Hi,

I've been sailing Hobie 16s, Hobie 18s and Sol Cat 18s for the past 7 years or so with friends and i'm looking to get an F18 or a Nacra 6.0. I found one of each for $5000. which one would be a better deal and which one would be better for me? I want something fast, fun, wet, and stable (for the most part). any suggestions?

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Kent VanSickle
Saginaw Bay Yacht Club
Bay City, Michigan
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Which f18 are we talking here? I would value them above a 6.0 most of the time

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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2005 Nacra F18

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Kent VanSickle
Saginaw Bay Yacht Club
Bay City, Michigan
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If you can get a 2005 NACRA F-18 for $5K buy it... The F-18 has a modern hull design, set up for a spinnaker, will give you a great ride and can be sailed single hand if you desire.

On the other hand, the 6.0; having just sailed on one recently, I will have to say it is a beast. I mean really it is a BEAST! On a beam reach I will say with confidence that the 6.0 will pull away from an Inter 20 with no problems. We were in 15 kts gusting 20 and it hauled butt... We were block to block on the main sheet and the two of us were practically stomping on the transom on a beam to broad reach with 2' to 3' waves just waiting for the pitch pole to happen... didn't happen!!!! We were passing some motor boats! What is up with that!

As a point of reference, the guy that I was sailing with just picked it up and we were doing a shake down sail. It was a 96 and he paid $3500 for it with all the trimmings, cat box, aluminum trailer with bunks, beach wheels, yard cover, good sails but a pin top main, and all the hardware for a spinnaker but no sail..

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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The F-18 sounds like a better deal without seeing either boat or knowing any details. Either boat would be a serious upgrade from a sol-cat 18 or hobie 16.

The 6.0 would be a great boat if you wanted something a little less complex with big power. Does it include a spin? If it has one and its REALLY nice, it might be a hard choice if you have little interest in racing. The 6.0 will fare better being driven up a beach or other related abuse.

Also consider what extras are included, how the trailer is. All of those things will add up fast.

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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F18 if you are into racing and you and crew are normal to heavyweight

6.0 if you are into distance races and you and crew are super heavyweight

erice

F18 if you are into racing and you and crew are normal to heavyweight

6.0 if you are into distance races and you and crew are super heavyweight

And the F-18 can hang with the big boat as they have been winning a few distance races beating the bigger boats with line honors!



Edited by JohnES on Jun 11, 2012 - 07:37 PM.

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Edited by JohnES on Jun 11, 2012 - 07:38 PM.

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Edited by JohnES on Jun 11, 2012 - 07:38 PM.

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Quote

On a beam reach I will say with confidence that the 6.0 will pull away from an Inter 20 with no problems.

since we can never sail a beam reach all day... a better skipper would win this race.. not the boat

also the f18 modern sails are much more efficiant... and the spin can reach higher on a reach than any 6.0/n20 spin can (n20 are still onedesign,... so the sailplan is very strictly followed (and out dated))

Wouldn't matter what boat the better sailor was on they would still win, but having owned an Inter 20, I will stand behind my statement that with equal talent at the helm on both boats the 6.0 would win the drag race on a beam reach. Couldn't imagine how much better the 6.0 would do with a square top sail matched to that apartment sized jib..

Oh! Where I sail we can do a beam reach all day, see some spectacular scenery in the process. AAMOF we have a race coming up; The Frenchy's Rum run, that is a screaming beam to broad reach out to Anacapa Island and back..... Shameless plug for a race!

Regarding your statement of the Inter/NACRA sail plan being outdated, could you share with me what is outdated?

MN3

Quote

On a beam reach I will say with confidence that the 6.0 will pull away from an Inter 20 with no problems.

since we can never sail a beam reach all day... a better skipper would win this race.. not the boat

also the f18 modern sails are much more efficient... and the spin can reach higher on a reach than any 6.0/n20 spin can (n20 are still one-design,... so the sail plan is very strictly followed (and out dated))

Edited by JohnES on Jun 12, 2012 - 05:30 PM.

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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I agree that the N20 sail plan could use an update, it's no secret. However it's not outdated compared to the 6.0

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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There is a group of Nacra 20 sailors on the Gulf Coast that are updating the sails on their boats regardless of the factory but sailing heads up like the F18's. Some really big square-tops, and much flatter spins for reaching.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

Join the discussion at the all new TheBeachcats.com Forums HERE.
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Quote

Regarding your statement of the Inter/NACRA sail plan being outdated, could you share with me what is outdated?

Philip can probably say it better than me (feel free to correct anything i got wrong)

but From what i read:
It is a SMOD (single manu, one design) class and sail development is not only restricted (N20 "CLASS" racers must purchase their sails from nacra, and it's 1 sail producer) .. it is dead.

There has been little or no development to the sail plan (any changes would require everyone to upgrade) and any attempt to get newer, more modern technology (materials, shape, etc) is not going to happen.. and only "groups of individuals" who want more efficient sails must go rogue and start their own fleet...

Nacra has new boats it supports and puts it's R&D into (f18, C20, now carbon17)

And the f18's are beating the n20's with newer sail plans, high reaching spins, and those crazy daggarboats (extremely long, high profile and now curved)