[acem]

I bought an 82 Catalina 22 that seams to have had a good life but needs some TLC.

Here is the good. I bought it from the second owner (the first had it only a few months) who treated it well. It has been on lakes in Texas all it's life (no salt water) with the last 1/3 of it's life on a lift, out of the water! It still has the original paperwork (manuals, spec sheet, etc) and receipts from the work he had done. He kept it at his lake house since he bought it and only trailered it to have repairs done (mostly having the bottom repainted). The interior is like new but the fabric on the cushions are brittle from age. The owner sold the sailboat because his health is failing and he has not been able to sail for 3 years, So the boat has sat for that long on the lift. He told me before I left that he hoped we enjoyed the boat because he really has.

There are no serious problems with the boat. Here are my concerns and questions.

The mainsail (original) has four small holes that appear to be from a mouse. Each is less than 1/2 inch across. My wife has good sewing skills. What is the best way to patch the holes?

The running rigging seams weathered to me. How do I tell if it needs replaced?

The external teak needs refinishing (it is grey and has spots of moss). What is the best method to make it look good and protect it?

There are some hull stains (just above the waterline) that are being stubborn to remove with soap and bleach. Is FSR (fiberglass stain remover) a good choice or should I use something else?

The trailer is pretty good. It needs a paint job. How hard are the hyd brakes to fix? I don't really need them since I will pull it with a 1 ton truck but if I fix them I might pull it with my wife's jeep.

Thanks -Ace

 

[deltaten]

Dots of sail repair tape mebbe 1inch each side.
Replace the running rigging a couple hundred bucks should see ya right
Stains *might* be removed with oalic.ooops, no "echs"..hull stain remover
Hydraulic brake on a 22trailer? Mebbe take it to a trailer shop?

HTH,
Paul

 

[northoceanbeach]

I bought an 82 Catalina 22 that seams to have had a good life but needs some TLC.

Here is the good. I bought it from the second owner (the first had it only a few months) who treated it well. It has been on lakes in Texas all it's life (no salt water) with the last 1/3 of it's life on a lift, out of the water! It still has the original paperwork (manuals, spec sheet, etc) and receipts from the work he had done. He kept it at his lake house since he bought it and only trailered it to have repairs done (mostly having the bottom repainted). The interior is like new but the fabric on the cushions are brittle from age. The owner sold the sailboat because his health is failing and he has not been able to sail for 3 years, So the boat has sat for that long on the lift. He told me before I left that he hoped we enjoyed the boat because he really has.

There are no serious problems with the boat. Here are my concerns and questions.

The mainsail (original) has four small holes that appear to be from a mouse. Each is less than 1/2 inch across. My wife has good sewing skills. What is the best way to patch the holes?
Sail repair tape, cut to matching squares, patched on both sides. Clean the area first so it adheres, and you should really take a sail repair kit and stitch around the square.

The running rigging seams weathered to me. How do I tell if it needs replaced?

by feel, if left in the Texas sun for 1/3 it's life it most likely does. Soft and supple if good, even somewhat hardened is fine, but you can tell, if it feels like if you pulled hard enough it could tear, replace. Start with the main and job halyards. Is one half of the rigging wire? My Catalina 22 was like that.

The external teak needs refinishing (it is grey and has spots of moss). What is the best method to make it look good and protect it?

There are some hull stains (just above the waterline) that are being stubborn to remove with soap and bleach. Is FSR (fiberglass stain remover) a good choice or should I use something else?

forst try mr. cleans. magic eraser. I think it works on a surprising amount of stains all over your boat. I haven't had good luck with FSR/Oxalic acid. When I worked on a big sailboat, we went through a trial period, trying different kinds of deck stain remover at West Marine. The conclusion was for things like rust, you have to use the absolute harshest acid the sell.

