which beach cat? :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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which beach cat?

rbuehn

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 12, 2009

Last visit: Mar 26, 2015

Posts: 7
Posted: Feb 14, 2011 - 06:13 PM

Which boat do you suggest for launching in surf and riding waves? Florida east coast small waves to 3'. Need to be able to right it singlehanded.

Edited by rbuehn on Feb 14, 2011 - 04:17 PM.
froski

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Feb 10, 2011

Last visit: Jul 12, 2011

Posts: 13
Posted: Feb 14, 2011 - 06:26 PM

The broach factor would be risky in breaking waves or are you thinking of non-breaking swells moving across shoals? I wouldn't try anything like that near the beach, mast hitting sand and the force of oncoming waves sounds like a recipe for tearing out your rigging.

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Prindle 16
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DaveW70

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 28, 2010

Last visit: Jul 22, 2017

Posts: 69
Posted: Feb 14, 2011 - 06:57 PM

rbuehn... launching in surf and riding waves? ...

This is precisely why Hobie Alter designed his first catamarans. I suggest you look into a Hobie 14 or Hobie 16.

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Dave Wilson
Hobie 16, Hobie 14
Tampa, FL
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smfinley

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 24, 2005

Last visit: Apr 18, 2023

Posts: 709
Posted: Feb 15, 2011 - 12:22 PM

Make sure it does not have dagger boards. Single handed off and on the beach in surf with boards would be an extra challenge you likely do not want.

I would think a H14 turbo would be a good boat for single handing. A H16 would be good if you would take crew. The H16 in waves would be hard to right solo. Anything for that matter is harder to right in waves, so make sure you practice when other people are around the help if needed.

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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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thunderjeep

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 28, 2010

Last visit: May 14, 2011

Posts: 11
Posted: Feb 19, 2011 - 11:03 PM

You know if you plan on staying in the surf, I would go for something bomb proof. Like the wave. Sure seems indestructible and easy to right one man.
rbuehn

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 12, 2009

Last visit: Mar 26, 2015

Posts: 7
Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 07:23 PM

How about the Getaway? Can that be righted solo? Would be nice to take a friend sometimes.
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 10:07 PM

yes a Getaway would be a good choice.can be self righted and they are tough little buggers.
you can take several friend on one of them. they only lack in high end performance, but are good, fun general purpose boats
turtlecat

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jan 26, 2007

Last visit: Jul 13, 2012

Posts: 181
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 05:31 PM

With a Wave you can bring friends still...With the getaway, I think its nearly a thousand pounds of capacity! Kinda crazy :) Wave is a no brainer for righting...Getaway needs a bag if your solo.
uh

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 10, 2010

Last visit: Nov 25, 2012

Posts: 58
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 09:55 PM

I had a Getaway for a couple years. At 190lbs I was able to right it solo. But I still carried a bag just in case.

It's very easy to solo with only jib, main, and traveler sheets to deal with. The wings give some security to going overboard.

The plastic hulls are bullet proof. But not very efficient. Driven hard, the wing struts will drag in the water and bring the boat to a crawl, or the leeward hull dives and everyone gets thrown forward. The struts also impact flying a hull.

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Uwe
94 Prindle 19 - "überKat"
DFW, TX
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golfdad75

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 29, 2010

Last visit: Apr 28, 2015

Posts: 454
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 10:06 PM

Why would you want to bring your friends on a wave or getaway. That is like saying come on and see my Dodge Caravan.

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Nacra 5.2
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uh

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 10, 2010

Last visit: Nov 25, 2012

Posts: 58
Posted: Feb 23, 2011 - 10:18 PM

Why not?

http://www.youtube.com/wa…&feature=player_embedded

:)
(not my vid)

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Uwe
94 Prindle 19 - "überKat"
DFW, TX
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Wolfman

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jun 24, 2009

Last visit: Jun 15, 2023

Posts: 1555
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 12:43 AM

I agree! Nothing wrong with that Getaway!

If you are going to be launching in surf and riding waves you want a simple boat with good floatation that will take some punishment, the Wave is tailor made for that! The getaway is a bit of a truck/minivan though, probably heavier than you would like. I you get a wave you will want to get an aftermarket steering extension for it so you can hike out and move your weight around easier. Barring that the other option is to pick up a cheap H14 and H16, clean it up and slap a wear strip of Marine tex on the keel and you are ready to go. They are lighter, sexier, and the steering is more responsive, but if you crash them you could damage the fibreglass hulls. the good new is that spare parts are easy and relatively cheap to come by. I know a local guy who has a H14 and H16 mast collection and I live in freaking nowhere Canada.

What you likely want to avoid are the boats with overly complicated controls and daggerboards. So anything longer than 16 ft is probably out except for a couple of exception (N 5.7). A boomless design would also be a plus because there is nothing worse when you are bouncing around than having the boom bounce into your head! So really the Wave appears to be ideal for the purpose. Cheap and bullet proof are nice qualities to have even if it isn't a rocketship.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 09:31 AM

golfdad75Why would you want to bring your friends on a wave or getaway. That is like saying come on and see my Dodge Caravan.

every boat (and minivan) has pros and cons.
if your needs are bulletproof starter boat... these rotomolds are very good. if you want speed and sexy, go buy the bmw/oracle 180'wingmast tri
golfdad75

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 29, 2010

Last visit: Apr 28, 2015

Posts: 454
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 - 12:49 PM

Just trying to keep the conversation lively.

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Nacra 5.2
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davesimaginarium

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Feb 05, 2011

Last visit: Feb 26, 2011

Posts: 4
Posted: Feb 26, 2011 - 05:26 PM

Hobie Turbo 14 is my choice. At 175 lbs. I can right one easily. It was designed to surf and negotiate beach breaks. Fiberglass, you can fix it yourself. You can buy one for $750-$1200. Great for solo sailing in high winds. Want to buy one? Sorry mine's not for sail. Good luck, Dave
DaveW70

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 28, 2010

Last visit: Jul 22, 2017

Posts: 69
Posted: Feb 27, 2011 - 11:36 AM

Here is what you can do with a Hobie.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=79442

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Dave Wilson
Hobie 16, Hobie 14
Tampa, FL
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tparrish

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 14, 2010

Last visit: Apr 26, 2012

Posts: 43
Posted: Feb 28, 2011 - 11:19 PM

I sailed my Hobie 16 hard last summer on the Northern Gulf Of Mexico. I am a newbie and made planty of mistakes, but one thing I have learned is that a Hobie 16 is a tough boat!

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Griff
Hobie 16
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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thunderjeep

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 28, 2010

Last visit: May 14, 2011

Posts: 11
Posted: Mar 02, 2011 - 01:30 AM

Hmmm if the getaway is a minivan, I sure hope I didn’t just buy the bus. I just got an H 21 SE. Anyway I still think bombing aorund the surf on a wave would be a blast. I mean it is called the 'wave' after all right?