Renewed interest in catamarans?
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- Rank: Lubber
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Posted: Sep 30, 2009 - 07:51 PM
Is it just me or does there seem to be a renewed interest in cats lately? For the last three summers I've noticed more cats on the water each summer. This is great! If it's true. I'm just curious if some of you guys who have been sailing a while have noticed more people entering the sport. It wouldn't surprise me if there was. There appears to be a shift in the way people work and play. I've noticed more activities with energy conservation in mind. More people riding bikes to work. More mini cars. More mopeds, bikes, sails, kayaks. It just may be people want to be more healthy too. -
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Posted: Sep 30, 2009 - 09:17 PM
I have not noticed an increase, but do know it is a fairly inexpensive activity if you want it to be. Lot cheaper then driving a power boat around all day. So besides healthy it is also cost effective.
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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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Posted: Sep 30, 2009 - 09:44 PM
I haven't seen a huge resurgence in my area, yet. I know I'm now 37 and got back in to relive a bit of my childhood. The real bonus was finding out that Cats have come a long way since my Hobie 16. And places like this website and some really cool videos on youtube allowed me to actually have the confidence to go for a larger cat even though quite a few people tried to disuade me.
Now that have been flying around my lake for the summer I am pleasantly surprised at how many Hobie 16s are in peoples yards. I'm finding that I have prompted quite a few people to ask for rides and then rig thiers up again after many years.
I can see the points you are bringing up really helping though. Powerboats and personal water craft are expensive to operate (especially with 2 stroke motors). They also now require a license to operate in my area. Cat Sailing provides a lot of rush for the money and can be as cheap or expensive as you make it (I tend to like to buy all the toys).
The more people out on boats, talking about it and giving rides will prompt others to get into the sport. That is basically what happened with Kayaksand I'm hoping I can help foster the same sort of thing for Cats in my area at least.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 09:07 AM
there was a fair amount of renewed interest and sales in non power boat activities when gas was over $4.00/gal but i can't say there was a noticeable increase in cats on the water around here..
there continues to be a lot of problems getting people interested and participating in fleet activities and races. one of the big problems is the continual loss of beaches to launch. in fl, hard to believe but there is basically no places to launch from on the west (gulf) coast south of Tampa/st Pete (there may be a few private area, or small areas, but nothing big enough to organize an event/fleet).
Hobie sells a lot more kayaks than sailboats...
If it weren't for a reduction in R&D, i wouldn't care to much but the truth is, the lack of interest and $$$ in the sport means less innovation for new products.
the material costs have sky rocketed.. and the labor too.. it is hard to be profitable for under $20,000 and that is to expensive for a recreational toy.
I have been talking/watching the progress of Hans's new f16 G-Cat (carbon cloth, wing mast) and getting images and updates from him... looks like it will be hard to get into production unless it ends up being competitive (without boards) in the f16 class.... -
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:07 AM
From speaking to a few dealers of Hobies and Nacras in NJ they indicated that sales are up over the past few years. Considering a used boat can be found ready to sail for $1500.00 and be sold for the same amount its kind of a no brainer to give it a try.
I think what might turn people off is the fact there is actually a learning curve. You actually have to go outside and you might even have to interact with people. Its a terrible thing.
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:34 AM
That's certainly the truth. Our local Hobie dealer only brings in Kayaks, Waves and Getaways. With the retail price of a new H16 being around $14,000 CDN there he hasn't sold one in years. The FXone is even more expensive at around $20,000. Hobie seems to be really selling mostly to the family oriented cruisers and resorts, and for that you don't need a performance machine. Not the sailing I'm interested in but it must be making them some money.
One of the problems is definitely the learning curve. To be honest since I have gotten back into it, I have yet to meet a cat sailor (in person) who knew much about sailing. Everything I have learned has been off this site, various books I have read and trial and error. So likely I'm doing a lot of things wrong still.
I guess another issue may be the general perception in sailing that you HAVE to race. I have been in a couple of other sports where the emphasis has been on racing. They tend to go in waves with the young keeners losing interest when they start going to college/university and then the sport has to rebuild. A lot of times those college kids get back into it after they establish a career (and have the spare time available) and have kids but only on a recreational basis. Maybe that's why Hobie is selling more rec boats than performance boats?
