Nacra 5.2 and 18 square question :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Nacra 5.2 and 18 square question

daveyslack

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Dec 20, 2005

Last visit: Oct 29, 2009

Posts: 2
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 - 02:08 PM

Are the hulls the same? If not what is the difference?

Thanks,
Dave
rpiper138

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 17, 2006

Last visit: Apr 13, 2010

Posts: 194
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 - 04:56 PM

The short answer is no. The 5.2 is a 17 foot boat and the 18m2 is 18 feet. The 5.2 was replaced by the 5.5, which is a scaled down version of the 18m2 and does use the same hulls (year selection important when swapping hulls).

The 5.5 is essentially an 18sq with an 8.5 foot beam, boomless sail and 22 square feet less sail.

Nacra 5.2:
http://www.sailboatdata.c…ECORD.ASP?CLASS_ID=4176

Nacra 5.5:
http://www.sailboatdata.c…RECORD.ASP?CLASS_ID=4955
erice

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 19, 2008

Last visit: Aug 26, 2023

Posts: 671
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 - 05:24 PM

the 1st 18 squares that nacra made used the 17 foot, 5.2 hulls, 1977?-1980?

later on when nacra's 18m2 got more competition from newer squares nacra increased the hull length from 17-18foot, as that was the maximum the box allowed

those longer hulls then became the basis for the 5.2 replacement, the 5.5

BUT, be aware if mixing and matching hulls that even if the hulls are the same length the bridal tang position may not be the same

for a uni rigged boat, like the 18m2, the best position for the bridal tang is on the outside of the hull, but for a jib equipped cat the bridal tangs need to be on the inside of the hull

i'm not sure where the tangs were on the early 18squares but the 5.5 uni and 5.5 sl had different tang locations originally

the location can be changed by removing the foredeck, and moving the tang but it's more structural fiberglass work than most people want to take on

as to where the extra length is, i'm not sure, apparently nacra australia shortened the 5.2 hulls to make the 16m2 by removing the length from the aft of the rear beam

also to be considered in the hull lay-up

5.2's from 1975-1984? had solid glass hulls. the few 5.2's made after the change from the santa ann factory to the woodland hill factory had foam sandwich hulls

most, if not all, 5.5's had foam sandwich hulls

old factory, solid glass hulls should have numbers starting

TRRC2158M82B

where TRR was nacra's number, C is the 5.2, 2158 is the sail number, M is ?, 82 is the year made and B is a month code

after the move to the woodland hill factory, the factory number changed to NAC and the boats had foam sandwich hulls

NACR3002J586
NACB3089E090

where NAC is the newer nacra factory, the letter could be a model type, then sail number and last 2 numbers could be a year built

i have a note of an 18square number being

TRRE0034M79l.........1979

and a nacra 5.0 being

NACA2030A787 ...........1987?

if anyone wants to give me a nacra hull number i'll add it to my small list

edited by: erice, Oct 29, 2009 - 04:57 PM
DamonLinkous

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Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Nov 15, 2024

Posts: 3446
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 - 11:35 PM

Great Square info erice.

There happens to be one of the early Nacras for sale in the classifieds right now.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…hp/product/10014/cat/all

and here is an original Nacra sales sheet on the 5.5 based Square.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

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rpiper138

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 17, 2006

Last visit: Apr 13, 2010

Posts: 194
Posted: Oct 30, 2009 - 11:59 AM

I stand corrected.

I had no idea that the early 18sq used the 17 foot 5.2 hulls.
TLeobold

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 17, 2003

Last visit: Oct 31, 2009

Posts: 1
Posted: Oct 31, 2009 - 02:59 PM

Hi Dave

I owned 2 18 sq
a'79 and an '88

The '79 was a 5.5 hull 11' wide. It was built with no foam and used stringers. the hull "oilcanned" badly but was fast. It had a boom that attached to the front x-beam, and came up at an angle. The trampoline platform was stiffened by 2 beams that ran parallel to the hulls from front beam to back beam. Hard on the knees!

The '88 was a much better boat, foam sandwich construction quite stiff for its day. also a 5.5 hull 11' wide also no more stiffenning beams in tramp. Boomless deck sweeper sail. This boat had the same hulls as the 5.5. But, the 5.5 was easely trailered. I think the 5.5 outlasted the 18sq in production, so you will find newer hulls available.

In those days these boats were the fast things in the water upwind. Nacra 5.8, tornadoes, p-19, and Bert Rice (N5.2)with one of the first spinnakers, would reel them in downwind though.

I miss them both. I wonder what a 18sq with a spinn would be like!!

Good luck

Tom Leobold
ebaldwin

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 24, 2003

Last visit: Nov 12, 2012

Posts: 6
Posted: Nov 01, 2009 - 11:15 AM

Hey Tom, any chance you used sail in the Pensacola area?
ThanksI
Ed Baldwin
ebaldwin

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 24, 2003

Last visit: Nov 12, 2012

Posts: 6
Posted: Nov 01, 2009 - 11:22 AM

daveyslackAre the hulls the same? If not what is the difference?

Thanks,
Dave

Dave, The information given by the other posters is correct. And the 18 sq for sale on this site is mine. It has the all fiberglass 18' hulls. It's a 1979. The hulls are suprisingly solid. I expected to buy newer 5.5 hulls when i bought the boat to be competative but didn't need to. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks
Ed
yurdle

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Registered: Aug 22, 2007

Last visit: Jan 07, 2015

Posts: 742
Posted: Nov 01, 2009 - 12:58 PM

eric awesome post...I had to save it. Slightly off topic, but something I noticed when I bought and registered my 5.2:

My sail number is 2221. My VIN on the title is TRRC2221M82? (I don't remember the last letter and am too lazy to look it up.) The stamped number on the hull is TRRC2321M82? The tag agency didn't notice, thankfully, as sadly that would have been an issue for them, so its not a big deal, but any idea how that could happen?

