What to look for in a Crosby Catboat

[davelauc]

I am a newbie to the world of wooden catboats. I am shopping for an early 1900's 22' Crosby Cat. What are the hidden (or obvious) problems I should keep an eye out for. Any and all advice is welcome!

[Thad]

Iron fasteners.

[Jim Ledger]

Stem problems...compounded by those iron fasteners.;)

Remember, those Crosby boats were usually work boats, built for a price and expected to get about twenty or thirty years of service. Buying one today and expecting not to have to do major, MAJOR, work is unrealistic , to say the least.

[Ian McColgin]

There are members of the Catboat Association who have done the work. Get ahold of them. I can't think of a better way than to check out the annual meeting, if you can make it to the Mystic Maryott on the first weekend of February. Check out the web site.

It's like any other old wooden boat.

If you're around SE Massachusetts and want more eyes, give me a call or a PM.

[Thad]

Look over the listings in the Catboat Assoc. for sale page, http://old.catboats.org/cats4sale/cats150.htm
This one is certainly interesting!:
150-35. FOR SALE: 1932 Crosby 22’ Catboat. "Pinkletink" - Fully rebuilt in the late 1990’s - see CBA Bulletins #121 & #132 plus Cover of bulletin #42. Winner of 2000 Broad Axe Award. Engine rebuilt 2006, new sail and sail cover 2007, with plenty of spare parts included in the sale. Pinkletink had once been owned by John & Pinkie Leavens, co-founders of The Catboat Assoc., and I have owned Pinkletink since 1987. Boat is located on Nantucket, MA. $35,000. Contact Bill Sayle 508-228-9876 or e-mail, billsaylepltink@comcast.net
That's the only 22, but there are others 20, 25, and 28, not all Crosby's but of the heritage. Great boats to sail! They developed from workboats but most that exist were not built as such. There were large catboat races as well as acknowledged cruising and daysailing capabilities.

[davelauc]

Thanks for the advice folks!