Hi, all i have the oppourtunity to purchase either boat or both and am wondering what others might do. I'm looking for the boat thats gonna be faster as i will be racing next season in the local wed. night races.i know it comes down to experience alot of it anyways.I'm not worried about finding parts or sails etc etc. as i owned a Sol cat before i'm looking at a performance stand point. The only thing the sol needs is a forestay and the prindle needs some tlc.One has trailer one doesn't. Which would you rather have performance wise.Curious

How much do you and crew weigh? My understanding is that the Sol Cat doesn't like much weight, while the Prindle 18 can handle quite a bit.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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The Prindle because you can get parts....
plus its a much better boat

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Gordon
Nacra 5.5SL
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There is no comparison. Prindle 18 all the way for a pile of reasons (parts availabilty, performance, crew weight tolerance, etc.). Just an all round better design.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Guys I always thought the sol cat was pretty good boat certainly compares with the p18.

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Nacra 5.2
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How much do you and crew weigh? My understanding is that the Sol Cat doesn't like much weight, while the Prindle 18 can handle quite a bit.

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Damon Linkous


Well i will singlehand quite a bit i'm sure and ocassionally have a crew member of 150lbs. and i weigh 185lbs. I've looked on the U.S.Sailing site and the SolCat DPN Ratings are better than a P18. Plus the Sol cat has new standing and running,rigging new paint,tramp sails are excellent condition,has momma bob and hulls and daggers no issues and comes with extras trap harnesses.the Prindle needs rigging and tlc but ever boat that i've owned i've always replaced things i thing thats the norm. More than likely i will singlehand alot except in heavy air then i will have one or two crew foresure.

It sounds like you have already made up your mind.

brjonair

How much do you and crew weigh? My understanding is that the Sol Cat doesn't like much weight, while the Prindle 18 can handle quite a bit.

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Damon Linkous


Well i will singlehand quite a bit i'm sure and ocassionally have a crew member of 150lbs. and i weigh 185lbs. I've looked on the U.S.Sailing site and the SolCat DPN Ratings are better than a P18. Plus the Sol cat has new standing and running,rigging new paint,tramp sails are excellent condition,has momma bob and hulls and daggers no issues and comes with extras trap harnesses.the Prindle needs rigging and tlc but ever boat that i've owned i've always replaced things i thing thats the norm. More than likely i will singlehand alot except in heavy air then i will have one or two crew foresure.

I sail my P18 with a SolCat 18 in our club and we are fairly comparable with the exception the he is much more experienced than me and can probably get more out of either boat. I think you would happy with the SolCat if it's in better shape. I don't care much for the SolCat jib though.

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Dustin Finlinson • Magna, UT
Member: Utah Sailing Association
1982 Prindle 18
1986 Hobie 17
1982 Prindle 16
1980 Prindle 16(mostly)
1976 Prindle 16(mostly)
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook.
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If you haven't bought yet, the Prindle, with the hulls similar to the Hobie, is a deep boat and doesn't preform as well as aa boat with dagger boards. Jack Prindal broke away from hobie and to make a boat that preformed as well as a "board" boat he had to increase the size of the hulls to compensate but can't preform as well as well. Hobie found this out when they made an 18. I sailed Hobies and Prindle and bought the Sol Cat. The reason being I went to a tied and true system that had sailed with boards. It was also designed after the Tornado, a wood version of a very fast boat. I had mine from 1978 to 2009. Sailed hard and often and with care , a great boat.

Wolfman is correct all the way. First of all, I see no listing for Sol Cat in U. S. PNS. P-18 is definitely faster & better built. Battened Sol Cat jib is always catching on halyard (like H-16) and unstayed Sol mast is a heavier throw up due to larger wall thickness. Pattison sails better design & build on P-18 than Sol factory sails. And an assymetrical hulled boat is MUCH easier to sail. Pete

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Jack Prindal broke away from hobie and to make a boat that preformed as well as a "board" boat he had to increase the size of the hulls to compensate but can't preform as well as well.

I bet he was pissed that Geoff got all the royalties

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Nacra 5.2
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