Association Forum

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

22 or 25

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

AF
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
5 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/21/2005 : 22:42:50

Hi everybody,
I am consdering a boat purchase; Catalina 22 or 25 are the prime candidates. So far, all I was sailing was Hobbie 16. Now I am thinking about something with cabin to sail weekends in the Barnegat Bay, NJ (and definetly further down the coast). I will be sailing for the most part single handed; every onece in a while there will be my girlfriend with me. I am not sure whethere I will be trailing or keep the boat in the marina.
I guess, my biggest question is: if Catalina 22 is enough for this or I will be beter off with the 25.
The opinion of the former Catalina 22 owners is appreciated.

Edited by - on

coach
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
231 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2005 : 23:30:51

I would go with the 25. If you are going to be spending anytime in the boat over night and with your girlfriend, you get much more room in the 25. I single hand sail my 25 just as easy, if not easier than our old 22.

I have owned both and think the 25 is a better boat all around for sailing and enjoyment.

Edited by - on

mmac
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2005 : 01:32:54

Unless you're going to do a lot of trailering, the C-25 is the best bet. It's as easy to sail as a 22 and the room "downstairs" is a joy at the end of the day's sailing.

I single hand my boat 80% of the time, and it's not even set up for it. My marina neighbor, Jim, has his 25 set up perfectly for this and it is a piece of cake to sail alone.

I learned to sail on both a 22 and a 25. When it came time to get my own boat, I had no doubts that the 25 was the way to go. I suggest you look for a 1989/90 wing keel. It's a good option for either trailering or parking at a marina long term.

Check out the swapmeet section of our website.

Edited by - mmac on 07/22/2005 01:37:44

f_sondergaard
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
92 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2005 : 10:35:35

We have owned both a swing 22 and a wing 25. We loved both....for the room, I would go with the 25 if you plan on spending time traveling. The 22 was a great trip boat, but it was a little tight. The 25 had more privacy in the head area and cooking was easier in the galley. Both are great! Now, we have a 30.....Catalina all the way!

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2005 : 15:59:36

The C25 is by far the better boat for short duration 'cruising'. You have privacy in the toilet area, a generous V-berth, workable galley, room to lounge, and there's enough headroom so you don't have to lay down to put your jeans on. A couple should be able to stay aboard comfortably, even for a week or two.

The C25 also has good sailing characteristics, is comfortable underway, dry, and is very safe when used within it's design parameters. It is easily single-handed, but has the feel of a bigger boat which can help you prepare for that blue-water cruiser to come later on.

Trailering a C25 (safely) requires a vehicle with a 7,000 lb tow rating. So you need a 3/4 ton pickup or large SUV. Rigging/Launching usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour (depending on how fast you move). The deck is high enough off the ground that you will need an 8' stepladder to get up and down. It is really as big a boat as is practical to trailer.

The big plus for the the C22 is that it is small enough to trailer behind a 'regular' pickup/SUV. It sits lower to the ground you don't need a ladder to get in, and it's easier to launch (naturally). It also has a more active racing fleet if you're interested in class racing.

The big downside of the C22 is that staying aboard a C22 is more like 'car camping' than having a workable living space. I don't think I'd want to go cruising on one... (not at my age anyway).

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2005 : 18:25:56

I really liked my C22 swing keel, but just LOVE my C25 wing keel.
I have been cruising for a week on the 22 and its way too cramped and inconvenient. The C25 is much better for that purpose. Having had female company out on both boats, let me tell you, the head area of the C25 is really appreciated by the females.
The cooking area of the 25 is really convenient too.
I think the C25 is a lot better balanced and sails easier than the 22.
I single hand my 25 a bunch, and have the lines led aft, a very big plus. A furler is great, but adds to the complexity of trailering, but worth the trouble.
I just got an autopilot this year, and its good too.
Check out the swap meet section. There is an 89 wing for sale down in the keys going for a great deal.
Good luck

Edited by - on

Rich G
Navigator

Members Avatar

226 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2005 : 19:37:47

Get a 25. Get it with a fixed keel, either fin or wing.

I just sailed my new-to-me 25 down from Buzzard's Bay to New York. I would NOT have wanted to do the stretch between Buzzard's Bay and Long Island Sound in a smaller boat (although many do quite often), nor would I have wanted to do it in a boat with a swing keel (mine is a fin). If you're planning on day sailing, the 22 will be a great toy for you to brag about and play with and get you out on the water. If you plan to do any coastal cruising, get the 25. It's still a small boat, and you'll be patting yourself on the back the first night you AND your girlfriend spend in it; it's that much more comfortable. I don't know how tall you are, but at 5'-5" I can nearly stand up in the cabin (it's rare, but my boat has no pop-top).

In Barnegat Bay, you'll be fine with the 22. As soon as you decide to leave the bay and venture down the coast (or up it, for that matter), you will be MUCH happier with the 25 over the 22.

(all opinions expressed are humble, of course, and to be swallowed with a grain of salt).

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 01:15:55

Yeah, what they said. My neighbor has a new C-22, and we trade rides on each other's boats. The C-25 is so much more boat than the C-22 that there's really no comparison. The C-25 is a barely trailerable coastal cruiser; the C-22 is a very trailerable daysailor/weekender.

I would only add: don't fear the swing keel. Mine has been in saltwater since new, been pounded by hurricanes in the Florida Keys (before I got it), and taken me to the Bahamas and back. Swing keels are alright by me.

Having said all that, they're both great boats. I think you'll be happy with either one.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 08:28:37

Leon,
do you have any posts about your trip to the Bahamas in your C25 Swing. We're hoping to do a trip like that in Joint Decision sometime later this year/early next.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 10:23:36

... I would only add: don't fear the swing keel. Mine has been in saltwater since new, been pounded by hurricanes in the Florida Keys (before I got it), and taken me to the Bahamas and back. Swing keels are alright by me. - Leon

Leon ... thanks for sticking up for swingers ... coming from you, that statements means a lot ... you're my hero

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 17:21:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...thanks for sticking up for swingers...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I try to stay off that soapbox except when swing keels seem to need sticking up for.

In the distant past it was a very controversial topic here.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">do you have any posts about your trip to the Bahamas in your C25 Swing.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">If you search the archives on my name and "Abaco" or "Abacos" you might turn up something. I also wrote an article about the trip for the Catalina Mainsheet magazine, last year I think. I can't seem to find my copy of that issue lying around. If you don't have it handy either, and would like a digital copy, send me your e-mail address. Let me know in your message if you want just the text of the article, or a few photos as well. (In other words, give me some guide lines regarding your bandwidth limitations and preferences.)

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

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.