Celtic Safari: 2002 - 2008: Catalina 22 "Crocus"

Catalina 22 Sailboat

"Crocus"
Owned 2002 - 2008
1978 Catalina 22
Builder: Catalina Yachts
Swing Keel
Sail Number 8244
Fiberglass Hull
Pop-Top with Enclosure
Rigged for Racing
Great for Overnight Cruising and Day Sails
Honda Outboard
Trailer w/surge brakes

Dimensions

LOA: 21'6"
Displacement: 2,250 lbs
LWL: 19'4"
Draft: 2' / 5' (keel up / down)
Beam: 7'8"
Ballast: 550 lbs

Background

Catalina 30 mk III "Celtic Myst" next to Catalina 22 "Crocus"

Crocus had a string of past owners who had an inconsistent approach to maintenance, so it came to Portland as a project boat (sound, but a mess). Don Bateson, my partner in the boat, purchased it after a Fleet 20 Alumni, Terry Annis talked Don into cutting up his previous C22 Gold Rush (#4248) which had hung for two years in Don's garage as he worked on fixing a terminal case of blisters and a bottom with several soft spots.

Crocus was found on the Oregon coast where the story goes that it once had a teenager living aboard it who had the habit of storing magazines and newspapers in the bilge. At some point the interior filled with about eight inches of water, turning the contents of the bilge into paper mache and promoting the growth of mold and mildew inside the boat. A side effect the water had on the newsprint was to release the ink which contributed to a noticeable "bathtub" ring in the bilge. After much shoveling of soggy paper out of the bilge and wiping down the interior by Don, Crocus was put into service for the 2002 season. Crocus went on to win the Catalina 22 Championship on the Columbia River in 2002, 2006, 2007 and was returned to overnight cruising in 2005.

While Laura and I had shifted our cruising and sailing to our Catalina 30, I sought to keep my hand in Catalina 22 one-design racing. For six years Don Bateson and I were partners in Crocus. We enjoyed a lot of success on the race course and had the pleasure of fostering the continued growth of Catalina 22 Fleet 20 in the Portland/Vancouver area. In 2006, I trailered Crocus to the Catalina 22 National Regatta being held on Scotts Flat Lake in California. My crew for the event came from Idaho and Oregon, and we met online.

Why did I sell the boat? In 2008, Don decided to get out of boat ownership and offered to sell me his share in the boat. Despite all the work that had gone into Crocus, I decided it wasn't the boat I wanted to solely own, so instead of buying Don's share, I sold Don my share, and then Don went on to find a new owner for the boat. By 2008 my Catalina 30 had been replaced with a Bayliner 38 motor yacht, and I was skippering and crewing on other boats racing.

Builder's Description

The Catalina 22 represents the finest in trailerable family cruisers. The 22's practical rugged construction and durable quality finish ensure years of sailing fun with a minimum of maintenance.

An active Catalina 22 National Class Association has helped to make the Catalina 22 one of the most popular one-design cruising-racing classes sailing today. Local fleet activities encourage everyone to participate and discover the pleasure of cruising and sailing a Catalina 22.

The self-bailing cockpit is comfortable and secure with angled coamings and molded in non-skid surfaces. There are two seat hatches, with a deep sail locker and molded in fuel tank platform. All exterior trim is teak.

The galley provides complete facilities for meal preparation aboard. The molded fiberglass galley incorporates an insulated icebox, stainless sink with a freshwater system, stove, and a storage drawer. The galley slides aft under the cockpit when not in use.

The interior offers comfortable sleeping accommodations for a family of four or five. A fiberglass pop top lifts to provide standing headroom in the main cabin area. With the available pop top enclosure curtain, the cabin is roomy and comfortable in all weather. There are storage compartments under all berths and seats. The Vee berth and head area forward can be enclosed with the available folding privacy curtain. The overhead and hull liner are a handsome, textured, molded fiberglass for easy maintenance and durability. All interior trim is teak.

