crew just stepped off on the dock and cleated her off like they had been doing it forever.  Joyce said that she really likes this boat, the seats in the cockpit are high enough that she can sit comfortably.  The boat and trailer tow down the road nicely and I couldn't be happier with it.  There were three other sailboats out when we got there, and as we sailed out and got a look at them, lo and behold, one of them was a Compac 16 and the other was a Montogomery 17, and they were running together up and down the lake.  That's the first 16 other than mine that I've seen over there.  Got the boat back on the trailer and positioned real easy.  All and all a wonderful day.  Now I'm getting anxious to do an overnighter.  Took some pics when we got back to the dock.  Couldn't while I was sailing.  Can't wait to take it to Knoxville for Greg's expert touch.  That's all for now, I'm tired, sore and happy. 

[Salty19]

Hi Bob,

Glad you're happy with the new boat, and thanks for sharing your story.  That shoe incident will teach him! 

I smell a CP23 in your future

[brackish]

Great story Bob, glad the new boat is working out for you.  I've got to tell you since I've been mostly lake sailing, accidental gybes seem to be a way of life.  Fluky winds coming out of those fingers require a close watch.

On my way to the boat in about an hour.  May not have time to sail, but have to go up and put a heater aboard.  A couple of predicted lows in the mid twenties kind of sneaked up on me.  Trying to avoid a complete winterizing which for me is just draining the water system and dumping the toilet supply tank because I think there will still be some opportunities for some nice overnight cruises at least till the end of the month.

[HideAway]

One of our club members took his Catalina 22 on a club cruise to Boca Grande about 60 miles from here.  He had the smallest boat in the fleet but that didn't stop him from taking he and his wife, three kids and one of his teenaged daughters boyfriends!  Of course there was not room for everything in the Catalina so he towed a rubber dink full of stuff behind.   It was quite a sight.  Only half in jest I asked him who I should call when they were reported missing.  They made that trip three years running before he sold her and got a 30 foot something or other. 

He told me just the other day how much he misses his Catalina.  We made one of those trips with him and the BCYC fleet on HideAway and had a blast.  Its two days of hard sailing in the Gulf of Mexico but well worth the trip.

You ll have many adventures I m sure!!

Small boats rock!   Matt

[mrb]

rwdsr,  You make me feel so guilty, confessing up as you did, that I feel I need to come out of the closet and admit to my afair with my 84 Hunter 22.  She makes me feel so good , especial as I walk about below deck and stretch out on her oh so nice berths.  After spending a week camping out on my sweet little 16 I was overcome with the 6 foot idus(?).  mrb

[rwdsr]

I spent about 2 weeks off and on this summer camping on the 16 with my grandson, and even spent one night out there with my daughter, who loved it.  But, it just wasn't comfortable for the Admiral, and she was saying that she wanted to go out with me more.  Well, that shocked even me!  She usually kisses me as I'm walking out the door on some of my little outdoor adventures and says, "I'll see you when you get back", except for the few times when we get out camping.  But there is a nice campground at the marina and if you get a campsite, you get the slip for half price, which is real nice.  (She hasn't committed to spending the night on the boat yet, and I'm not going to push it.)  The 22 feels like a palace inside with almost stand up head room (I'm short), and a table, etc.  We had a wonderful time out the one time we have taken her out.  I finally got the trailer done, and am getting ready to take her to Knoxville for a hull job.  Now I'll do like I did last year, sit and dream of warm sailing weather.  I'm dying to go spend the night on her though.  Maybe that will happen..................  I've got both boats sitting in the backyard side by side, I'll try to get pics to post.