Greetings! I just moved to the VA beach area for my first real job. Ever since I first went out on the trapeze of my friend's Prindle 18 I decided catamaran sailing was definitely something I wanted to get into. Fortunately my job has set me up with the chance to finally put my plan to action. I do need some advice on where to look for a good boat, a good boat for a beginner, what to look for and stay away from on a used boat, maybe some good groups in the area to get in with and also, where to keep the boat as I live in an apartment. Thanks a lot for looking and any comments.

Dave

Hi Dave, welcome.

this is a great place to start.

I would consider going down to the beach (or marina's) and start talking to people. maybe there is a local yacht club?

Perhaps the yellow pages can help you find cat sail repair shops or hobie dealers.. that would also be a good place to meet cat sailors or find used cats..

Craigslist, ebay and this site are probably your best bet to find a used cat.

you can also post on other cat sites (catsailor.com) to meet local cat sailors or find the "scene".

Good luck, keep us posted

Dave, Andrew has spent too much time in the Florida sun and has hit his head on the boom after a stiff rummy. Disregard what he has said and call Dan Berger. PM me and I will give you his number.

--
Philip
--

I used this page to find my boat, it allows you to search multiple Craig's list cities in one search: http://www.searchtempest.com/

Dave,
We have a very active catamaran fleet in va Beach! It is getting difficult to find good used boats around here, but they pop up every now and then. Give me a call at 589-6920 or email me at danberger@mindspring.com for more info. You missed the fleet meeting last night!

Dan

mummp

Dave, Andrew has spent too much time in the Florida sun and has hit his head on the boom after a stiff rummy. Disregard what he has said and call Dan Berger. PM me and I will give you his number.

Philip, my mental condition (or lack or) and preponderance to get hit repeatedly in the head with a boom, and my un-quenchable thirst for capt. morgan is private business and i would prefer no one here knows about it... Doooohhhhhh

nevermind

there is a prindle 18 for sale on the raleigh craigslist . It says it needs rigging and blocks but if the rest is decent then rigging and blocks are easy (you can order complete premade rigging online from catsailor.com or murrays.com). Just noticed there is a prindle 18 being parted out listed in the classifieds.





edited by: hokie, Mar 07, 2010 - 03:59 PM

Thanks everyone so far. Does anybody have any advice on buying a cat online from another city where they couldn't see it in person before buying it? I'm thinking if the seller could send some clear detailed pictures it might work out. Any success/horror stories in line with this?

Do not buy a boat sight unseen! A few years ago I took a day off work and drove down to south carolina intending to buy a used cat, which according to the owner was in great shape except for a small hole along the gunnel. When I got there the boat (which looked fine in photos) was terrible. The hole was more like the entire deck separating from the hull (including the shroud attachment!) and the tramps were rotten. If you are new to boat ownership then I would get your friend with the prindle to help or if you have not done so yet contact Dan.

I agree you have to see the boat before you buy it. And if you are new to boats, take someone with you that knows what they are looking for. You could also post on this site once you know what type of boat you are going to look at. There are some model/brand specific things to look for in addition to the typical items.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

Dan is the man! He can help hook you up or at the very least give you some great advice!

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--

Alright! I know I want either a Hobie 16, 18 or comparable Prindle. Are these good starter cats? If not what are some other good starter boats? I'm assuming these can be sailed solo after some solid practice and time on the water...???

wannolesail

Alright! I know I want either a Hobie 16, 18 or comparable Prindle. Are these good starter cats? If not what are some other good starter boats? I'm assuming these can be sailed solo after some solid practice and time on the water...???

Every spring this question comes up...HA!
H16- no dagger boards (good for ease of use), really a 2 person boat (can only be righted with 2 people). Lots of parts to be found used cheap and new upgrades. A lot of race opportunities 150K made worldwide. Tend to pitch pole (flip back over front). Can be solo sailed, but be careful when sailing in high winds.

H18- dagger boards (better pointing to the wind), run aground with boards down and you can have a big problem. Faster boat than the 16. H18 have a lot of parts out there new and used. From my searching cost about $1000 more for used 18 than a used 16 of comparable condition. Larger than the 16 in a good way, more room.

Prindles I don't know about, people prefer them over the hobies, when they have sailed both. I can't really give you too much for the Prindles.

Depends on how much you weigh, but a 16ft boardles boat like a Hobie 16, Nacra 5.0, Prindle 16, and G-cat 5.0 would all be great choices.

There is a nacra 5.0 in the DC area, http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/boa/1644540408.html

I believe I saw an advertisement for a slightly used Taipan 4.9 in F16 setup out that way if you are on the brave side of sensible. It looked like a nice boat.

I need advice on a wetsuit. I don't want anything too thick but want to stay warm. Full body/shorty? What does everyone suggest? I got a hobie 16 by the way...it's awesome.

you may want to start a new thread for your new topic.. might get more attention that way

Hi Dave,
Before you set your sights on a Hobie 16 or 18 you might conceder a Cat without a jib. My 18 square may not be the boat for you but it has only a main sail to deal with which makes it a no brainer to tack and to dump the power when you're in a gust. Easier to set up and break down too. Key word here is ?easy? Not having a jib doesn't mean it's slow either. Some like my Climax 18 are lightning fast and point higher because they have no jib. There are other Cats with this kind of set up and being that it's your first boat it could be the most practical choice. The Hobie 14 has only a main I think and you can pick on up cheep.
Wesley

Dan et al

Where do you guys launch from?

Thanks

Joe

Joe-I sent you a PM

Dave--Get a thin Shorty for Virginia Beach sailing. In July and August, it is REALLY hot here and you can go out in shorts. The shorty comes in handy in September and October. If it is overcast, a full lightweight wet suit is fine for May and September/October. On some of the distance races, especially the Labor Day one, we may use a dry suit. We definitely use a dry suit in the winter and spring.