we are riverside on the Hudson river and want to get a beachcat for us and the young'uns that sail Lazers etc.

A- Is the Hudson (near Hudson, NY) ok for cats? (I've only sailed in the Pacific where debris, large boat wake is not an issue)

B- Given we have a private riverbank with endless mast up storage which cat would work for 1-2 people who sail but not necessarily cats. Was thinking Nacra 5.7 or Hobie FX1 (don't like Hobie 16) this is just for casual sailing, won't race... Like the broad beamed 18 Square but parts look difficult to get and maybe too much of a handful.

Thanks!

The river there is about a mile wide, navigable to larger vessels and clean. I have never sailed there, but it should be a good recreational sailing waterway when the wind is good. Like many rivers, it could have times when wind is not adequate to safety navigate currents and other vessels without auxiliary power. The bridges nearby have plenty of clearance. There a lots of differences between the N-5.7 and a FX1, and neither boat is widely available. The Nacra would be more stable and easier to sail, with good speed when the wind allows. There is one on the Classified in Wisconsin that is well-priced. I think a lot of different cats would be suitable for the river, but the 5.7 is pretty hard to beat for ease of sailing and going on and off a beach. Of course I'm completely unbiased in that opinion :)



Edited by tominpa on Jan 09, 2025 - 05:55 PM.

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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Thanks very much.

And, if you can find a NACRA 570, it appears that the wing seats are backwards compatible. That’s a huge bonus in my book

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
Hobie 21se (sold)
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