Catalina 22 vs Sage 17
A Round 2 Mini-Cruiser Madness Matchup
This Round 2 duel matches the most popular trailerable cruiser ever against one of the newer designs to hit the water.
About the Catalina 22 we wrote: It’s probably safe to say that you or someone you know has sailed aboard some variation of this popular boat. Frank Butler’s design has endured largely because of its versatility. As you read this, somewhere a Catalina 22 is probably camp-cruising a vacation lake, while another races toward the upwind mark at a local regatta. Few boats are easier to customize for special use. With so many produced, owners can find after-market components and “how-to” advice with little difficulty.
As for performance: Most C-22 owners, regardless of their boat’s vintage, applaud the boat’s ability to point. During our test sail I was frequently surprised by the 22; on several occasions boat-owner Randy Garrett had to remind me I could head up closer. Speed is another C-22 asset. An ably skippered and well-tuned 22 can really move. The owners we interviewed were almost unanimously satisfied with boat speed. A few were somewhat critical of light air performance.
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