The trailer is pretty good. It needs a paint job. How hard are the hyd brakes to fix? I don't really need them since I will pull it with a 1 ton truck but if I fix them I might pull it with my wife's jeep.
If you can, fix them, because even with your truck, you still want the trailer brakes working so if you come to a fast stop, or going down mountain passes, the trailer doesn't try to run out from under you when you hit the truck brakes.

Thanks -Ace

Good luck, sounds fun

 

[H and E]

You might consider throwing the lines in a net bag and running them through a wash cycle. (air dry) If they are stiff from dirt that will help. I do that for new lines to soften them up. I would change brakes to electric if the surge are not working. I have maintained surge brakes in the past-never again.

 

[DonScribner]

Sounds like a fine little boat. You will enjoy her for may years, I'm sure.

Sailrite.com has all you need for the sail repair. Some folks use sail tape but to me, that's a quuick fix, not a permanent one, but I could be wrong. Sewing a sail is as easy as mending a shirt. Any give spot on the sail doesn't see that much load until you get to one of the corners. Otherwise, the fabric would have to be so much thicker, like at the tack or clew. So, sew away but be sure to use UV stabilized thread.

For the trailer, I'd replace the complete hub assembly. About $100 total and a couple of hours. Very easy to do and cheap peace of mind.

Rigging, replace them in pairs over a few years. About $150 per year. So, upper shrouds this season, lower, the next, folled by fore and back stays.

 

[ambianceack]

Catalina Direct: is a good source for parts. as others have said the mending dots/sail tape should work in the main part of the sail.
FSR might work. Mary Kotes On Off is nasty to work with but should get the stains off, recommend gloves, safety glasses and consider wearing respirator with acid filters.

replace the lines over time, essentially if they are stiff it might be time. sometimes a power washer with a fan spray inside a container (as opposed to on the ground) seems to get them clean and softens them up.

scrub the wood, clean off the mold mildew, gray is fine all kinds of teak cleaners on the market. good time to buys now since its the end of the boating season

 

[TQA]

Before doing anything take your sail to a local sailmaker/repairer and ask his opinion. Most will do this without charge. A new main is about $800 - $900.

But nothing wrong with fixing the holes with sail repair tape and going sailing.

Wash the running rigging with a double dose of Comfort conditioner. It will look and feel much better.

You have a decision to make on the wood.

Leaving it silvery gray with the odd spot and go sailing. It will not get worse.

Sand bleach oxalic acid stain then apply 4 to 10 coats of Epithanes varnish. The boat will look spiffy but will sail just the same. The varnish will last a while but will need further coats every few months in tropical sunshine, a bit longer if not.

Sand bleach oxalic acid stain then apply some alternative wood treatment. None will look as good as varnish but may be easier to apply.

BTW congratulations on your choice. I had the UK version and I thoroughly enjoyed sailing it around the west coast of Scotland. I varnished mine.

 

[chip]

I'd probably take the sail to a sailmaker to get it patched and just have the peace of mind that the tears won't get any worse. Sail it and see how you like it. If the sail is really original, it would probably be a HUGE upgrade to get a new one...best thing I ever did for my C22. I got mine from North Direct for like $550, which is still a substantial outlay on a C22, especially if you're new to sailing and not sure if you're going to really get into it and stuff, but that's super cheap for a sail and the difference was incredible to me. My sail controls actually worked, I could get the sail flatter when the wind got up, heeled less, went faster, etc.

I let my teak go natural on the 22. This is probably not widely recommended, but I just power washed mine [carefully] if they got to the moss stage, which made them look like new [momentarily], and it enabled me to spend more time sailing and less time varnishing.

Good luck with it. They're great boats.

 

[acem]

I washed the lines today and what a difference it made! They are useable now. A couple lines need replaced soon but all are good enough to take it out and sail as soon as I get a chance (and there is wind). Thanks for all the replies. I hope to sail soon! Thx-Ace

 

[This Old Sailboat]

I've done all the projects that you mention and many more to my '81 C-22. You might find some useful ideas on my blog at stingysailor.wordpress.com.

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