I'm brand new to this cat thang, hoping for a little input and advise! I just bought a cheap used Nacra 5.0 and am proceeding to teach myself how to set it up and sail it (a little scary huh?) I've removed the trap wires for now and plan to just take it easy for a while. Questions: I'll be strictly a recreational sailor, want to be able to single hand often, but would also like to be able to load up 2/3 friends occasionally too. Is this boat well suited for this? Also, I expect that I'll get hooked on this and sell/trade this boat soon for a nicer "keeper".... What would be a great boat for this type of use? I'm thinking of a Nacra 500 or maybe 750??? Thanks for helping this newbie get started!
TxAir,
The 5.0 is a great boat to begin with and will allow you to single hand it or put 2 friends on (you'll probably find that three people on the boat is about all you can fit) - It probably won't be long before you're putting the trapeze wires back on and looking for the time to fly a hull!
You didn't say where you were from (TX?) but there should be some other cat sailors around you. I really suggest that you get in touch with some of them (make a post here on catsailor to locate some people in your area) - you'll find that we're all a terribly friendly bunch and about the only thing that might bother you is TOO much advice! ![[Linked Image]](/forums/images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon}
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Before you get out - be sure you know how to right your boat. There are some tricks to it that make the difference between an hour stuck on your side in the water or 2 minutes. If you need some info on this, ask again here or ask some local people (don't want to type more than I need to at this point!).
Feel free to email me individually if you have anymore questions!
NAMSA V.P.
You may be interested in the Ultimate Catamaran Guide at http:/
Sail fast and have fun,
Alan Thompson
Inter 20 - San Diego
I didn't address your question about your next boat - there is a huge variety in different boats and they all have pros and cons. You first need to decide what your focus is going to be: pleasure, distance racing, buoy racing, do you want the fastest boat or will you settle for slow, etc... Budget will naturally play a role in what kind of boat you get into.
The 5.0 is a good platform to get a taste of all the above and learn from. You'll likely be happy with that boat for a couple of years before moving on. Mark Michaelson's cat guide is a good place to learn a little bit about the different boats but before you decide go looking, you should participate or visit some local regattas (see the NOR - Notice Of Race - area of this website). There you'll see several different kinds of cats and can talk to the folks about them (keep in mind that usually everyone's favorite is the one they're sailing). Good luck and welcome to cat sailing!
Welcome! Congrats on a great boat!
Here's something to think about:
The "wind wizard" on our beach, who beats all comers boat-on-boat *THEN* gets the benefit of portsmouth handicap adjustments, who kicks serious you-know-what out there... that guy swears by the 5.0, and has owned 3 of them, all purchased new.
Me, I'm kinda new at this too.... bought an old "cheap H16" and by the end of my first season paid 4x that amount for a late-model 5.0. 3 seasons later, I haven't found an all-around boat worth "upgrading" to. Sure, there is lots of one-design action out there in various classes like the H16, but the 5.0 just feels more "yar" to me than the H16. (Just my own personal opinion - some real hot sailers don't share it, a couple o' real hot sailors agree.) Also, I pitchpole it much less than the H16 - 3:0!!! (Every time a motorboat wake comes over the bows and I feel no decelleration, I actually shout "I love my boat!!!") Sure the Tornados I've crewed on are way faster and beautifully stable up on one hull, but it'st just too much boat for lil' ole me to singlehand (160# in full gear) Yup, I could get a boarded boat and point slightly higher... and, being the forgetfull sort, I'd probablby ground 'em out for a couple hundred$$ damage. I've crewed often on a 5.5SL and a 5.2, and like the boats just fine. The P19's a sweet ride. But not so much sweeter I'm just itching to "upgrade".
Even lil ol' me, I've sailed away from competent sailors on their 5.5 sl in moderate air, when I had the 5.0 dialed in just right - but to do that consistently is taking me 3 seasons so far.
The speed and performance I've *SEEN* extracted from this platform (the 5.0) tells me that what I need most is to adjust the nut on the forward end of the tiller, not change the boat connected to the other end.
Like Jake and Alan point out so well, you will need to find out in which ways your 5.0 satisfies you, and in which ways you find you want more/different features/performance/experience/etc. That means sail with as many other catsailors as you can - - most of us would love interested crew. (That includes me, if you can get to Long Island, NY!)
Then log on and say, "I'm looking for a little more [XXXXXX], what boat(s) would you recommend?"
But by all means, open your mind to the possibility that the 5.0 just might be exactly the mix of pluses and tradeoffs you're looking for.
You can upgrade the spreaders, I think/hope, or look for a newer mast. I'm all excited waiting for my new Smyth sails. You can add better downhaul, add barberhaulers, jib block travelers etc. if you like a lot of strings to pull.
you can find an informative thread on 5.0 tuning and tacking, here: Five-o discussion
If nothing else, do go read Rick White's advice on "power righting" a cat - It's in the Murrays catalogue, which can be viewed online at: Murrays.com
And you can come to Great South Bay, Long Island anytime for some 15 kt howling trapeze rides!
Saiil fast and sail often.
Ed Norris
Hi Ed,
Good advice regarding the 5.0.
I've been racing cats for 18 seasons now and have NEVER had ANY 5.0 (including the so-caleed "wind wizard") go by me while I was racing my 5.5SL. Never. Just which "competent" sailors did you get past after 3 seasons?
Steve
Nice to hear from you, Steve!
Hint: They bought their boat at exactly the same time as you; their sail number is within 4 of yours; they're still out eheere sailing, and they don't own your old 5.5sl. Need I say more? BTW, on some other occasions, as I implied, these guys have in fact cleaned my clock rather thorougly. My point is, differences in skippering and set-up can affect results for us non-hardcore types way more than a different boat can. Acquiring expertise is, for us, way cheaper and way more effective than acquiring new boats.
And word is, you-know-who in *his* 5.0 sez he could smoke you in your 5.5 anytime you wanna try 🙂
...and PS it was last year, *during* my third season, not 'after 3 seasons' 😛
BTW; when will we see your hot new boat???
-Ed