Hi all I just registered on here because I'm currently looking at buying small catamaran. I've never owned a cat before (helped a gentleman build a Wharram 42 but that's not exactly a beach cat). I have owned several small monohulls, but I kinda want to step up the performance, especially since I'm stationed on the P.Tank river in NE North Carolina. I'm currently considering both a Trac 16 and a Prindle 16, and while I've found plenty of info on the Prindle 16 design, I've found very little on the Trac 16.

How would the Trac 16 compare to to Hobie or the Prindle? I don't plan on doing much racing with whatever I get, so hardcore performance is not paramount.

Many thanks!

Ed Sychra

as the joke goes, i would rather sail the box the track comes in, than the boat.

truth is, i have seen a few, but never sailed a track. i have sailed many prindles and they rock.

get the prindle... lots more spare parts, lots of people know about them and can help you rig or repair... and if you can't find info on a track, you are gonna have just as hard of a time finding guidence, parts, etc

The trac catamarans were built by AMF (they used to build sunfish and lasers too). The performance of most of the common 16 ft boardless cats (trac 16, prindle 16, hobie 16, nacra 5.0, G-cat 5.0) is going to be pretty similar. I would get whatever boat you find that is in the best condition.

The owner's manual for the trac16:
http://www.thebeachcats.com/files/trac_16.pdf

Stay away from the Trac.... Andrews right about the parts for them... Hobie, Prindle, Nacras are some of the most common ones.... no problem with information & parts on these cats~~ and whatever ya do don't even think about a
'Aqua cat'~~ looks like a piece of lawn furniture with hulls, ( Its a dead dreed anyway), very few around!!!

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~ Vietnam Vet 69-71~ 17 Hobie w/big jib, ~18 Hobie mag,~DN Ice sailor,
and other toys.......
~~ I live in NY state on the north shore of Oneida lake in
Bernhards Bay. ~~~~~~
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Quote

and whatever ya do don't even think about a
'Aqua cat'~~ looks like a piece of lawn furniture with hulls, ( Its a dead dreed anyway), very few around!!!

So i did a search on this "aqua cat".. and this is what i got..

if you find one of these for under $5000... buy it~!






edited by: andrewscott, Apr 12, 2010 - 03:36 PM

Well, if you decide to buy the Trac and find the hulls are crap, I've got a set in GREAT condition. Cheap too. Just putting it out there.



edited by: Sawyeraj, Apr 12, 2010 - 03:07 PM

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AJ Sawyer
Nacra 20
San Diego, CA
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I just bought an 1983 Trac 18... I got a Smokin deal on the Cat and a Lift to keep it on, only bummer was no trailer. Looking around there are going to be very few parts for replacement if something needs fixing.

I've had a 14 Hobie that I got rid of... A Hobie 18 that I loved and my brother Sold and now the Trac which I just put in the water today. So I'll tell you how it sails soon.

Good luck on the search....


If anyone has any Trac 18 info or parts please let me know....

The TRAC 16 is one excellent cat. I have had mine for a couple of decades and I love it. It is better made than the Hobies plus faster and drier. It is easier to sail fast than a Prindl or Andrew Scott's Mystere. As the saying goes it is a mystery why one would buy one of those. I have sailed most all cats and the TRAC is as good as any. There are not the spare parts for it just like there are not spare parts for other products with small mfg numbers. Think about it, there are a lot of spare parts for a Ford Pinto but do you want one? Does making a million of them make them a better boat? Hobie parts are available also if you want a really poorly designed boat

Hey I put 245000 miles on my Pinto then sold it. Try the Vega for a better analogy. Hobies are poorly designed? Why are their so many around and sill making them?

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Nacra 5.2
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Hey Andrew, not much mast on that aqua cat. Bet with a forestay it could carry a huge jib though. Took a guy for a
ride on my H18 who was a huge Trac fan. Started with the
14 and has had a 16 forever. He had nothing but great things
to say about it.



edited by: pknapp66, Aug 03, 2010 - 06:35 PM

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Pete Knapp
Schodack landing,NY
Goodall Viper,AHPC Viper,Nacra I20
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I have had a Trac 16 for about 11 years and love it! The pontoons have a lot of flotation and it is easy to sail single handed or with a crew of three in big winds. My Trac 16 goes as fast as a Hobie 18, but doesn't go up wind as well without dagger boards. The boom-less rig is nice for taking my kids out sailing and the fully battened sail handles great. Mr Ed - have you purchased either boat yet? Which one and do you like it?

I go back to the parts thing. If you need stuff (and you will) Hobies followed by Prindle. No comments on the rides as they are subjective. I'm an H18 fan for the most part.

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H18, H17, P19, Glastron GT-150 (Bond jump boat)
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