Hello, I'm new here and want to buy a Hobie Cat Bravo. If you know where I should start, please let me know. I'm in Edmond, OK. Preferably used. Thanks.

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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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Welcome. Any particular reason you are focused on the Bravo? You might also want to consider the Hobie Wave, which probably has a much larger used selection out there. And also a very good choice for a new person to get started with.

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

Welcome. Any particular reason you are focused on the Bravo?

Sailing alone and need to be able to right it. I believe that it should fit in my truck bed and eliminate the need for trailing it. Please, correct me if I am wrong. And, finally, I need to squeeze it into my garage. /www.thebeachcats.com/modules/bbsmile/pnimages/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt="icon_smile" /> " rel="lightbox">/www.thebeachcats.com/modules/bbsmile/pnimages/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt="icon_smile" /> " alt=" " width="250"/>

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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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Hi Bonnie, welcome to cat sailing.

i am sure the bravo is a great learning cat, but if you are willing to do just slightly more (work) than needed to lift a plastic catamaran into your truck...

I would suggest a getaway (as even the wave is to small for me).

I would recommend you go find a local hobie fleet and ask for rides.. or find a dealer and ask for demo's (or at least sit in one and have them trow some water on you) :)

please keep us posted on what you decide

Murphysgirl

smfinley

Welcome. Any particular reason you are focused on the Bravo?

Sailing alone and need to be able to right it. I believe that it should fit in my truck bed and eliminate the need for trailing it. Please, correct me if I am wrong. And, finally, I need to squeeze it into my garage. /www.thebeachcats.com/modules/bbsmile/pnimages/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt="icon_smile" /> " rel="lightbox">/www.thebeachcats.com/modules/bbsmile/pnimages/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt="icon_smile" /> " alt=" " width="250"/>

Sounds like you know what you want! The Bravo is a cool little boat, when you get yours be sure and share some pics of your truck/Bravo combo.

Just don't don't back your truck completely into the water and float it off the way I witnessed a jet ski owner do it.

As far as where to buy one, you aren't as likely to find a used one as older designs.

The Hobie dealer here in Memphis usually has a Bravo on the lot, I think they go $2,999 list plus freight. I'm not sure if they can be drop shipped direct or if you would need to come to Memphis to pick up.http://www.rookesails.com
Despite what his website looks like they are a long time Hobie dealer (since the 1960's)



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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

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The Bravo looks like a cool little boat.

I would also suggest looking into the Wave. You would have to trailor it but it is quite a bit more boat for the money and you wont outgrow/outskill it quite so quickly. YOu might want to trailor the Bravo anyway as getting any boat in and out of a truck is a 2-3 person job.


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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Have you sailed on any cats at Hefner? PM me if you want/need info.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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damonAdmin

Just don't don't back your truck completely into the water and float it off the way I witnessed a jet ski owner do it.

OK, I will try to keep the truck dry!

Thank you everyone for the help. I am looking into a used 2007 Bravo but it is in MT. Quite far from OK. Does anyone know where to start with a reliable way to have it shipped here?

It might cost less over all to buy used and pay shipping rather than new from manufacturer who will drop ship it here because there are no dealers around. I am still waiting for a price on that so I can compare.

No final decisions yet. Keep the comments coming, I appreciate them and hope I can become experienced enough soon to help someone else.


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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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You can bid out a shipping request on uship.com. I was looking to ship a H-18 once and it was going to be about 50 cents a mile. The boat was too far, shipping too much, the deal died.

Rather than ship, I made of list of acceptable cats, figured how far I was willing to drive and started searching on http://www.searchtempest.com/ which allows you to search multiple craigslist cities all at once.

Searching for a specific boat, and not incurring shipping or a very long drive is going to require patience. I don't have that.

i would keep an open mind about a decent entry level cat also...once you take a ride on one you will immediately become addicted...the bravo can't satisfy that itch as well as a hobie 16 or prindle 16 and both can be solo sailed easily,righting one is a matter of experience that you will quickly gain. but then an older boat may have issues that you don't feel comfortable with, either way , you will be sailing this season!

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Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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Bonnie, here are 3 boats that are not to far from you that you might be interested in.
http://www.sailingtexas.com/shobiewave105.html
http://www.sailingtexas.com/shobiegetaway108.html
http://www.sailingtexas.com/shobiebravo102.html

Ok, so after more consideration, I have decided on the Wave instead of the Bravo. Thanks for all your support.

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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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Yay! You won't be disappointed!

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

Ok, so after more consideration, I have decided on the Wave instead of the Bravo. Thanks for all your support.

glad you are stepping up to a bigger cat..

Congratulations Bonnie, be sure and return and create your own photo album in the "Beachcats People" section when you get your boat.

