Celtic Safari: 2012 - Present: Catalina Capri 22 "Celtic Myst"

Catalina Capri 22 Sailboat

"Celtic Myst"
Owned 2012 (May) - Present
1987 Catalina Capri 22
Builder: Catalina Yachts
Designer: Gary Mull and Frank Butler
Fin Keel
Sail Number 239
Fiberglass Hull
Nissan Sail Pro Outboard
Trailer w/surge brakes

Dimensions

LOA: 22'
LWL: 20'
Beam: 8'
Fin Keel Draft: 4' 2"
Ballast: 750 lbs
Displacement: 2,150 lbs
Sail Area

I = 25'
J = 8' 2"
P = 26'
E = 9' 9"

Background

Full boat cover.

After selling my old-style Catalina 22 (Crocus) in 2008, my sailing/racing continued as I crewed and skippered other folks' Catalina sailboats. The boats ranged in size from 22's and 30's to 38's and 42's. Despite owning the Bayliner 38, my itch to own another sailboat started in 2010 so I began searching online. I was looking for either a new-style Catalina 22 (like Harmony) or a Catalina Capri 22. I got introduced to the Capri 22 in 1987 because one of the boats in the 100+ boat Catalina 22 Fleet 4 club in Sacramento was a Capri 22. The boat's owners actively trailer-sailed the boat with the club despite the boat having a Fin Keel. Because racing and daysailing were planned to be the primary focus of the boat, the large cockpit, and no pop-top of the Capri 22 was attractive.

As delivered from Stockton.

I found my Capri 22 online while it was being advertised in the popular Latitude 38 magazine. The boat was in Stockton, CA and I was in Vancouver, WA. Driving or flying to survey the boat was going to be expensive, so I decided to hire a professional boat surveyor to inspect the condition of the boat. The survey confirmed everything the boat's owner discussed with me on the phone, so I purchased the boat. The next step was getting the boat to Vancouver. In the era of eBay and Craigslist, commercial trucking companies have started a side business of transporting online auto/boat/RV purchases. The trucking companies provide part-time work to retired couples with vehicles that can tow. In my case, the couple was vacationing with their fifth-wheel in Nevada. With guidance from me, the seller prepped the boat for the trip north. The Nevada couple showed up at the Stockton Sailing Club, picked up the boat, and two days later delivered it to my driveway in Vancouver. In the end, the cost of Celtic Myst with the survey and transport included was significantly less than any Capri 22 I found in the Portland/Vancouver area.

Racing and daysailing the Columbia River between Vancouver, WA, and Portland, OR is the primary focus of Celtic Myst today. While Laura is no longer interested in cruising aboard a small boat (hard to go back after a Catalina 30 and a Bayliner 38), I occasionally do weekend overnight cruises. Because the Capri 22 doesn't have a galley, I bring aboard galley equipment in the form of a kit I store at home.

Builder's Description

The cabin is designed for relaxing after the race and comfortable weekending for the family. Midship are two extra long berths and forward is a vee-berth which makes a double bunk. A Porta-Potti fits under the vee-berth and can be enclosed for privacy. There is storage below all the berths and in the four large zippered compartments in the hull liner. A large removal ice chest doubles as a step into the cabin.

Equipped for comfortable cruising and competitive racing with all lines are led aft to the cockpit for easy handling. The adjustable ball bearing traveler, recessed genoa track with the low lead cars, inboard genoa tracks on the cabin top, internal halyards led aft, bow pulpit, lifelines, and stanchions are all standard on the Capri 22.

The cockpit has been designed with the human body in mind and easily seats six for sailing. The seat backs are angled and contoured to provide comfortable seating at any angle.

The molded-in fuel locker in the cockpit keeps fuel for an outboard safely on deck. The spring-loaded stainless steel outboard bracket makes engine handling easy.

The Capri 22 successfully combines a comfortable secure cockpit, handsome styling and a functional, well-detailed deck design in an intelligent affordable package. The deck is finished with an attractive non-skid pattern for secure footing.

The Capri 22 was designed to be easy to rig and sail while incorporating all the performance and sail handling features experienced sailors expect.

The fractional rig sail plan puts most of the "horsepower" in the easily controlled mainsail.

A small jib can be used for short-handed sailing, allowing one to enjoy the excellent performance without working too hard.

The high aspect ratio lead fin keel is encased in a fiberglass jacket for optimum shape control and outstanding windward performance, the optional wing keel provides optimum performance for minimum draft.

The state-of-the-art elliptical rudder provides full control and a docile, well-balanced helm.

Restoration and Upgrades

Since coming to Washington, Celtic Myst has undergone a number of steps to recondition and upgrade the boat. Examples include:

2013

Launching into the Columbia River.

Hull - Striped hard-epoxy bottom paint down to the epoxy barrier coat
Hull - Painted bottom with VC17m
Hull - Polished
Hull - Upgrade stem fitting with a reinforced version
Interior - Cleaned bilges
Interior - Cleaned and sanitized interior surfaces
Interior - Upholstery cleaning all interior cushions
Interior - Added cabin sole carpet
Electrical - Added solar panel
Electrical - Replaced deep cycle battery
Electrical - Replaced electrical plug and socket to the mast
Mast - disassembled and reassembled all attached components
Mast - replaced mast light lens
Boom - replaced sheaves
Boom - disassembled and reassembled all attached components
Sails - Cleaned
Topsides - Rebedded hinges to forward hatch
Topsides - Refinished all exterior teak
Topsides - Removed bulkhead compass, covered with a plate
Rigging - Installed Boomkicker

2014

My Bayliner 38 next to my Catalina Capri 22.

