Hi Everyone,

Long time lurker looking to get into this fabulous sport. I have very little experience at sailing period but have a good support group to lean on.

I've been looking for a boat that my wife and I can enjoy. Here are the stasts, my weight 180, hers 120. I would solo 50% of the time, large lake with a good fetch 99% of the time.

I have settled on an H16-17 or a similar Prindle as my first cat. I feel I'm pretty good at inspecting a Hobie, soft spots etc but I really know nothing about a Prindle other than it will most likely meet my needs quite well.

Hence my post. What should I look for in a decent mid '80's Prindle? When should I walk away?

There is a boat I would like to look at tonight. 3 hrs away so I'd like to make sure about her. It's with an older trailer at $2,500 and that sounds about 5-6 hundred too much.

Appreciate any comment/guidance.

Cheers,

Look for soft decks , and underneath between the crossbars. Put all your weight on these spots , not just hand pressure. When the boat capsizes and you stand on the hulls to flip it over you should'nt hear any cracking or feel any spongeeness. 2500 is to much ! Prindle has stopped production on all parts and they are becoming less and less available.. masts & hulls , 2nd generation rudders will be hard to come by. I have sailed prindles since 1980.. Use to assemble them for local dealer .. Love the 18-2 & 19 mx.. Now these 2 boats very rarely have any delamination with the hulls.



Edited by PIRATE39 on May 31, 2013 - 07:31 AM.

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Doug Klem
Pensacola , Fl.
Blade F16
Prindle 18-2 w/spin
Prindle 18-2 x 3
Prindle 19 MX
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skydog, $2500 for a used P16 is just waaay too much, pass on it. If that P16 had Smythe Square top sails and was in immaculate condition and the trailer was a Trailex aluminum trailer with a sailbox, then yes, it would be a good buy. Usually you can pick one up in the $800 - $1500 range and you will still have to spend some money renovating boat and trailer.

Use www.searchtempest.com to search the CL database for one in your area or designate your max driving distance and start looking for a better deal. Also, if you state your location under your profile, there just might be someone in your neighbourhood who can help you out........

Prindle 18 http://stjoseph.craigslist.org/boa/3822415097.html

Prindle 16 http://lawrence.craigslist.org/boa/3832695191.html

I agree $2500 is strong for a P16 or P18. They are available for half of that and some are in very good shape at the $1200 price-point.

On the newer boats, open the port hole and look down at the keels. If you see light they have been worn down by beach launching and that will need attention. It is not uncommon and if they are not badly worn it is not too tough a fix. My P16 has white hulls so I wan able to apply a layer of Marine Tex and it is hard to tell it's there. Other colors on the hulls require gelcoat and or paint and are a more complex repair. Capt Coastrat has a good post in the tech section on that.

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Mike Brady
Sugar Land, TX
Sailing off Magnolia Beach in Lavaca Bay TX
http://358degrees.blogspot.com/
P16 "Pooh Cat"
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Too much unless it is pristine with lot's of upgrades like new sails great trailer with awesome cat box and beach wheels. Event then I'd be Leary.

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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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Thank so much everyone,

Good info here, thanks again.

Cheers,

$2500 sounds very steep, I missed one here in SLC for $800 with a trailer, supposedly very clean. I bought this one for $950 but had to bring my own trailer!

It's been said, but I will say it as well. $2500 will get you a lot of beachcat so make sure it is exactly what you want, comes with lots of extras, in great shape ready to go. Especially with the 3 hour drive. Not sure what your markets are like there, but here I know of a prindle 19 that is almost perfect for 3k and one in decent shape for 1,800. Considering most sellers will come down a few hundred off those prices 2,500 sounds high. I am a hobie sailor by blood but prindle makes a great product

skydog

Hi Everyone,

Long time lurker looking to get into this fabulous sport. I have very little experience at sailing period but have a good support group to lean on.

I've been looking for a boat that my wife and I can enjoy. Here are the stasts, my weight 180, hers 120. I would solo 50% of the time, large lake with a good fetch 99% of the time.

I have settled on an H16-17 or a similar Prindle as my first cat.

You've had some good advice already, but wanted to mention that the Hobie 17 is probably not for you. Would be ok for you to solo, but even a lightweight crew would put you way over the ideal carrying capacity for that boat. It's designed strictly for lightweight solo skippers.

Now the Hobie or Prindle 18 would both be excellent possibilities if you find one.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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I agree with everything stated so far, and though I have sailed mono hulls since 1980, I was new to beach cats 4 years ago, and was where you are now. Luckily, I happened to be able to sail with a great group of individuals who believe in helping each other. So for my 2 cents as it appears you are standing in the same shoes I once did. I would look at one of three boats for your first catamaran, Hobie 16, tons of parts available if you break something, though you need to check for soft spots especially forward of front tramp uprights. Prindle 16, great boat, but again because of hull construction, check for soft spots all over, parts still able to be had, just not as readily as the Hobie. Also the G-Cat 5.0, great boat, though at this point you may need some help with some modifications to parts not available, for example I had to replace the rudder latches with Nacra latches, which work great. The latches were suggested by a knowledgeable person I sail with. Long and short, it sounds like you may have other beach cats sailing in wherever you are located. A trip to talk to the folks sailing in your area may save you from purchasing the wrong boat for your area. I purchased a Hobie 17, two Hobie 16s, and now own a Prindle 18-2 and G-Cat 5.0. I love both boats, but could have shortened the trip to where I am by talking to the folks I now sail with first.