The Vee berth accommodates two adults comfortably. The opening forward hatch on the foredeck provides plenty of light and air in the Vee berth area. Space is provided for a head under the port berth.

Accommodations

The boat is organized to sleep 5 in two doubles and one single. The portside settee provides seating for four and converts to a double berth. Forward is the Porta-Potti which can be covered by a cushion to convert the v-berth into a double. Crocus has 70's retro-plaid cabin cushions which have held up. Interior materials are combinations of teak, laminates, and a molded fiberglass liner. A curtain allows the head and forepeak to be enclosed for additional privacy. Plenty of storage is built in under the berths. Additional storage for larger items is provided under the cockpit. The cabin top is fitted with "pop-top" that provides more headroom when docked or anchored, and a snap-on cover provides privacy and protection from the elements.

Galley

While some original style Catalina 22's came with a slide out galley on the starboard side, Crocus arrived in Portland without the galley.

Sails and Rigging

Equipped for comfortable cruising and competitive racing.

Jiffy reefing mainsail system
110 Jib, sheets, and sail bag
150 Genoa (Mylar racing) with sheets, and sail bag (this sail is rolled)
Boom Vang
Boomkicker
Forespar Heavy-duty telescoping whisker pole
Double-ended mainsheet
Outhaul on boom
Cunningham
Main halyard winch
2 Genoa sheet winches
4 Winch handles
Genoa tracks w/cars
Adjustable Traveler w/controls
Harken Cam-Matic cleats
Spinlock Rope Clutches
Downhaul for headsails
Adjustable Backstay
All lines lead aft
Loos Tension gauge (Model A)
Mast Gates
Mast Step Plate
Windex wind indicator
Symmetrical Spinnaker with sheets and sail bag
Spinnaker Pole
Spinnaker car and track mounted on the mast
Spinnaker Pole Topping Lift
Spinnaker Pole Downhaul
Aft turning blocks for spinnaker sheets

Topsides

The large cockpit comes with comfortable angled seat backs, deep coamings, molded in fuel locker, and storage compartment. The cockpit can easily seat six when moored.

Mainsail cover
Cabin top handrails
Tiller Tamer
Quick release tiller extension
Bow pulpit*
Life vests (6)
Fire extinguisher
Self-bailing cockpit
Shroud turnbuckle covers
Swim ladder
8 lb. Danforth anchor, 6' chain and 150' rode, and storage bag.
Molded in waterline and sheer strip colors (blue)
Cockpit Seat Locker
Fuel tank compartment
Two-tone deck (Yellow)
Molded in non-skid decks
Three (3) flotation cushions

Engine

The Honda 5hp outboard uses a 1-cylinder 4-stroke engine which drives a 3-blade propeller. Fuel consumption is about 0.5 gallon per hour at a cruising speed of 5.5 knots.

5hp 4-stroke (Model BF5)
3-blade propeller
Flush Kit
Safety cable and lock
3.4 gallon fuel tank with hose
Water pump impeller new in 2005
Spark plugs and fuel filter changed every spring
Owner's Manual
Honda Shop Manual

Electronics and Electrical

Deep-Cycle Battery
Electrical panel for cabin and navigation lights
Combination red/green running light on bow pulpit
Stern light on the stern rail
Bow light when motoring (midway up the mast)
12 VDC outlet for accessories
Mast electrical quickly release at the deck for easy trailering
Hummingbird depth/fish finder
West Marine Handheld VHF Radio

Trailer

Surge Brakes
8.5 foot tongue extension for keeping the tow vehicle out of the water on shallow launch ramps
Tongue Jack
Spare tire and carrier
2x6 trailer bunks
Keel guides to aid loading the boat
Drop axle to make launching and retrieving the boat easier.
Spare bearings
Spare grease seals
Spare silicon brake fluid
Bearing Buddies
Trailer strap to hold the boat firmly to the trailer