My wife & I went 15 miles down the lake today, there was a fleet of lead sleds out, using some nav markers as race marks. We went by a few, then came upon a chap single handing an older wooden cat. I pulled up beside him, but with water noise it was hard to catch everything he said.
He has owned the boat since 1965, said it was 19', & didn't know about righting it as he'd never tipped it. Dais he had it up to 20 mph once on his GPS Timex watch. It seemed to have a partial wood deck over a portion of the hulls forward of the main beam, & spray deflectors on each hull. The boom was wood, as was the entire interior (tramp on a newer cat). This deck was dropped down about 10" from the top of the hulls & had hiking straps for 6 people. I did not see any trap wires. It had a bloody big mainsail, with the letter G or C and sort of a flame like emblem. He told me twice what it was, was neither my wife nor I could make out what he was saying.
It looked really well maintained, the wood shone, & the sail looked new. It really was a classic looking old ship.
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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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What type is an older wooden cat?
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- Rank: Chief
- Registered: Nov 26, 2009
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Posted: Aug 28, 2010 - 04:42 PM
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- Rank: Lubber
- Registered: Aug 02, 2010
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Posted: Aug 28, 2010 - 05:11 PM
I have seen a Shark Catamaran, still in production I believe, 20 feet Long x 10 Feet Wide. The boat I saw was a piece of sailing art, clear varnish--looked like a floating piano with sails.
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Steve Fisherkeller
P19MX
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- Rank: Mate
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Posted: Aug 28, 2010 - 05:46 PM
Might be one of these.
I have seen these on the net varnished instead of painted.
More photos here.http://www.mre-books.com/catamaran/ -
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Posted: Aug 28, 2010 - 09:19 PM
there was a cougar for sale on this site a month ago or so...really captured my imagination. boom so high off of the deck...a cruising dream! you can't forget to remember to soak in the moment!
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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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Posted: Aug 29, 2010 - 02:40 AM
SKARR; Bingo! that emblem on the sail is an exact match to what we saw. Thanks, my airline tells me I have hearing just below the level of a dog, but damned if I could understand his answers to my queries. That connection between between the front hulls was also a very identifiable point.
The boat we saw was as Steve Fish mentioned, a piano on the water. There was not a sq inch that didn't shine like a mirror. You would have to be really thick not to admire a piece of work like that. I wish I was comfortable enough to carry a camera with me.
Now some folks might disdain a 45 year old boat, because it's not as fast as the new carbon models, but kids, you have to respect a Cat that after 45 years can do 20 kts, & is still sailing after being launched in 1965...were you even born then?
Hey, I turned 52 yesterday, & I try to stay away from hacking on the younger generation because they are "different" from what I grew up with...let's be honest, they really are not much different from what we did as kids, & if you shut up & listen to them they are pretty interesting, & my daughters friends can appreciate the likes of Commander Cody, The Who, & Buddy Guy.
The skipper told me he brought it back to Newmarket ON & stored it for the winter every year. What can I say, blast from the past.
I went home after that sail, applied another 3 layers of matt & resin to what my daughter has dubbed the SS Minnow, then went back out for a solo sail. While traversing the chuck between my bay & Grape Island I encountered a father/son on a Hobie 17. WOW, everything I have seen on this forum regarding the H17 not being able to carry weight is true. The 2 crew were sitting appx 1/3 forward of the rudders & they only had 1"-2" of freeboard at the rear. Bloody good thing they had wings. An older gent just down the shore from me has an H17 that has sat for 3 years, & I was thinking of convincing the old fellow to sell it, cheap of course. After seeing it in action, just give me a Nacra. I was traveled fully out, & sheeted to the shrouds to allow him to catch up. Simply hardening the traveler left him behind. Don't take it the wrong way, I think Aqua Cats are a boon to our sport, but man, an N5.7 is a helluva boat to drive solo. The wind hAS BEEN A B*TCH the last few days, & no matter how hard I drive this old ship, both hulls under water to the front beam, it just keeps going.
NACRAMAN was right, this is a kickass Cat!
It's been a hard day of sailing, repairs & beer, I'll sign off now. Thanks again SKARR, there are not alot of boats on this 400 sq mile lake, Cats even fewer. So far, everyone I've met is more than happy to chat with a relative newcomer about technique & their boat. How many people can pull up beside an antique & chat?
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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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