Thinking about a 22' Catalina

[ams5995]

hello, what could I reasonably expect to do with a 22' Catalina? It has a cabin so I could at least camp with it and maybe if I equipped it properly I could even take it on longer trips. Have people ever lived on a 22' Catalina? I live in Florida along the gulf coast and the lady I talked to about this boat said she wanted to sail it to key west via intercoastal waterways. Is sailing intercoastal waterways difficult? i would think it could be tricky due to their narrowness but I guess they are deep enough. I am single, no pets, no crazy possessions, no debt, under 30 years old.

[Allen-deckard]

I have a Catalina 22. Love the boat.

Live onboard? That's really pushing things.
But I know of people living in grass shacks so what your comfortable living in nobody can tell you but you.

Me and my wife I'm comfortable staying on the boat for 2 or 3 days after that I'm ready for a bit more room. Think of it as camping and not much more than that. If you've ever stayed in a pop up camper that's a pretty good comparison.

Then again if it's no more than a place to sleep while your out having fun doing other things then it sure is a cheep way to live.

As far as where you can sail I would as others about that. Again where you can go with what size boat I think that again is a personal thing.

Put it this way my dad back in the day was stationed on an aircraft carrier and he thinks a person is nuts for going in open ocean in anything smaller. That's obvious overkill to most of us but not to him.

Again I don't live in fl so don't have much to help there besides take peoples opinions then make your own comfort decisions.

[ams5995]

that was very helpful reply thanks. i realize it would be pushing it so i think if i do get it i would have to take it out a couple times and get a feel for everything then see.

[ams5995]

what were the worst conditions you experience in your boat and managed to get through

[DRFerron]

Originally Posted by ams5995

Is sailing intercoastal waterways difficult? i would think it could be tricky due to their narrowness but I guess they are deep enough.

For most of the ICW you have to motor anyway (narrow channel), you are not allowed to sail.

[Sailormon6]

A Catalina 22 is a good beginner's cruising boat. It's easy to launch, rig and sail. When I was young, I lived on mine for 2 weeks at a time, while cruising the ICW and the Florida Gulf coast. If you decide to sell it, it'll be easy to sell. I sailed mine on Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, the Gulf of Mexico, and numerous inland lakes. It's designed to sail on lakes and bays, and to live aboard for short periods of time, but it isn't designed to be sailed in big winds and rough seas. Nevertheless, if you watch the weather and use good judgment, you can either sail it in the ICW or in the ocean. You must motor on much of the ICW, but there are areas where you can sail. Each year, C22s and similar small sailboats cross the Gulf Stream from Florida to the Bahamas and back, although it is a trip for sailors with experience. Navigating the ICW isn't difficult, but you need to be able to read charts.

A Catalina 22 can cope with a storm, if you're sailing on a small lake or in some other sheltered area, but it's not designed for storms in the open ocean.

[djodenda]

I lived on one for 6 months during a Seattle winter/Spring. It wasn't comfortable, but certainly doable.

Wouldn't have wanted to do it for much longer.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by djodenda

I lived on one for 6 months during a Seattle winter/Spring. It wasn't comfortable, but certainly doable.

Wouldn't have wanted to do it for much longer.

You're a tough SOB.

[ams5995]

uh oh...giving me some hope

[WDS123]

Could one live in a pup tent ?


A 22' keelboat with a cuddy cabin is similar to living in a big(ish) pup tent.