So I have sailed some beachcats and am in the market for picking something up. I love flying Hulls, BIG WIND, and anything that makes me feel like I am going to die (even though I am only doing like 20 knots). Over powered boats, while maybe not the fastest, seem to just make me smile.
Our club at school had a modified 14 turbo with a 16 mast, main and 14 jib. I loved it. You could fly a hull without even trying.
So with that I am looking at a 16, 18(sx), and possibly an FX if I save. I would love to find a tornado if I could.
The big question is, which one is the fastest? I weigh 155lbs, and would probably single hand 50% of the time. I like the 16 because of the sail area it has, but am attracted to a larger boat like an 18sx. The FX, well it is just sexy.
Thanks for your opinions on what boat you think I need.
Colin
edited by: buuhh99, Mar 29, 2010 - 10:58 PM
Best Cat for Crazy Sailing
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Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 11:57 PM
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 03:20 AM
Colin, whatever you get. Do your mum and dad, girlfriend etc, a favor and get one you can right by yourself. I'm 200lbs and can right my Nacra 5.2 solo, but it doesn't fly a hull fast enough for what you describe. A guy at my club with an FX complains about the same problem. Maybe and old A-cat would fit the bill, but I've seen one drift off while not getting righted all the way and splash down after a nasty swirl. That (experienced) guy had to be rescued, at least to save his boat. I was watching from the banks and couln't spot him doing anything wrong in his righting procedure. Uncanny... -
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 08:26 AM
14 Turbo would probably fit the bill. Small enough to solo at 150 lbs but big enough sail area to have fun. And they are relatively cheap. Anything bigger and you probably want a crew for righting. An older hobie 17 may work also but the FXone is pretty pricey.
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 08:51 AM
You won't be able to get a H18 back up solo at your weight, so I would not recommend. If you like pushing the limits make sure you are good at betting it back up for when you go over. I think that will be a big limiting factor on boat selection, and/or you will need to get creative on righting techniques. I would also recommend Dacron sails since they are more durable for when you land on the sail.
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 09:39 AM
I have no empirical data, but i would GUESS the fastest commercially available cat on the market is an x-40. lucky for you they just came out with a newer, cheaper model x-32.
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 11:01 AM
I think these two things are not the same. The fastest boat may not be the one that gives you the wildest ride. If you are looking for hull flying feeling like you are going to die, that is probably not the same goal as being the fastest, which is usually as controlled as possible for the conditions with a hull barely out of the water (as a general rule).
A H14T or H16 are good for wild rides in big wind conditions, and you can probably get them back upright too and set them up solo also. They are fast enough to be exciting and not so technical to require a lot of extra thinking. Also a lot available for a good price.
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 12:10 PM
Any sailboat can be a wild ride in enough wind!
But I guess you know that.
That H14 with the H16 rig must have been crazy overpowered if it had the H16 sails.
At your weight the H14 or H16 with spin would be hot. If you get the H16 you'll need to learn some righting equipment and technique to be able to right solo which is a must. Safety first please, wear your PFD always when solo. (even better always always) Remember the goal is to FEEL like you are going to die.
You mention from H14 to Tornado, what is your budget? Do you want to race or just cut up? Where will you be sailing most of the time?
Please fill out your profile and you might find some local sailors to help.
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 01:06 PM
You can soup up a Hobie 14, there are a bunch of lightweight crazies who have created their own "14MX" class by putting square-head mains and spins on Hobie 14's.
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 03:43 PM
Those are quite the set-ups. I don't know anything about "spin's" on a cat, I would have thought they were gennaker's up front. Googling now, but if anyone has a good link that would be great. -
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 03:47 PM
you can use spins, genni's, code zero's (combo of spin and genni) etc... but with MODERN designs beach cats ALMOST exclusively we use asymmetrical spins for racing.
http://www.doylesails.com…racing/asymmetrical.html
edited by: andrewscott, Mar 30, 2010 - 03:52 PM -
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 05:06 PM
Like Andrew said, the terminology of modern "pole mounted" head sails has a lot of overlap.
