Catalina 22s golden years. Boats built between 1986 and 1991.

[@everwind5691]

The reason it changed in 91 were several factors according to Frank. 1 teak was getting very expensive. 2. the 86-91 boats were very heavy and were not competitive in one design races. Catalina 22 at one time had huge one design regattas and the top racers always raced the older boats since they were so much lighter. While the wing is great for maintenance, it cannot point. Great off the wind, not so much to the wind. Catalina wanted to revive the one design racers that brought so many people together, and cruisers were moving to bigger boats. I took off my safety lines because I couldn't fly my 150 without damaging it on the stanchions. I loved my Cat 22 and had it for 31 years. She was a great boat for anchoring in all those shallow coves of the Chesapeake Bay. The friendships I made with my local Catalina 22 fleet remain today, and while most of us have moved to larger boats, the friendships remain and we continue to cruise together. I do miss the one design races though, but it was evident that the world split into very serious racers that went with dedicated race boats like the J22 or Flying Scot, and others and casual racing one design just seemed to die out, some of it because the new boats were so much slower due to weight.

[@edwardboochard5825]

Great video! I have an ‘87 Catalina 22, I’m the original owner, bought it new in 87. It’s been a wonderful boat that’s taken me on many adventures. Totally agree with all your comments about older and newer 22’s. Especially the newer models that look like a Clorox bottle. I’ve made many additions and changes in that I almost solely single hand. Most significant are a tiller pilot and furling headsail. These enable the boat to take you anywhere you want to go, within reason.

[@pastrami00]

I'm currently looking for a Catalina 22 and this video was super helpful. Thank you.

[@bruceebling1085]

I have sailed and owned many 22's and 25's. I watched your video which has so much useful information! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together! I have been away from sailing for a while and am now searching for a wing 22

[@addisonrunge6760]

Sir this was an amazing video. What a Ton of good information that was. These are exactly the kind of things people must hear before buying a particular boat, and what a great boat model for this video. This is a top notch very insightful video. Thank you

[@kaisailor1]

Thank you for sharing g this. I'm a former Catalina 25 owner and I had the boat for about 3 years, then sold it and bought a 28', with I board yanmar and an enclosed head. Flash forward a decade or so and now I'm looking around 22' to 24' trailerables to set up for inland waterways cruising. I've got a couple Catalina 22's and a Hunter 22' to go check out this weekend. There's another one, a Catalina 23.5 or 24.5 I think that looks really nice at the same place. I'm hoping to find a gem and get it home to start outfitting. I can't wait to get a good night's sleep on the water again. Thanks for the motivation.

[@donnabethune2454]

This was great! Now I know what I need to look for! Fair winds my friend!!!⛵️

[@steveburke7675]

My first sailboat was a '84 C22. I loved that boat...sailed it all over Puget Sound for around 6 yrs until I got bitten by 2footitis. Tiny but we'd have the entire family aboard and the dog. Learned how to sail on her...upped the game later by crewing races on larger boats. Thanks for the memories.

[@TheMorphineOD]

Thanks Very MUCH!! Looking at these boats to get my first sailboat, done with boat clubs. Very informative and gave me some excellent pointers. Like your work!

[@DennisKenneybees]

Thank you so much. This is so helpful to find the best boat.

[@roadboat9216]

That was a lot of great and useful information. Thanks.

[@justinriley3096]

Dam mate you’ve Showed me more about my year 77 cat 22 then anyone else on pacific stuff Exactly what I was Looking For thanks for Help 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻🏴‍☠️

[@odysseyofjason]

Nice Video John. I've owned 1 sailboat and it's a 1990 Catalina 22 with the wing keel. Well, that and my new 80 something Sunfish ( haven't sailed it yet ). I don't have anything to compare it to but I really like it and would definitely recommend the wing keel. Like you said, pretty much maintenance free, it opens up the interior making room for a cooler / companionway step, and best of all, it's one less thing to fool with so you can focus on sailing.

[@johnjohnson6302]

Love your videos man. Some great shots, and a really nice boat. I love watching live videos ( not ones set on a fixed point) where you see all around the boat and the area your sailing in. Your videos are fun to watch. Thanks .

[@freddyluckily6286]

Thanks. Well done summary of the design evolution of the C22. I have a 1978 C22 and you aptly described the major issues with that early design. I bought the boat years ago, when I was a novice sailor and mostly ignorant about boat design. Your video could save Catalina buyers time and money. I live in the Columbia River Gorge and know exactly what you mean about the winds here.

[@ryanchurch7950]

Great video! Thanks for the information. It really helps knowing the pros and cons of when evaluating the Catalina 22s on the market.

[@morbidfollower]

Thanks for the video. I have an 82 swing keel that I inherited and have been fixing up. I do like the shelves on this model that run down the interior of the inside and I have relocated the electrical panel and added some desired electronics. Overall it is a great boat. I am looking at a new design wing keel tomorrow and may come home with it. Can’t really go wrong with either but I agree with all of your points.

[@morbidfollower]

As a follow up 1 year later, I did buy the 88 wing keel new design and sold the 82 swing keel. Great great boat, and i have it almost completely restored at this point. Happy sailing!

[@username_897]

thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Thank you!

[@zenbuilder8801]

John, Thank you so much for this very informative video. I an thinking about scraping the idea of a Sunfish, for a C-22 . This was a great place to start. jeff

[@matthewhoopes4440]

Very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.

[@lauriebloggs8391]

These were built under licence in the UK by Canvey Yacht builders as the Jaguar 22 (they also built the Catalina 25 and 27...) The whole range was phenominally successful in the UK. I have owned both a 22 and 27...lovely....

