Maiden Voyage

The boat spent the winter and spring in the back yard, which allowed me to check everything out and get her ready for the summer. The day of her maiden launch and voyage, June 28, 1998, had finally come.

With the help of an experienced sailor we went about the process of setting up the boat and launching it for the first time. I practiced raising the mast a few times beforehand while the boat sat on the trailer in the backyard, so we did not look like complete idiots. The launching was most difficult because my nearby ramp has a very shallow grade. We provided some entertainment to the 'regulars' at the dock as we struggled to get the boat off the trailer.

Over the past 4-5 years I have become proficient at the technique to launch and retrieve at my ramp.

Pictures of First Set up and Launch  (The vehicle got very wet as we had to back the rig in deep)

The First Set-up. Where do we start?	Launching the boat (and possibly the car)

Pictures of  "Maiden Voyage"

Photos (left - right): (1),(2) Pictures with the Captain, (3) We even let Mom drive, (4) Last one in is a rotten egg!

The boat has a dinette table in the cabin, which the kids like for drawing, reading and other activities.  The new Catalina 22 (Mk II) has a different table configuration, which I don't like as much as the dinette.

Even though my boat was in pretty good shape, and could be considered ‘ready to sail’ when I got it, a number of projects have been completed to make it more seaworthy.