I'm moving this thread to the "Getting Started" forum, just now noticed it was in the "Test Posts" forum.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
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Bring it out to Lake Hefner when you get it.
we are there on most weekends and would be glad to help

best of luck

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Gordon
Nacra 5.5SL
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Murphysgirl

Ok, so after more consideration, I have decided on the Wave instead of the Bravo. Thanks for all your support.

Sailed one at a resort in the Bahamas last fall...I blew past people on H16s, I am guessing they weren't up on sail trim.
I was really taken back how much fun and how fast it was. Plus the rotomold plastic hulls are pretty appealing.

There is a great Hobie dealer in Dallas, TX, about 3hr away from you. http://www.mariner-sails.com/
Hobie is doing some promo events with them in April so you may want to call and check it out.

Ok, I just ordered my Hobie Cat Wave and trailer from Mariner-Sales in Dallas, TX.

I appreciate all your help and will let you know how it goes. I'll send pics as soon as I can.



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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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I think you made the better choice. When searching for my first cat, I rented a Bravo. Later I sailed the Wave in Barbados, the Wave wins hands down. The Bravo was a fun little boat, it's major appeal is for very small people, think kids. The mast stepping can be done by a 12 yr old, but the system is not as robust as the Wave. The one I rented was already bent, & took some finagling to get the retaining screw threaded in. The Bravos roller furling is advertised as a safety device if the wind comes up, but it doesn't sail well, or at all with the sail furled part way. I sailed it for 3 hard days, against my 28 yr old Bombardier Invitation, & the Bravo was slower, no matter who was sailing it. It is a light boat, & a single person could lift one end into a truck, then go around & toss the other end up. As for storage, you need to hang them from the ceiling, or put up with them flat on the floor. IF you stand them on their side, the hulls will deform. I think Hobie says they can be stood on end.
The Wave rocked!It is a pretty fast boat, much faster than the Bravo, my wife & I had it out in 20 kts & never felt it was going to pitchpole or flip, even when we hit some waves that buried the hulls to the crossbar. The twin rudders are very easy to lift/drop & work better than the single on the Bravo. You might have liked the Bravo, but after a ffew days you would have itched for the Wave. Good choiuce

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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Woohoo!

Quote

Ok, I just ordered my Hobie Cat Wave and trailer from Mariner-Sales in Dallas, TX.

I appreciate all your help and will let you know how it goes. I'll send pics as soon as I can.

Murphysgirl

Ok, I just ordered my Hobie Cat Wave and trailer from Mariner-Sales in Dallas, TX.

I appreciate all your help and will let you know how it goes. I'll send pics as soon as I can.

Took a road trip this weekend to Dallas and brought home my Hobie Wave!!!
I took the advice of BBeach and ordered the boat and trailer from Mariner-Sales in Dallas, TX. They put together the trailer and the boat and had everything ready for me. They did a walk through on setting the boat up and were just awesome people. They are located in their new store and also have an enormous shop where they make/repair sails and boats.
Thanks to everyone who helped me decide on the Wave. There was a Bravo there and it would have been too small.
I'll post pics soon and can't wait to get her into the water.


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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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Congratulations Bonnie,
Keep us posted in your new adventure!!

Congrats!

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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lookin forwars to seeing pics of you and your new cat :)
fair winds
enjoy

Bonnie,

Mariner is having an on water class for new cat silors this weekend. It mayy be something that you are interested in attending.

The event will not be limited to new sailors, but they do go through a pretty comprehensive set of guidelines for rigging, sailing and maintaining the boats. There will probably be quite a few different types of boats as well and most people will take you out if you are interested in seeing the differences between different manufacturers and models.

I was planning on sailing this Saturday anyway, so I will be at the beach just before noon.





edited by: rpiper138, Apr 12, 2010 - 09:17 AM

ahh..that new boat smell!! whether it needed it or not, your social life just got a boost...you didn't know you had so many friends ready to go sailing...new boat...way to go!!

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Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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Named the boat "Knot-A-Wake" and sailed her on Lake Hefner, Oklahoma City, OK this weekend. I have added a few pics on Beachcats People if you want to check them out.

Met a really great group of sailors at Hobie Point who have helped me out from the first minute I got there!! They are awesome and I want to THANK THEM ALL.

Hope they let me join the Hobie Point Yacht Club. Seems like a great time!

Sail safe this holiday weekend!

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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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Awesome! Great pics! The waves are pretty cool little boats. I'm sure you are going to have a great time with it! Next step F17 Carbon. :) Enjoy!

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Glad you had a good time. It was good to meet. I finally got mine on the water this afternoon.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Bonnie,

It was great to meet you and the family.
We all think you made a great choice for your new boat.

See you next weekend....

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Gordon
Nacra 5.5SL
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Short cut to the pics. http://www.thebeachcats.c…pictures&g2_itemId=73617

Sailed at Lake Hefner today with my daughter and her boyfriend. Lots of wind and a great time!

Can't be there this weekend, but will be back the next.

Happy sailing,


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Bonnie

Nacra SL 16
Hobie Wave
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