Heck, if you have free use of the Optimist, use it. The fact is, as you learn you will flip the boat a few times. The little monos are easy to get back up, & you can learn most of what you need to know in a stable safe environment. When you do make the inevitable beginner mistakes, the $$ won't be much. Those Getaways will still be around next season.
Then if you decide you want the thrill of taking all 4 people out & ripping at speeds not imaginable on the Opti, go for the Cat.
Edited by Edchris177 on Nov 09, 2010 - 04:39 PM.
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Advice on Sail Boat Purchase
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Posted: Nov 09, 2010 - 06:38 PM
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Posted: Nov 09, 2010 - 07:40 PM
I definitely agree with EC here. Learn to sail on what you have. The optimist is a nice small boat and isn't overpowered. Cats have some peculiarities to them compared to mono hulls but you can pick up 90%+ of what you need to know sailing a mono. Putting 4 people on an H16 isn't impossible but I wouldn't recommend it, you have to move alot on that boat and you will likely end up tipping it more than you would like.
The more you describe your situation the more the Getaway makes sense to me. It's a nice relatively big boat with lots of floatation and room for 4-5 people. It's very stable compared to many of the more performance oriented cats (and much more stable than any non-keeled monohull). The hulls are rotomolded plastic which is extremely tough and durable (fiberglass - not so much). The sail area isn't overwhelming so you can cruise around with the kids and you can get bigger custom sails if you get bored. The wings make is extremely comfortable with the wing seats/back rests (my knees really take a beating on my Nacra). And although you won't be winning any races against the H16s of the world it is still faster than just about any monohull of comparable size. I think that Hobie does make a motor mount, if not there are a number of manufacturers that make universal mounts and a few guys here that can help you with plans if you are handy enough to make one yourself.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
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Posted: Nov 10, 2010 - 09:42 PM
Edited by turbohobo on Nov 10, 2010 - 07:51 PM.
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TurboHobo
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Posted: Nov 10, 2010 - 09:44 PM
Edited by turbohobo on Nov 10, 2010 - 07:51 PM.
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Posted: Nov 11, 2010 - 05:57 PM
Sounds good if the boat is complete and seaworthy, if you are at the "sailing for dummies" stage the first thing is to get out there. If you have anyone who knows how to sail that can go with you it will vastly shorten your learning curve. It's not difficult, but many things aren't obvious.
Is the boat so big you can't just dump the water out of it? This boat has gone 50 years without a drain, sounds like it doesn't need one, just something else to leak or forget to do before you launch.
Don't do this right away, carry a paddle or two and don't get too far from home, after a season you can decide if an outboard makes sense. Usually outboards are only carried on beachcats when there is know other choice, like having to launch from the back of a crowded marina where there is no chance of sailing in and out.
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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
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Posted: Nov 11, 2010 - 06:19 PM
Ok, when I first read this I didn't realize exactly where you were located. You Must Start Sailing, you live in an area like most of us daydream about. Do it for the landlocked sailors, do it for your grand kids, just do it.
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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN
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Posted: Nov 12, 2010 - 08:35 AM
I've been vaguely following this thread with a few ideas running around my head. At first my thoughts were a beach cat is a bit lively and on the edge to learn sailing while teaching the grandkids. Seeing as you are on the ocean my first thought was look for an F-24, F-27 or maybe the newer F-22 design. I love the Farrier tris and it seems like nice way to bring people along and not get boring (unless you're my kids). But, the price, even used, is beyond what you can get a well outfitted beachcat for. I don't know your price range. Then Yesterday I saw another note in another file and it made me think of this thread, a Weta. Not boring, light and easy to set up, stable and fast. it struck me as a good solution.
Oh, the optimist thing, maybe for the kids, but not an adult. When was the last time you got on a small boat like that? I know Sunfish are a lot smaller and unstable than when I was just a kid. I found an optimist cramped when I was 12.
Look into a Weta, it might be the solution you're looking for. -
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Posted: Nov 17, 2010 - 01:46 AM
maybe renting a cat for a day,or enlist a guide for a lesson& general whats up. -
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Posted: Nov 18, 2010 - 12:02 PM
When we lived in Hampton, VA, I would drive down to the Outer Banks hunting for surf, had many good waves at Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo, met a couple of Auzzies running a superb restaurant at the pier at Rodanthe. We would take HWY 12 down to Hatteras and hop on the car ferry over to Ocracoke. From Ocracoke one had the choice to take a ferry to either Cedar Island or to Swanquarter, never did take that either of those ferry's, regret it now. I always was amazed at the people living on the Outer Banks, hardy bunch, if a tsunami just 10 feet high swept in on the East Coast, it would carry over most of those sand dunes no problem, and then of course there are the hurricanes.
But when the weather was good, what an awesome place to live for a waterman, sailing, surfing, diving, snorkling, fishing, more sailing....
resilient bunch, hmmm...
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Posted: Nov 20, 2010 - 10:02 PM
Without a doubt, the Hobie Getaway. Very family oriented boat, easy to set up and super durable. Get a set of Cat Trax and you can drag it up and down the beach with just two people. Plenty of them for sale on the internet. Google "Hobie Getaway for sale" or just look in the classifieds of sites like this one or the Hobie forum. Would recommend taking a few lessons from someone with experience before you venture out on your own. You live in great location and your family will absolutely love it.
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