Loose Shrouds

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by jmczzz

After much study, reading, and following lots of old and new threads. I have decided to dump the unknown good old boat and refit my tried and true Catalina 22 swing keel.The two major systems that have shown signs of having deeper problems than I want to tackle again are the unexplained loose shrouds and several unguarded statements from the prior owner.
He has "had the boat over 2 years, never had it out of the water" (Long Island Sound). He has "dived 6 times to clean the bottom," he has "noticed cracks on the keel where rust is bleeding thru." The boats keel is encapsulated cast iron. He closed the four (4) thru hull gate valves when he first got the boat and they have never been reopened. When He got the boat "the mast was down tied across the fore and aft rails".
I really want a little bigger boat but don't want to have to rebuild one to get there, I just dropped and redid the keel on my 22 last year.
So I advertised and sold it as suggested in the thread as "a live aboard boat, not in sail-away condition". I lost a couple of hundred, but did not lose what is left of my sanity. At 73 I want to sail a boat not have a project. I decided to save the money keep a sharp eye out for a good boat at the right price. Meanwhile, spiffy up the C22 and enjoy sailing in the spring. I will go down the Tenn-Tom and start the Great loop with what I've got and be grateful for that.
I must add hear my sincere thanks for all the great input and discussion I got on this thread.
You ladies and gentlemen have given me more that I ever expected and more boat savy-ness than I could have imagined.
Thank you all, James

What a wise decision, James! You get full marks for seeking advice, pondering it, and then giving up on something that you really wanted to do.

A better boat will appear one day, and meanwhile sailing your Cat 22 sure beats being head down, bum up in the bilges of a very questionable boat. And I owned and sailed the hell out of a very early Cat 22 (hull 61) for seven years, and I know it can be a very fun boat... so enjoy, but keep your eyes open for the next dreamboat.

Jim

[Hard Rock Candy]

I never wrote any letters in this post. I did enjoy the letters written. I believe that people on this thread really like talking to other people on these threads and use any letter as an excuse to enter therein. I thank you for making an interesting Thread. Even one that I can join. By the way I quit sailing when I was 73. One day I was at a waterfront bar in Frontera on the Rio Dulce. I had downed a few and decided to go home. about a mile across and down stream. I walked out on the dock and figured I could just barely reach the seat of the dingy to step down. I slid off the dock and a nail on the edge caught my shorts and dumped me head first in the river. I came up and being an excellent swimmer, drunk or not I made it to my dingy, about five feet away and reached over the side to get a hold on the seat. I could not pull myself up enough to get in the dingy. some little lady walked up and asked if she could help and of course I said thank you but no I was just getting cooled off. I did eventually get in the dinghy which was by that time almost full of water because my lard- donkey, was two heavy to pull over the side. So I sold the boat and retired from sailing. Mac

[JPA Cate]

Hard Rock Candy,

Man, it's the sh*ts when you can't do what you used to be able to do when you want!

Ann

[jmczzz]

Age imposes the limits on us that youth never did, but the wise learn the lesson and continue to move forward at a new pace.
I have spent many happy days on my C22. She is graceful and smooth lined, easy to handle and a great teacher. We have always been happy together even during the rough times. The beauty of sunrise in a shallow cove with a hot cup from the cushioned luxury of her cockpit's warm lap cannot be surpassed.
James