Those in the picture I'm pretty sure are furling headsails. More common on beachcats is the spinnaker snuffer systems. But the spinnakers used on cats with snuffers are almost as flat as those shown.
The snuffer bag hangs under the pole and holds the chute ready to launch, no packing.
The snuffer systems get the sail up and trimmed really fast, like magic.
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Damon Linkous
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 06:14 PM
Thanks for answering the newbie question. I'm purely a recreational sailor, I did a very small amount of racing as crew years ago, but never got the chance to work with spinnakers. -
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Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 09:32 PM
Yeah, the one downside with Cats is that they are a little slow downwind (at least compared with reaching performance). Tripling your sail area with an assymetrical spin makes up for that in a huge way. Code 0's or hooters, like on the H14s above were pretty popular when the spin rigs were less well developed. Now they have fallen a little out of favor but because you can't go as far downwind with them. They are still viable and tend to be a slightly simpler setup once everything is put together (less rigging to deal with on the tramp).
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Dave Bonin
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Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 07:42 PM
I have no connection, but it looks like one of the H14T with a hooter is for sail on ebay. Looks like one of the ones from the pictures Damon posted above.
I think that boat would fit your criteria fairly well.
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Scott,
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Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 04:06 AM
Thoes are the same cats #420 #99.... I'am surprised he doesn't have any bids on it yet~~~ NO I can't, I already have a 17 & 18...... but havin a 14 like that!!! HHMMMM?
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Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 11:39 AM
I'm just surprised he is trying to sell it on eBay when all the catamaran buyers are here on this site.
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Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 12:41 PM
took the ole blue ribbon out on sea trials yesterday in biloxi, 25 kt. winds steady out of east southeast. you didn't need any extra sail for some "crazy sailing". those h 14's look like they would have flown like a kite with the main sail only! the wind picked up as it got later but the freshly painted and newly repaired blue ribbon handled the trials "at full capacity", can't say the same for my buddies p-15, system overload. the skinny people were cold, the big boys were sweating....good times!
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Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 02:02 PM
The H14T has no title, I don't know about other states, but I think that is a deal killer in Illinois unless you have a private lake to sail on.
edited by: kgatesman, Apr 03, 2010 - 01:03 PM -
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Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 07:38 PM
*I will fill out my profile as soon as I get some extra time*
I sail here at Purdue (Indiana), our team is ok, we seem to do pretty poorly at the regattas but we have fun. I would race if there were some local places to do it. My parents and sailing friends are in MN so I would trailer the rig up there when I go to visit and such.
I am graduating in May so depending on where I end up I might be in Indy, Chicago, S. Carolina, or Maybe Denver. I am looking at a 16 right now but I am really digging that 14MX rig. I am going to look in that more.
If I were to get an 18 I would totatlly need another person. I have a friend with an 18sx that I want to convince me to let try. For me it is a decision of weather or not getting a crew to go is worth the extra fun the boat has to offer. I love sailing with people, (I am not a fan of being out there alone) but the lighter weight gives a wilder ride.
How does an FXone handle with another person?
Does an 18 get out of the water like a 16 or can you really feel the extra mass?
I am a self taught sailor so I assume the larger the sail area the more power the boat is going to have. My brain disconnects when I see that the 18 has less sail area than the 16. Why is that?
I will probably get a cheap boat to start, but I am not afraid to purchase something like a Fxone given the right seller, I just worry that for the money I would be better of getting a 16 and rigging it well. A tornado is a dream, but I would probably build my own if I was going to invest that cash. A trifoiler would be cool to.. -
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Posted: Apr 03, 2010 - 09:49 PM
PURDUE? AS IN DREW BREES, BEST NFL QUARTERBACK, WHO DEFEATED PEYTON MANNING, ELI MANNING, TOM BRADY, BRETT FAVRE, CURT WARNER, ALL IN ONE SEASON! LOVE THAT SCHOOL!
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