[@JoeEarthling101]

thanku John!..great video detailing upgrades and fixes along the years.. im 3rd owner of a super clean 1988 catalina 22'..only my 3rd year sailing but this boat has lots of admirers and im getting tons of good advice..ur upright rudder assembly caught my eye..amazing..beautifully tooled..where can i buy one?..tnx again..fair winds, joe

[@desertflyer200]

John great video! My wife and I own a 1980 Catalina 22 named Friday that we absolutely love. We just spent two years refinishing her and she turned out great. One thing I noticed is there is no bilge or way to drain water from the inside of the boat. I was wondering how other 22 owners deal with this? It’s never been a big problem for us but I found it strange that these boats have no bilge. I would love to hear yours or any other owners thoughts on this. Thanks again!

[@terryhillman8755]

Suma dinj batta Catalina 22 agui fenni cog. Agui mun polo batta batta ! 👍

[@benkanobe7500]

This extremely helpful and educational. I am looking very seriously at an '85 that has some of the newer features from the factory (not owner installed) but not all of them. How much does the HONDA outboard you have cost new and is that the motor you would recommend (mine does not have a motor)?

[@dmkey]

Nice video John. Can you say something about your trailer. I’m always on the lookout for a trailer for my 1990 Catalina 22 Wing Keel. I know LoanRite makes one, but I think yours is different.

[@waltervega8730]

Great video! Very informative!

[@dougsmith7580]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@Barnettdan99]

Nice! Thank you!

[@zenbuilder8801]

John, A question. Does this also relate to larger Catalina's? Say the 25's and 27's?

[@pubrally]

Im looking for a swing keel C22 for purely racing what are your thoughts for year ? Thanks from SF CA

[@cindyreid6404]

Wonderful video! Was wondering about the bolted on wing keel. Have you had any issues with the keel bolts? The reason I'm asking considering you said the keel was maintenance free is because I've been looking at a few of the Catalina 30 in the boat yards and the keels always have cracks where it attaches to the hull. Also, the bilge tends to have water with those keel bolts just rusting away, this worries me. I'm beginning to think it's just the curse of the 30.

[@joelleetch3204]

Bought my first 22 last summer moored at Hayden island lot's of fun

[@johnjohnson6302]

That is great, you will love it, there good little boats. I will be mooring mine there next week. See you on the river.

[@jvboyer]

Very helpful! Thanks!

[@waltervega8730]

Can you still get a pop top cover? Or should i say, do they still make them?

[@kararice9756]

Thanks for the info. I have a 1992 New Design WK #15250.

[@kararice9756]

And it has teak :)

[@beniank9091]

I have a 1977 Catalina 22 and sail it on a local lake. It is a fun little boat but I do wish I had found one in the 86-91 year for some of the newer features. I had not thought about the 2 backstays as an option. I don't like the bridle arrangement it tends to foul up when I raise the mast.

[@mathewdavis-adventuresandd6643]

Same. I bought my 1977 about two years ago, before I even knew about the 86-91s. Oh well, I'm still enjoying my 77.

[@RussellPolo]

The issue with the forward draining cockpit, is that those little brass strainers would clog, and if left unattended, the cockpit would fill with water, and overflow into the cabin. The rear-drain version never has this issue.

[@matthewsilva8225]

Awesome video!

[@reallyhappenings5597]

Very helpful

[@DavidD6969]

Great info

[@soapbox94]

Would a "new design" C22 still be best years if 100% trailer sailing?

[@soapbox94]

Note: when I asked this Q, I thought ALL New Design 86-91 boats had the Wing Keel. Irrelevant now that I know otherwise

[@brettroman3218]

Thank you.

[@wimvanraemdonck7080]

Hi, would one be able to single handed sail one on the seven seas? Thanks

[@johnjohnson6302]

Unfortunately not.......If you were good you could sail around the Bahamas.

[@wimvanraemdonck7080]

@@johnjohnson6302 Thanks!

[@JohnBraman413]

what years to look at for a cat 25?

[@Paul-ou1rx]

In hindsight some of these improvements seem so obvious.

[@cD-vg5go]

johnny johnson , i know 3 others same name, so hello hello hello hello :) were looking at a old catalina on clist

[@larryrice6446]

How many times per minute can you say "in my opinion" :)

[@darb4091]

So the pop top was an option? Or it was standard and on 100%?

[@johnjohnson6302]

The very early boats did not come with a pop top. I am not sure when Catalina introduced the pop top , or if it was offered as an option. All I know is almost all the Catalina 22 out there sailing or for sale have pop tops. It might be that most of the VERY first boats built without pop tops are in need of so much work there sitting in lots or yards some where covered in weeds and full of water. When i was in high school a good friend bought one of the first Catalina 22s and I helped him learn how to sail it and it had no pop top. Hope that helps.

[@SlumpdWiz]

do you have or could you make a video were you talk more about your backstay set up?

[@johnjohnson6302]

There are two points to secure a back stay on the stern. I bought a second back stay from Catalina direct and did away with all the other hardware.Then to tighten the back stay you simply tie a light line about shoulder height to one back stay with a prusik knot or any knot that will not slide on the back stay, then run the line two or three times around both back stays and pull the two stays together as tight as you need to to tighten the head stay. It can even be a line as small as paracord.

[@terryhillman8755]

Pukka dem sendow Catalina 22 ging batta. Den batta ? Den batta sem ? Pulli wen satto ! 👍

[@teeheeteeheeish]

Dammit, mine is '85

[@noahsathletics]

Dust.

[@patrickgeorge5]

Very helpful, thank you!