I am new to catamaran sailing (just call me noob) and just purchased a 1984 Nacra 5.7. There are several parts that need to be replaced, most importantly the dolphin stricker rod. I am new to Charleston, S.C. and would like to know if there are any suppliers in the area that handle Nacra parts. Thanks in advance for your help!

Wan Miguel (Noob extraordinaire)

Welcome to the BeachCats, there is tonnes of info on this site,for people just such as yourself. Search back through the archives for answers to most of your questions.
For the most part A holes & flaming are not tolerated.
We have an N5.7 & N5.0, the 5.7 is identical to yours, 1984. The 5.0 is an '88. Some parts, ie rudder castings are generic to most of the older Nacras, though rudders, sails etc may differ between skeg hull boats & dagger board boats. Here are 2 assembly manuals & a parts manual for your boat.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=35212
Can't find the parts manual, if you PM me an email addy, I'll send it to you, don't post your email here, malicious programs are always looking for valid emails in the public domain.

I have a fair supply of various odds & ends for the 5.7, check out my albums, one shows how to build a DS rod for much less than buying.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=73301
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=72561
Here are general 5.7 photos. At the end is a photo of extra 5.2 parts, expand that, there may be some bits you need. Note, if you are new to this site, many photos can be expanded to full size by clicking on them. If you are browsing albums, some text will be truncated. You will see the full text/photo by clicking on it.http://www.thebeachcats.c…4908b7232d589d6b70ae1ecb
Murrays has a good supply of parts for older Nacras, they have the DS rod.
. http://www.murrays.com/
For generic parts, like lines, blocks etc, West Marine http://www.westmarine.com…hopCat_sailboat_hardware
APS http://www.apsltd.com/c-1…sta-set-new-england.aspx
Sailing Services http://www.sailingservices.com/
All vendors I have used with success. Also Salty Dog have good reviews.
Feel free to PM me any 5.7 specific questions you may have. These classic Cats may not be quite as fast as the newer ones, or point quite as high as a boarded boat, but unless you're seriously racing, they are still plenty fast. You will love the clean tramp, & simplicity of rigging a boomless, boardless boat, especially if you have shoals and/or shallow water. In fact I think the 5.7 is probably the best "older" Cat you can get, especially for 2 up. A few others may disagree, but really, secretly, they all wish they had a 5.7
Nacras Rock, 5.7's even more...so there!



Edited by Edchris177 on May 12, 2012 - 09:12 AM.

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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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These classic Cats may not be quite as fast as the newer ones, or point quite as high as a boarded boat, but unless you're seriously racing, they are still plenty fast. You will love the clean tramp, & simplicity of rigging a boomless, boardless boat, especially if you have shoals and/or shallow water. In fact I think the 5.7 is probably the best "older" Cat you can get, especially for 2 up. A few others may disagree, but really, secretly, they all wish they had a 5.7
Nacras Rock, 5.7's even more...so there!

Ed...you are so right on!! I have been preaching this on my soapbox for years. I have an '87 5.7 and an '84 5.0 and love them both! Glad to hear you got a 5.0....saw your post on the poliglow...good job! I prefer the old wet-sand, compound-wax treatment myself but hey...whatever works for you! My 5.0 is my solo boat and is rigged for self rescue when things turn south. Here's a thought about the pointing ability of skeg boats like ours...especially solo sailing the 5.0. Face it...most board sailors think they bought their pointing ability when they wrote out the check. we have to work at it. When you are trapped out and feel a gust...point up and walk forward and DRIVE THE LEE HULL DOWN! Lee hull half submerged and feet on the front crossbeam is a good start! When the gust begins to wane walk back and sheet out and feel the acceleration! You have to constantly read the water ahead and take advantage of every puff! I like the WTF look on board sailors faces when they look back and see me right on their ass! The 5.7 is an awesome boat that will handle almost any water! I've had mine for over twenty years and still am impressed with it's performance.Oh, here's the nacraman giving all his beachcat friends a hello!

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When you are trapped out and feel a gust...point up and walk forward and DRIVE THE LEE HULL DOWN!

Very true. I find especially on the 5.7 that when a good gust hits,I hardly think about pointing up, the boat pulls quite strongly towards upwind, it wants to head up, & as you say you can gain some ground, especially if I'm trying to clear the only reef in our bay.
I found a small kink in the front beam, resulted in a different helm on opposite tacks. Replaced that this spring, now I'm going to play with mast rake a bit this year to better balance the helm.
We bought the 5.0 specifically for solo days, the 5.7 is a chore to hang onto solo when it gets up to 20 mph. Commonality of parts was also a consideration. It is in very good shape, almost no dings or scratches on the spars, beams, rudders or hulls. Only downer is it came with a 5:1 mainsheet, don't know if that will be enough, what do you use on yours?
Regarding those beam measurements you gave me a couple of years ago. I found the 5.0 to be wider than both 5.2s & my 5.7. The latter 2 measure 72" across the ends of the V strap, while the 5.0 measures 74". I have no idea where the original V strap of only 70" came from. All beams are 95", but there seem to be differences in V brace length, & length of DS rod.

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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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Thanks for all the info! Just got the dolphin striker rod (my wife loves that term!). I have read in the manual that I need to dip the bolts in grease. Does it need to be from Nacra or are there alternatives I can find locally? Thanks again for your help!

I used stainless anti-sieze. I would use it on just about any bolt you ever take apart.

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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The Nacra "grease" is nothing special, it's just there to prevent corrosion. As Bach says, anti-sieze is fine. I use a tube of silicone divers grease, just because it handy, but any grease, even petroleum jelly,(vaseline) will work. It doesn't get washed out.
When you assemble your new DS rod make sure the top nut is undone. Turn the bottom nut up til it hits the beam, then turn it a further 3/8" upwards, this will prebend the beam, making the truss stronger. Finally snug the top nut back down. Don't forget there should be a large SS washer between each nut & the beam. There should also be a short aluminum tube inside the beam,(to prevent collapsing of the beam) lined up with the holes the DS rod goes through. The DS rod will go through this tube.
The Nacra manual says you should not have more than 1" travel in the V brace strap that the DS rod sits on,& to check it periodically.
Get yourselves each a harness, you will need it when the wind picks up.

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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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