[quote=Edchris177]Send a PM to MN3 here. He is in Clearwater, & been sailing cats for a good long time there. I’m pretty sure he has sourced some of his cats from other jurisdictions, & knows the score.
Regarding Darts, they are good boats, simple to rig & sail. No boards, no boom, that’s a plus for a newer sailor.
They use a small jib, & a smaller sail plan than a normal 18 footer carries, making them slower than some others, (though lots faster than the Getaway or Wave you sailed).
If you live in an area with light winds, this is a negative. If you sail in 20mph, this is a positive.
My Dart does not have an HIN. They’re English, they do things different there. Most have the hull #s written on the inside using indelible marker. You can see it through the rear access hatch.
Most 16’ Cats are going to suffer if you put 400lbs on them.
As Sam said, an 18’ would be better. We have a Nacra 5.0 & an N5.7 meter (16.5’ & 19’ respectively). The 5.0 sails well with two adults, (almost 400lb), but the larger 5.7 is the ideal boat for that weight.
You stated 3 people. A boat with boards & boom, (H18), gets crowded with 3 people. The uncluttered tramp of a boardless/boom less boat is a big plus with new sailors..
Don’t get hung up on a certain boat, buy the one in best condition, it will save you a lot grief & $$.
That Dart would be a very good starting Cat, especially if you have to rig it each time. It is a simple rig, & the rudders just pop off. In fact the entire boat can be torn down, or put together with no tools.
If an HIN is required, just make one up, using one of the hull #s, & written on a proper bill of sale.<!-- editby --><em>Edited by Edchris177 on Aug 17, 2021 - 04:04 PM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
