Ahoy from Texas

[BlueSeas]

Hello everyone. I have been lurking for a month or so and have earned a valuable education living vicariously through your posts. Thank you all for sharing your experiences (and opinions ) I am putting together a 2 or 3 year plan to move to the coast and work my way into a liveaboard and ultimately cruising lifestyle. I have very limited sailing experience, but have a substantial amount of time on the water through fishing and power boating. Currently I am landlocked near Austin, so part of my plan is to get a trailerable sailboat that I can take to the local lakes and pull down to Corpus Christi to start building some experience. Found a good deal on a Catalina 22 swing keel with trailer and outboard that I think will get me started. Probably going to go pick it up Tuesday! Expect some questions coming your way after I find out what is wrong with it... This has been a dream of mine for years. I love the ocean and am very excited that I am just about in a position to make it come true! Thanks again for all the information you have shared. I am looking forward to sharing my education and experiences with you! Dennis

[TexSail]

Welcome to the board. BTW, is the photo from Thailand? Since you are in Austin, I would mention that Lake Travis is excellent for Lake sailing.

[sandy daugherty]

You are off to a very good start! The Catalina is a kind but thorough sailing instructor! I would suggest you get one and only one how-to-sail book to avoid the bewildering array of terminology used by different books. Get any book, but only one!

Get a Coast Guard Auxilliary or a US Power Squadron safety inspection, and take the basic boating course from either of those or a local college or night course. And sail, sail, sail! Don't put a lot of money into the Catalina, you will either get tired of sailing, or be ready to move up in a couple years. Drag it down to Galveston Bay, and putter around the marinas looking at other boats to let your interests gel on a particular style.

Go on a Bareboat Charter in the Islands. After that, You're hooked!

[BlueSeas]

Originally Posted by TexSail

Welcome to the board. BTW, is the photo from Thailand? Since you are in Austin, I would mention that Lake Travis is excellent for Lake sailing.

Very perceptive TexSail! Was at an open air restaurant in Ao Nang a month before the tsunami! Thanks for the tip, Planning on spending time on Travis and Canyon Lake. About the same distance to either for me.

[BlueSeas]

Originally Posted by sandy daugherty

You are off to a very good start! The Catalina is a kind but thorough sailing instructor! I would suggest you get one and only one how-to-sail book to avoid the bewildering array of terminology used by different books. Get any book, but only one!

Get a Coast Guard Auxilliary or a US Power Squadron safety inspection, and take the basic boating course from either of those or a local college or night course. And sail, sail, sail! Don't put a lot of money into the Catalina, you will either get tired of sailing, or be ready to move up in a couple years. Drag it down to Galveston Bay, and putter around the marinas looking at other boats to let your interests gel on a particular style.

Go on a Bareboat Charter in the Islands. After that, You're hooked!

Thanks for the advice Sandy. Bought too many books several years ago and am now narrowing it down to one I like! I believe US Power Squadron does classes at Lake Travis. Will look into it.

[TexSail]

I don't know if the University of Texas Sailing Club would work a deal with non-students (I am assuming - you might be a student) but it could be worth checking out. I have seen several of their boats in Travis.

[BlueSeas]

Originally Posted by TexSail

I don't know if the University of Texas Sailing Club would work a deal with non-students (I am assuming - you might be a student) but it could be worth checking out. I have seen several of their boats in Travis.

LOL, about 30 years past student status but thanks for the idea. Actually, the Austin Yacht Club has some interesting events. Thinking about checking them out a little closer.

[bstreep]

LCYC on Canyon Lake is a good bet. You can race your 22 if you want - or not. Good folks. If you decide to come to CC, please look us up. We are on "D" pier - and usually on most Saturday evenings you can stop by Bay Yacht Club on "B" pier.

[BlueSeas]

Thanks Bill for the invite and advice. Went up to Dallas yesterday and bought the Catalina 22! Very exciting. Hull seems to be in very good shape with some minor fiberglass touch up in non-vital areas. Probably could use new rigging (it it original 1981) Bought it from the second owner who has owned it since 1983. Has not sailed it since 1994, but seems to have kept decent care of it. The adventure begins....

[Fishman_Tx]

If you don't mind, how much was it? Was it the dinette version w/pop-top? Reason I ask is we have a Catalina 22 in Marble Falls that was just refit and repainted on a trailer; for sale.

[BlueSeas]

Originally Posted by Fishman_Tx

If you don't mind, how much was it? Was it the dinette version w/pop-top? Reason I ask is we have a Catalina 22 in Marble Falls that was just refit and repainted on a trailer; for sale.

It does have the Pop Top and Table. Sent you a PM with the cost....

[RTB]

A little late, but welcome aboard. Look me up if you get down this way. Enjoy the new boat!

Ralph

[F51]

Ahem. I don't think you used the proper nautical term in your original post. I believe the proper nautical greeting from Texas sailors is "Ahoy Y'all!"

Welcome to the board!

Gil
s/v Truthsayer
Kemah, Texas

[BlueSeas]

Originally Posted by F51

Ahem. I don't think you used the proper nautical term in your original post. I believe the proper nautical greeting from Texas sailors is "Ahoy Y'all!"

I do stand corrected Gil. I was trying to keep it multilingual so everyone would understand me.

Plan on getting to Kemah at some point Ralph. Especially when I start looking for a bigger boat. I will PM you when I am headed that way!

Lived in Seabrook in the '80s. Really liked it, but that was before Landry's took over the restaurants in Kemah!

Dennis

[RTB]

No rush. There are plenty of boats to look at here for sure if one is looking. We are at Watergate, not the Boardwalk. It's much quieter. We usually skip the restaurants and eat on the boat. I like grilling. Beer's on me if you get the chance to come by.

Ralph