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The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
We own a Catalina 250WK. As we age, we find it is more boat than we want especially the maintain part. We are considering trading down to a Catalina Capri 22.
Does anyone have experience with this boat? What should we consider in making this decision?
If all you do is daysailing, it's a wonderful boat. They sail well in light airs, and have a larger cockpit. All you really give up is cabin amenities. more of a crawling cabin than a hunching cabin. I taught at a school that had both, and the 22s sailed very much like the 25. They are just a little slower. Oops I see you have a 250, I dont know how it compares to that, as I've never sailed one.
Keep in mind on this that the Capri 22 and the regular 22 are two different boats. I think the Capri 22 replaced the 22,. Not totally sure on that but somewhere in the 80s.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
The CATALINA 22 is one of the most popular sailboats ever in anything close to this size,. 15,000 boats sold (2009) It has been built in different plants around the world..(Known in Australia as the BOOMAROO 22.) (A fixed keel version introduced in the early 1970's)
A 'New Design' was introduced in 1986 (featuring an opt. winged keel), and MARK II in 1995.
The CATALINA 22 SPORT was released in 2003. (Originally called the CAPRI 22 swing keel.) From a new "fairer" mold though the hull design is the same as the original CATALINA 22. Thanks to former Catalina dealer Joe Rose and a number of others for providing additional information.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
Here's a historical run-down of Catalina's 22-footers. It mentions the Capri 22's arrival in 1984. (I knew the Catalina 22 from its introduction in 1969--almost bought one then, and may still have an original brochure somewhere.) I single-handed a rented Capri 22 in San Diego and liked the way it sailed--very spirited in light air. I didn't get to try in in a serious breeze.
I'll add that the Capri 22, like the Capri 25, was designed to be more of a racer (although it never challenged the Catalina 22 for one-design racing popularity). It has a larger, fractional rig with mid-boom sheeting to a cockpit traveler, more contemporary racing shape below the waterline, and a wing or fin keel only. As noted, the cabin is more of a "crawling" than "sitting" space. I think the cockpit is bigger (that would make sense), but the traveler is a consideration.
The Catalina 22 Sport was introduced under pressure from the one-design community around the world after the C-22 Mark II didn't conform to the one-design specs from the original boat, which had a huge following (including somebody here). The deck and cabin look different, but the displacement, rig, and hull shape below the waterline, and other specs are in conformance.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
I’ve had occasion to sail a West Wight Potter packet sailor and I liked the cruising performance as well as the amenities in the cabin. It has a little less headroom than a C25, but the one I sailed had a small galley, a settee and even a port a pottie head. Cockpit was good for two. It’s more prone to hobby horsing in chop. But in shallow bays with calm seas it can’t be beat.
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
Update on that recommendation. My slip mate (actually diagonally across the dock) sails a little beauty daysailer with his family. It's an Alerion 20, a classic Herreshoff based design, in a small package. Here's a similar boat for sale somewhere.
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Dave, you’re absolutely correct! This sweet little 20 footer resells at $36,500 or so. This is more of a high-end classic daysailer. End of the day, you know you’ve “arrived” when your sailboat is an Alerion.
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.