Anyway I'm never likely going to race but that doesn't keep me from saving my pennys for a future F18 Infusion. I know a few people with Corvettes but none who race them, sometimes it's just nice to have a cool toy!
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 11:47 AM
I think Hobie has found an interesting way to provide the recreational sailer with a new boat. They took their kayak molding technology and applied it to their cats. It must be a much less expensive production process then fiberglass. Boats are heavy and slow compared to fiberglass boats, but still faster then most sailboats. But if you went from sunfish sailing to Getaway sailing you would be excited about how fast you are going. I couldn't go to a rotomolded boat, but they do have their place in the market. I had someone on our beach say he "had a 16 but not the racer", meaning he had a Getaway.
Then again I have never owned a new boat, and likely never will, but understand they actually can sail much nicer then a used one. It is also hard for people to understand why a boat without a motor would cost more then a car.
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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 12:48 PM
True, but you can get relatively high end rotomolded kayaks. So I think if someone put thier mind to it, they could come up with a process to produce a cheaper high performance boat. Unfortunately the R&D costs involved means that it is more likely to come from another industry than sailing.
I look at my mountain bike and compare what I could get 10 years ago for $6000 compared to the bike I can get now for around $700. There isn't as much difference anymore. Even the lower end bikes sport tapered hydroformed tubing now. And you can get carbon framed bikes for a fraction of the cost they were years ago due to manufacturing improvements. I'm hoping that something like this happens to boat building, but I'm not holding my breath.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 01:01 PM
Not to put down the bravo class sailors, but I have often wondered the attraction to them? Anyone know? -
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 01:03 PM
sheer boredom . . . :)
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Philip
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 01:40 PM
Here on Barnegat Bay there hasn't been a noticeable uptick in catamaran sailing numbers (Eric is one of the first new people to come along in a while!). The launching area beach across from our marina (where you can keep a beach cat set up on a floating dock all season) is still only in use by cat sailors on a sporadic basis, while in the 1980's you would have 5 to 10 boats a day on the weekends. I have seen a few more big sailing cats and Corsair trimarans in the last few years, though. -
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 01:52 PM
Last Sunday I took a drive along seaside heights, the roads that border barnaget bay from ISBP up to the seaside bridge (2 miles) and counted no less than 12 beach cats. The only cats I regularly see is a H18 and a H16.
Peter are you finished for the season??? Shouldn't you be working???
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 02:58 PM
There a couple Bravos that come to our group get togethers. I couldn't sail one I'd probably sink it but my son wants me to get him one. I'd probably get him an old Hobie 14 or even a 16 first.
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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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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 03:07 PM
The Bravo might be an upgrade from a sunfish or similar, I know the Wave would be. Maybe you could use a bravo in a large pool or water retention pond...
I am personally interested in the Adventure Island concept, I like the pedal kayaks and then adding a sail to it sounds like an interesting way to cruise around a lake.
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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 03:12 PM
I have been noticing there are a lot of class races. I also know that using the Portsmouth rating system, they have beaten nacras and hobies in many races.....maybe we are the ones that don't get it!!! -
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 03:36 PM
I have had a Hobie Mirage for several years and have never bothered with the sails. Too much fun and great exercise with the pedal drive . . .
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Philip
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 04:08 PM
Its not a bad way to go if you want to be a yaker... but i prefer to use my muscles in short bursts (set up and breakdown, and heavy air sailing)...
i find holding a paddle offensive! :) -
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 04:19 PM
yaking has its place. I do it in remote rivers, obscure lakes, flooded strip mines, etc. . . and don't use a paddle on the Mirage drive so there. :)
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Philip
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 04:23 PM
How do you paddle with a beer in your hand??? Someone had to ask..........
Too be honest I never boat and drink (in a minority here I know) -
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Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 08:01 PM
I guess you could then count me in the new sailor statistics. I'm new this year to cats, but I am not interested in racing it and haven't been to any fleet events.
As for reason I picked a cat, I picked up the hobbie this summer as my boys were not at all thrilled with the mono-hull I tried to get them out on; the cat took the adventure level up several notches. I've always liked sailboats better than power, so that dominated the boat choice, but not having to deal with the expense/maintenance of a motor worked well in the family budget.
In another note, I have a friend who picked up an adventure island this summer and had a great time with it sailing off santa cruz. I can see the appeal and wouldn't mind having one too.
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