Hi folks,

I've learned a lot from your posts over the last year, and am now getting more involved with beach cats, and I'm hoping you can share your experience on these points...two main questions. How young is too young for sailing a catamaran? You'll be shocked to hear that my wife and I don't agree. Is it a question of the child being able to swim? Of course, I wouldn't take him out till he wants to go, and everyone gets pfds. My first thought is that adults should out number kids, in case one takes a boom to the noggin. My son is two and I'm hoping it might be an option in a couple years. How early did you take your kids out?

Why does it matter now?...I'm thinking of buying a hobie 21 SE with a motor. My wife thinks I should get a little (18-23') cabin cruiser. But I cant imagine going back to single hulls just yet. Are they really that much safer? My hunch is that my wife would be more comfortable on a bigger cat, especially once she's logged more than two afternoons on my SolCat 18.

My background: I'm mostly a cautious sailor. I've been sailing a SolCat 18 for the last year, little single hulls (C-Lark 14 and Coronado 15) for the previous 12 yrs, and a 38' Ingrid ketch growing up, which my dad built with his dad.

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Jesse
Portland, OR
Hobie 21 SE
#450
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I have no kids, but sail with friends that do. My close friends took their daughter out on a mono first (at age 2 or 3) and then out on a p-18 at age 4 (i am guesstimating). Both parents can sail the cat and both have many years on the water. The girl is VERY smart/alert/behaved/responsive/etc. i think it's more about the child's disposition (and ability to listen/swim/behave) than a number.

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But I cant imagine going back to single hulls just yet. Are they really that much safer?

i would think yes!. Power (radio), hard to capsize, cabin to seek shelter from weather....

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My hunch is that my wife would be more comfortable on a bigger cat

well more deck are is nice, but the bigger that cat, the more power... the more control sheets (typically) / spaghetti all over the deck to get tangled in. throw a motor on back and your cat will suffer (some) in handling/tacking/speed

I almost lost a gf as soon as i went to a modern cat.. she liked my h18 more (she could sunbathe on it while i sailed). The end of our relationship was shortly after we went sailing with my new spinnaker rig.

how about: keep the cat for you, get a mono for family time?

I have taken kids as young as 4 on my P-18. They lay just behind the mast facing forward typically holding onto the righting line. They must be able to swim, they must wear a PFD with a leg strap and 2 adults must be on board. It is made very clear before we leave shore what is to happen in the event of a capsize or MOB. In my case the crew is responsible only for the child. If kid is MOB so is the adult. In the event of a capsize crew gets kid and keeps them near the boat but out of the way while I right and then standard MOB. When sailing in calm water kids have lasted an hour or more and even fallen asleep. In waves or heavy chop 10 min or so and they are ready to head back to the beach.

The first question is supervision. I probably wouldn't take a child under the age of 12-13 as crew on the boat without a second adult. 7 is about the earliest I would be tempted to even bring a kid on a performance cat with a second adult to supervise.

The second question is type of wind/boat. A hobie getaway is super stable, doesn't tend to fly the hull, has plenty of room and has very few things to get hung up on or hit by. A 5 year old kid and 2 adults cruising about in low to moderate wind would probably be fine, a 10 year old could almost crew for you. I wouldn't say so much about a Sol Cat 18 or any other 'performance' cat. A 21 SE is a BEAST and would be too much boat to have a child on in almost any condition. A 21 Sport Cruiser (SC) is much closer to the mark but I would still be tempted to get something like a Getaway for family cruising. You can still get pretty good speed out of them but they are WAY more stable than most cats.

Monohulls with keels are more stable. But technically a daggerboard mono with the same sail area is more dangerous and tippy (look at laser 2s and International 14s) . A catamaran is a more stable design, the problem is that we take advantage of that stability and load the boat with 30' masts and high aspect, large area sails to make them go like snot and flip like catapults!! Most of the the bigger beach cats just get harrier and faster than the smaller ones! The hobie 21 SE is one fast boat with the SC being much less so and heavier. The other 20's are performance boats also. Again the Wave and Getaway are examples of not overpowering the boat with sail area to get a good balance of speed and stability.

If you want a big boat to cruise with the family on and go to destinations the H 21 SC is probably a good boat for that. I still like the Getaway better though, just because it is more rugged and really designed for day sailing. You can also get a brand new one (or a couple of years old) relatively inexpensively for even less maintenance. Keep your Solcat for performance fun and get a play boat for the wife and kids and to get them used to sailing a catamaran. Who says you can't have 2 (or three) cats!

Now the real question is whether hobie will pay me for the props, considering how much of a naysayer I was a couple of years ago?

Regards,
Dave

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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It also depends where you are sailing in Portland (Willamette, Columbia, Vancouver Lake, other?) The Willamette or Vancouver Lake might be a good option since there is not much of a current, but the Columbia has a strong current and heavier winds, which would make it more unsafe. Also, you should look into the Willamette Sailing Club. I grew up taking youth classes out of there (starting on an Optimus, haha).

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Alex

Prindle 16 "Shake & Bake"
Portland, Oregon
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Folks,

Thank you very much for your comments. I appreciate it.

I guess I was kidding myself about the 21 SE. I'm tempted to get a second boat for family, but only have room to store one boat and I'm too cheap to rent space. Dry storage seems to be at least $75 and moorage starts at $130 per month around Portland. I'd rather have a boat payment.

Alex...any cat groups around here? I almost never see cats when I go out. I usually sail the Columbia around Marine Drive and 33rd or 223rd...sometimes Henry Hagg or Vancouver Lake.

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Jesse
Portland, OR
Hobie 21 SE
#450
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Jesse, I only recently bought my cat, and have not found any other cat sailors besides those in Eugene. I do know one other guy in Vancouver that has a Sol Cat 18, but is trying to sell it.

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Alex

Prindle 16 "Shake & Bake"
Portland, Oregon
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