Middle aged looking for first cat.

Lots of sailing cats and mono but never an owner.

I weigh in at 115 KG (250 + pounds)

Mostly solo but maybe a lady friend on occasion. Looking for fun not boredom. That is why I'm moving to cats from monohull.

Will be on a couple of large lakes and occasional trip to the ocean near Daytona, Fl. Maybe the gulf as i am in Orlando area so either coast is a go.

I have looked all over and as soon as a newer cat pops up it is sold. I do not want a project boat !!

I am pretty much considering new so i have no headaches and am down to 3 boats (I know there is a price difference, thank you !)

1. H16. Classic. Fast. Fun. Have been told the hulls are "delicate". I will be using Trax not ramming it onto the beach. Also told it is the most likely to pitchpole but imagine any cat can do that. i believe it is minimized by weight shift and awareness of wind. I am not suggesting I can prevent it rather minimize the odds.

2. Hobie T2: rotomold hulls are less prone to damage. I know it has a higher Portsmouth number but that to me only means the H16 is faster. But how much faster. As I am not planning on racing a knot or 2 does not matter to me. In a cat everything seems fast (IMHO). The T2 is HEAVY but I would imagine manageable from a trailer or with Cat Trax.

3. Nacra 500: Not sure if hulls are roto or glass. Nice boat. On par with Hobie 16 performance wise? Most expensive and frankly I cannot stand the logo on the hull "spots and fun catamaran". Silly but I don't want to sail a billboard !!
I have heard it is a great boat overall.

Oh yes, aside from wings how does theGetaway differ from the T2? They look very similar to my untrained eye.

Lastly, a roller furling jib would be a plus. i believe they all have this.

I am concerned about the smaller sail area of the T2. not sure why they did this. safety in big wind?? Does it matter??

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome as I want to purchase in the next week or so.



Edited by pulpfiction on Jun 14, 2014 - 06:12 AM.

Pulp,

My 2 cents.
At your weight bigger is better if you want fun and not boredom. I currently have a NACRA 5.7 and a NACRA 5.2 sailing. Both get noticeably slower as weight increase. In 10 - 12 mph I'm not pushing too hard to get company on the boat if I'm looking for the fun factor. I weigh 220 and the 5.2 is only a solo CAT at that weight in our SoCal winds, and my 5.7 will blow by it with my two sons sailing it with a combined weight of about 400 pounds. Could be the smaller self tacking jib, but it is slower in my experience. The 5.7 is a blast solo at my weight, and no daggers to have to worry about when solo and heading to the beach. Can't wait for the 5.8 to get finished, I hear that is the ride!

I've been able to bury both NACRA's hulls and not a hint of wanting to pitch pole.

The ROTO hulls in my opinion have their pluses, but I've seen numerous with hull fractures.

Wing seats are the bomb, especially when you bring the lady. Much less complaining about getting wrapped up in the sheets for the jib.



Edited by nacraflyer on Jun 14, 2014 - 06:12 AM.

--
Craig
Windrider Rave Hydrofoil
Nacra 5.2 Restored and heavily modified
Nacra 5.2 (one under restoration)
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.8NA
SoCal
--

Quote

At your weight bigger is better if you want fun and not boredom.

Pulp, you are on the right track, you have done your homework, keep this in mind though, some of the older cats are more durable than newer models. I had a 79 H16 that was built like a tank, later on with different owners, the Hobies were constructed lighter using less material making the hulls more "delicate" as you put it.

Prindles are built very solid, and have high volume hulls, can carry more weight than boat of same length

Also keep in mind the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical hulls, the latter does not require dagger-boards.

The roto-molded hulls are practically indestructible and the difference between the T2 and Getaway is that the Getaway is a family cruiser and the T2 is a "performance" boat in the roto world.

Cats are weight-sensitive and at 250 lbs you are already looking at a cat over the 16' range, especially since you will occasionally have friends along.

IMHO, the Prindle 18 would be the cat for you and there is one advertised on this web-site that has everything including:- the furling jib, wing seats, front tramp, square-top mainsail, cat trax, and its not too far from FL

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ssifieds/showproduct.php

HTH
R

You might consider a Super Cat. They have large, buoyant hulls. They certainly don't lack for power. An SC 17 might suit you well.

--
'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
--

gahamby

You might consider a Super Cat. They have large, buoyant hulls. They certainly don't lack for power. An SC 17 might suit you well.

Great. Find me a newer Super Cat or Prindle 18 within 4 hour drive of Orlando !!

Oops, sorry Pulp, here is the proper link:-

http://www.thebeachcats.c…457-1982-prindle-18.html

but that is about * hrs from u

pulpfiction

gahamby

You might consider a Super Cat. They have large, buoyant hulls. They certainly don't lack for power. An SC 17 might suit you well.

Great. Find me a newer Super Cat or Prindle 18 within 4 hour drive of Orlando !!

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/4516841969.html
there is a super cat in sarasota

optikid

pulpfiction

gahamby

You might consider a Super Cat. They have large, buoyant hulls. They certainly don't lack for power. An SC 17 might suit you well.

Great. Find me a newer Super Cat or Prindle 18 within 4 hour drive of Orlando !!

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/4516841969.html
there is a super cat in sarasota

That was quick !!

Have contacted seller.

Thanks !!

Isn't the Super Cat a Super Wet ride?

--
Ron
Big Bear Lake, Ca.
1990 Hobie 18 Worlds
1988 Mac 26Dagger
--

Quote

Isn't the Super Cat a Super Wet ride?

That might be the whole point with the right woman that loves the water
As a big guy myself I love my Hobie 20! takes to the water like a fast cadillac!

****** The Experienced sailor part might be a stretch *******



Edited by fxloop on Jun 16, 2014 - 11:50 PM.

--
Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
--

pulpfiction

optikid

pulpfiction

gahamby

You might consider a Super Cat. They have large, buoyant hulls. They certainly don't lack for power. An SC 17 might suit you well.

Great. Find me a newer Super Cat or Prindle 18 within 4 hour drive of Orlando !!

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/4516841969.html
there is a super cat in sarasota

That was quick !!

Have contacted seller.

Thanks !!

I have bought stuff from him before. He has been sailing cats his whole life and his garage is full of parts. He is hard to get In contact though. Last time I saw him he was rebuilding that super cat