I just bought a 16' beach catamaran with no identifying characteristics except 'Taft HPLS' on the rudders. It's been sitting around unused for at least 15 years. Does anyone know who the manufacturer is, where I can find out more information, etc?
It's pretty cool, with yellow pontoons and black/orange/yellow mainsail.
How about a photo?
I just bought it last weekend (in Nebraska, of all places), and don't have any photos developed yet. Maybe I will try this question again when I get some!
Does anyone know if 'Taft' is a hardware company (maybe they just made the rudders), or if they manufactured the whole boat? I can't find anything on the web.
Okay-
Unroll the big (main) sail (or does it only have one sail??) and see if there are any emblems or words on it and who made the sail. How do you know how old it is? What is on the title/registration?
Is it fiberglass (I presume?)? What other type of cat does it look similar to (ie Hobie 16, G-cat, Nacra, etc.)? How is it different? Does it have centerboards or daggerboards?
Help us out here a little more--- Generally on the right (starboard) hull there should be some letters and numbers- May be faint or almost filled with paint- Some foreign cats use a sticker or plate inside the hulls (if it has ports open them and look in)-
Kirt
thanks for the response. I live in Illinois, and the boat is still in Nebraska getting the trailer fixed up, so I am going by memory on some of the facts. I know it's at least 15 years old, because: the guy I bought it from was a neighbor of my father-in-law. He bought it at least 15 years ago from his boss after he found it in a warehouse- who knows how long it was sitting in there. Unfortunately, I don't think it was ever registered- it was just sailed on some local Nebraska lakes. I have to try to get that all cleared up somehow.
It has has a mainsail and a jib, but the jib was bought later. The mainsail does not have the hobie symbol- it has a sun icon with a number in the middle.
I am not sure what kind of cat to compare it to since I don't know how hold it is- It has a 3 part tramp that slides into tracks on the pontoons and on the front and rear tubes. (It doesn't ride above the pontoons like I have seen on newer Hobies). I don't remember seeing any ports.
It has two-part (upper and lower) fiberglass pontoons.
We did find some numbers besides what was on the rudders:
TM CFT 8242 75
Is there any way to check these numbers against anything? If so, that might also help with registration.
Thanks for your help- It's a weird situation, but worth the $200 I paid.
What about a sol cat 15?
Sounds like a 'Sol Cat', and the number in the emblem is the length of the boat. $200 sounds about right, check the hulls for soft spots, and go out and have fun!!
Probably a Sol Cat 15- I had one of those in North Carolina- Don't have any pictures here with me. Jib was an option-
There are some pics somewhere- Do a search on this site under Sol Cat 15 and you should find them-
They had pivoting centerboards, rear bottom of hull is fairly flat, rudders very similar to NACRA style-
Kirt
that you guys could Identify a boat without a photo like that.
Kudos.
David Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067
or it could be a ....... WINDSPEED 15!!!
we have one of these things for our club.... its a beast of a boat, with about half the parts missing and therefore must be taken from other boats.
At one point we didn't have the original sails, so we had to use a coronado 15 sailplan... it was intruiging to say the least.
Also, since nobody but me sails cats in the club, the tiller system comprises of electrical conduit... gotta love working on 12 boats with a north carolina state funded budget ![[Linked Image]](/forums/images/icons/smile.gif){kind=icon}
Could it be an AMF TRAC
It's a Sol Cat 15. I bought an 18 from Colin Clark in New Orleans in 1978. The 18 was a great, durable boat. I wish I still had it.
Were you on Lake Murray this Sunday?
Ijust bought an 18'SOL
Tell me if I screwed up?
I gave $500...the hulls seem solid.
I've been sailing a Hobie for 20 + years.
Did I screw up?
Nah- the Sol Cat is a fine boat. Heavier than it needs to be, but if you're not racing then weight isn't really a concern. Perfectly adequate boat to take out on the water and put a smile on your face 
WOW!
Colin Clark!
I have not heard that name in a long time, or thought aout it.
Bought mine there too, a 1977 Sol Cat 15.
Ordered special with black and white stripe sails.
Still have it.
Was on a triangle lot that now/had a Rallys hamburger stand.