--
Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
--
erice

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 19, 2008

Last visit: Aug 26, 2023

Posts: 671
Posted: Nov 02, 2009 - 02:25 AM

just 1 digit wrong, perhaps the sails came without numbers and whoever ordered the numbers got 1 digit wrong???

here in japan the 1st 5.2's weren't sold with sail numbers based on hull number but on japanese importation

so my boat had J65 on the sails and not 2158, or whatever

but later 5.2's i've noticed here have sail numbers that look to also be hull numbers, like 3158
yurdle

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 22, 2007

Last visit: Jan 07, 2015

Posts: 742
Posted: Nov 02, 2009 - 04:41 PM

ericejust 1 digit wrong, perhaps the sails came without numbers and whoever ordered the numbers got 1 digit wrong???

here in japan the 1st 5.2's weren't sold with sail numbers based on hull number but on japanese importation

so my boat had J65 on the sails and not 2158, or whatever

but later 5.2's i've noticed here have sail numbers that look to also be hull numbers, like 3158

Maybe something like that. Its the hulls that don't match, though. The title matches the sails. Not a big deal either way. Last letter was F, btw.

--
Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
--
rjford45

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 01, 2010

Last visit: May 08, 2010

Posts: 1
Posted: May 08, 2010 - 09:40 AM

ericethe 1st 18 squares that nacra made used the 17 foot, 5.2 hulls, 1977?-1980?

later on when nacra's 18m2 got more competition from newer squares nacra increased the hull length from 17-18foot, as that was the maximum the box allowed

those longer hulls then became the basis for the 5.2 replacement, the 5.5

BUT, be aware if mixing and matching hulls that even if the hulls are the same length the bridal tang position may not be the same

for a uni rigged boat, like the 18m2, the best position for the bridal tang is on the outside of the hull, but for a jib equipped cat the bridal tangs need to be on the inside of the hull

i'm not sure where the tangs were on the early 18squares but the 5.5 uni and 5.5 sl had different tang locations originally

the location can be changed by removing the foredeck, and moving the tang but it's more structural fiberglass work than most people want to take on

as to where the extra length is, i'm not sure, apparently nacra australia shortened the 5.2 hulls to make the 16m2 by removing the length from the aft of the rear beam

also to be considered in the hull lay-up

5.2's from 1975-1984? had solid glass hulls. the few 5.2's made after the change from the santa ann factory to the woodland hill factory had foam sandwich hulls

most, if not all, 5.5's had foam sandwich hulls

old factory, solid glass hulls should have numbers starting

TRRC2158M82B

where TRR was nacra's number, C is the 5.2, 2158 is the sail number, M is ?, 82 is the year made and B is a month code

after the move to the woodland hill factory, the factory number changed to NAC and the boats had foam sandwich hulls

NACR3002J586
NACB3089E090

where NAC is the newer nacra factory, the letter could be a model type, then sail number and last 2 numbers could be a year built

i have a note of an 18square number being

TRRE0034M79l.........1979

and a nacra 5.0 being

NACA2030A787 ...........1987?

if anyone wants to give me a nacra hull number i'll add it to my small list

edited by: erice, Oct 29, 2009 - 04:57 PM

I just acquired two Nacras and am having trouble identifying what they are.
One is hull number TRE00870276
it is over 17 feet maybe 18 feet and 8 feet wide

The second one is over 18 feet and 11feet wide its hull number is
TRE0181M82 and the last number after the 2 is either a one or an I.
Help.
Wolfman

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jun 24, 2009

Last visit: Jun 15, 2023

Posts: 1555
Posted: May 08, 2010 - 05:02 PM

We probably need a little more info but my guess is that the first one is a 5.2. It is a 1976 model and the only other Nacra made back then was the 18 sq which is 10 ft (or so) wide. The second one is a 1982 and is likely an 18 sq because that is the only Nacra of that vintage wider than 8 ft 6 in.

D,

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--
erice

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 19, 2008

Last visit: Aug 26, 2023

Posts: 671
Posted: May 08, 2010 - 06:45 PM

you might need to check the numbers again

if they start TRE then they may not be nacras as the nacra code was TRR

if they are both TRRE then they could be 18sq hulls, the 1st an early 17' 1976 boat and the 2nd a later 18' 1982 boat

other give aways on the 18sq would be; 18sq marking on sail, big clear window in sail, 2 fore-aft tramp tubes, no jib, 2 forestays instead of 1 with bridal, forestay tangs on the hull outer edge instead of inner edge like a jibbed boat

tapering mast with boom mounting almost at tramp level

pic and video in this thread

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=210538#Post210538

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxo5NRwWR_Q

pics of what you have would help

edited by: erice, May 09, 2010 - 08:56 AM
holmeswake

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jun 07, 2010

Last visit: Jul 17, 2019

Posts: 20
Posted: Aug 11, 2016 - 03:04 AM

QuoteMy sail number is 2221

Thats the Sail number on my 5.2 as well.
jaybird1111

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Feb 20, 2012

Last visit: Nov 18, 2017

Posts: 38
Posted: Aug 11, 2016 - 11:43 AM

Sail numbers mean nothing. I picked my own, as did my wife who had a NACRA Square. There is a lot of lost information about Squares, evidenced by the instant discussion. Here is a link to a discussion including info from Dick Lemke, who was one of the last officers in the Square fleet

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=28076&page=2