Rigging - Replaced cabin top clam cleats with line clutches and cam cleats
Rigging - Built Spinnaker Pole
Rigging - Upgraded to 8:1 Boom Vang
Sails - Added Spinnaker

2015

Rigging - Added Mast Gates

2016

Rigging - Added CDI Furler
Rigging - Replaced cabin top turning block sheaves
Sails - Converted 110% jib to furling

2017

Moored at Portland Yacht Club.

Topsides - New mesh halyard bags
Topsides - Added Companionway rainfly, Sunbrella
Topsides - Upgraded companionway hatch board to Starboard crib boards
Topsides- Raymarine Auto-Pilot
Rigging - Upgraded to self-tailing winches
Interior - Added window coverings, Sunbrella
Interior - Add crib boards storage bag

2018

Old weathered companionway board.

Rigging - Spinnaker clam cleats upgraded to Harken cam cleats
Rigging - Traveler upgraded to 3:1 purchase
Boat leaves its home at the Portland Yacht Club on the Columbia River in preparation for relocation to the San Juan Islands.

2019

Boat's new home is Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, WA, near the Anacortes Yacht Club.
Hull - Striped VC17m bottom paint down to epoxy barrier coat
Hull - Sanded bottom in preparation for new epoxy barrier coat
Hull - Applied two coats of Sea Hawk "Tuff Stuff High-Build Epoxy Primer" as a barrier coat
Hull - Applied two coats of Pettit "Trinidad Pro" blue bottom paint

2020

Outboard motor mount upgraded from wood to Starboard.
Outboard - Flush Kit upgraded to match later-model Tohatsu
Ice Chest Step Installed
Depth Sounder Installed
Swing-arm installed so Depth Sounder can live in the cabin and be swung into the companionway
New Battery Installed
Upgraded genoa lead cars to Garhauer

2021

2022

Lifelines replaced/upgraded to Dyneema
Lifeline Pelican hooks upgraded to more reliable latching Suncor Pelican Hooks
Main halyard 5/16" Sta-Set X replaced with 1/4" Endura (Dyneema core)
Upgraded Easylock rope clutch to Spinlock XAS rope clutch for main halyard
Upgraded port and starboard Spinlock rope clutches to better handle 1/4" (6 mm) line
Topsides - Refinished all exterior teak
Corroded spinnaker downhaul Harken 150 cam-cleat on starboard side replaced with a new one.

Hull

One Piece Fiberglass Hull, White
Molded-In Gel Coat Waterline Stripe and Sheer Stripe colors (sky blue)
Fin Keel Lead Ballast
Fiberglass Rudder
Trailer Bow Eye

Full Boat Cover in Sunbrella

Topsides

Upgrades mesh halyard bags and companionway rain fly.

One Piece Fiberglass Deck, Two-Tone White & Beige
Molded-In Non-Skid Surface
Forward Deck Hatch
Large Self-Bailing Cockpit
Cockpit Seat Storage Locker
Cockpit Fuel Tank Compartment
Cockpit Cushions, Vinyl, White
Inclinometer
Two (2) Flotation Cushions
Manual Bilge Pump with Through Deck Handle
Outboard Motor Bracket
Companionway cover
Oak Tiller
Tiller Lock
Tiller Extension Quick Release
Raymarine Tiller-Pilot
Bow Pulpit
Stern Rails

Stanchions and Lifelines with Pelican Hooks

The Interior

Window cover.

Self Contained Head and Privacy Curtain
Soft Touch Hull Liner with (4) Zippered Storage Compartments
Interior Cushions
Teak Trim Interior
Ice Chest
Life vests (4)
Fire extinguisher
8 lb. Danforth anchor, 6' chain, and 100' rode
First Aid Kit

Sails and Rigging

Spinnaker with ATN Tacker.

Anodized Aluminum Mast and Boom
Mast Gates
Stainless Steel Mast Step
Windex Wind Indicator
Stainless Steel Standing Rigging
Backstay w/ Adjustment Purchase
CDI Flexible Furler w/ Ball Bearings
Internal Halyards
Low Stretch Internal Halyards
Main & Jib Halyard Winches on Cabin Top, with Clam Cleats
Halyard Mesh Pockets on Cabin Bulkhead
Jib & Main Halyard Rope Clutches
Lewmar #6 Halyard Winches (qty 2)
Boom Vang, Adjustable
Boomkicker
Jiffy Reefing on Boom
Cummingham
All Lines Led Aft to Cockpit
Genoa Tracks w/ Low Lead Cars
Lewmar #14 Self-Tailing Sheet Winches (qty 2)
Winch Handle (qty 2) Floating
Cockpit Mounted Traveler with Controls
110% Furling Jib with U.V. Panels, sheets, and sail bag
155% hank-on Genoa (North Sails), sheets, and sail bag
90% hank-on Jib, sheets, and sail bag
.75 oz Radial Head Asymmetrical Spinnaker, sheets, and sail bag
Mainsail Cover
Forespar Spinnaker Pole
Spinnaker Sheets, Topping Life, Foreguy, and Halyard Led Aft to Cockpit
Spinnaker Harken Cam-Matic Cleats
Forespar Telescoping Whisker Pole
Loos Tension gauge (Model A)

Engine

First time out with the spinnaker.

The Nissan Sail Pro 6 hp outboard uses a 1-cylinder 4-stroke engine which drives a 3-blade propeller. Fuel consumption is about 0.7 gallons per hour at a cruising speed of 6 knots.