On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 06:04:48 GMT, "curt" wrote:

Hi all,

I took a few sailing lessons in Miami and really enjoyed it. I have a
friend that has a Catalina 22 for sail and wants $4500 USD for it. It =
comes
with a trailer and 3 sails and a host of other equipment. Is this an =
okay
deal?

Here is what I want to do. I want to learn to sail well enough to buy a
blue water boat at some point and do some blue water sailing after a few
years of sailing experience or until I feel I can handle it. Hopefully =
from
US to Ireland and Scotland. Yes, I know I need to start somewhere, so is=
my
Catalina idea stupid?

Please take it easy on this newbie. I am wanting to get started on the
right course, but really have no one around that can help me here. I =
would
be sailing the Catalina in the Sarasota area and maybe Lake Erie to =
start.

Thanks for any thoughts,
Curt


Can't say if the price is good but it's certainly in the ballpark for a
decent Catalina 22. I'd suggest that you find one that is built later
than '86 - a so-called "New Style" C22. The latest version is the MK II.

We've had a new-style for 7 years and enjoy it a lot. No problems. We
trailer-sail to nearby lakes and the Gulf. It's the perfect size for
trailering and requires less than to 30 minutes to rig. But we think of
the C22 as a day sailor and charter a 30 to 38 footer for weeklong =
sailing
trips. =20

I don't think you can go wrong with a C22.

Good luck,

LB