Hello,
I’m a newbie looking to buy my first cat and I could really use some advice. I have a couple of years of windsurfing experience, and I have sailed a Laser and Fireball. I have never really liked sailing… that is until my brother in-law bought a cat (TheMightyHobie18). I’ve crewed on his boat a half a dozen in times (mostly in very strong winds) and took the boat out with my wife last weekend. I’m hooked. I can’t imagine sailing anything else, but I’m a little confused about which boat I should start out on. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Here’ s the scoop.
I’m 140 lbs and my wife weighs 125 (she had a lot of sailing experience on the above mentioned boats). I expect that I will be sailing with my wife 75% of the time, my brother in-law 10% (he weighs 230 lbs), two young kids and wife 10%, and 5% solo.
We will be sailing in moderate to strong steady winds. I’ll take the kids out in light winds. The location is ultra safe and there are always a dozen or so family members who can come to the rescue. We live right on the water, so setup is not a big issue. Racing will be limited to racing with my brother in-law for 1-2 years.
I found the TheMightyHobie18 had a bit too much sail for my weight. I’ve helped right it twice, and I’m thinking that I would need a bag or stick to right an 18’ boat myself (at least one the weighs as much as the TheMightyHobie18). So, I’m leaning toward a used H16, Prindle 18-2, or Mystere 5.0. I’m considering the 18-2 because local sailors mentioned that it is a good stable boat for light crews, it is being sold at the local cat club, and it’s in great shape.
I hope that helps!
Mike
You can search this site and find several posts asking the same question as yours. It sounds like any of the three boats you're considering will work well for you.
Here is a useful article that may help you make some decisions:
http:/
Thanks, that article was very helpful. I can't believe that I said I never really liked sailing. It must have been late when I posted. 
The emphasis is on really. I just wish I had tried a cat 10 years ago. This sport is amazing!
Many thanks,
Mike
I'd recomend against the H16, as it does not take kindly to heavier crew weights.
You can get the Solo~Right to allow you to right any of the boats you've mentioned without any other help.
I'd highly recomend the Prindle 18-2 you've mentioned. I've done a lot of sailing on these boats and they are very nice. However, you have to be more careful with the hulls as they are not built as tough as the Hobie 18. This only affects how you treat the boat on land and/or on the trailer.
Also, the P18-2 is a pretty complicated boat to sail. All the little adjustments may be a bit confusing at first, but as you get better you will be glad to have them.
Thanks. Is the 18-2 much more complicated to sail than the Hobie 18? I sailed a pre-1980 TheMightyHobie18 and found it pretty straight forward. I know I still have a lot to learn and I like the idea of growing into the boat, but I don't want to be overwhelmed at this stage either. Also, I started looking into the Nacra 5.5SL. Any thoughts on this boat as compared to the 18-2?
Mike,
I've been sailing an TheMightyHobie18 for a little over a year now. Also, my first cat, and no previous sailing experience (other than as a passanger). It is a great boat when you have weight on board, which is how it sounds like you are going to be sailing. I love everything about it. The only downside (to me and with my level of experience, of course) is single handing in rougher seas, and the set up time and boat weight if you have to drag it up and down a soft beach, which is what I have to do. When taking it from trailer to beach, and beach to trailer it is a big hassle where I live. But these hassles can be reduced if you have the right equipment i.e. the right beach wheels, and a mast stepper etc. Overall, I love the boat, and it is a great boat to grow into.
Good luck
Hello -
If you can find a Prindle 18 you will not believe the ride or the ease of righting the boat. Extremely hard to screw up on the boat as the hulls displace enough area and they are built to last. I own a P-19 (a larger version of 18-2) and previously owned a P-18 which was a lot more fun cause you drove right up the beach.
Paul Nardone, Jr.
Get the Prindle 18-2 or P19...though I owned a TheMightyHobie18 for ~3 years, it was just a stop-gap solution to fill in until I got back onto my one & only true love... the Tornado. I have sailed a P19 recently and found it to be a very capable boat, much nicer rigged than the Hobie 18 and a good performer. It was, after all, designed to be a mini Tornado and uses a lot of the same rigging details (same for the 18-2 by the way). Don't let the idea of having more controls put you off...you certainly do not need to mess with them just to sail the boat for fun. They are there for imporving performance...which you will appreciate as you gain experience in the years to come.
Welcome to the sport and let us know how much you like your first sail on your own boat 
Mike.
Another Idea I'd say is to look into a Nacra 5.0, They are getting older now and you might find a good deal on a boat in great shape. These boats are little monsters, they are fun to single hand, but have duel trapeze and have enough power to make sailing with a crew lots of fun. I think you would be able to whip up on your brother-in-laws Hobie, hehehe, you know if thats incentive. I think the they Mystere you mentioned is very close to the same boat. If you wanted to get a little bigger and add dagger boards, the nacra 5.2 is still a competative boat, and I know from experience that you will leave that hobie WAY behind you.
Both these boats are very straight forward, and I noticed that there are a couple 5.2 forums on this site. I would lean away from ANY hobie, but that is a prejudice I have against the design of those boats.
Hobie!!! 
No disrespect to hobies, i just don't like pitch polling in swell (I had a hobie for a couple years) They are a solid design, i just think that they have alot of room for imporvement. Plus my nacra is ALOT faster.
Thanks for the advice. I've narrowed it down to the Prindle 18-2 and the Nacra 5.5sl. Any suggestions/comparisons would be most welcome.
I sailed the H-18 in 14 knots today. What a blast...I lost a shoe but it was more than worth it. 
You'll learn quickly to tie everything down. Nothing stays put at warp speed!