Righting a Nacra 450 :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

Righting a Nacra 450

sunvista

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 19, 2005

Last visit: Sep 20, 2011

Posts: 15
Posted: Aug 18, 2011 - 08:35 AM

A female friend of mine just picked up a Nacra 450. Before going out solo we turned the boat over and she tried to right it (160 lbs) with no success. I then gave it a go at 195...no joy. Then another friend at 215 was barely able to lift the mast out of the water a couple inches but no further. Can any Nacra 450/460/500 owners comment on this? My friend thinks a mast bob would help which might limit the tilt angle of the boat on its side and give better leverage at the start.
Beest

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jan 01, 2003

Last visit: Oct 06, 2015

Posts: 81
Posted: Aug 18, 2011 - 10:19 AM

Best advice from reading several other threads on this site is to make sure you have the best technique(s) in use. One of the best threads (to me) is worth a read....here it is.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ms/viewtopic/topic/12778

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Bert Scott
Niceville, FL
Nacra F18
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matt922

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 15, 2011

Last visit: Jul 04, 2019

Posts: 287
Posted: Aug 18, 2011 - 10:34 AM

bows pointed into the wind with jib and main uncleated?
Wolfman

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jun 24, 2009

Last visit: Jun 15, 2023

Posts: 1555
Posted: Aug 18, 2011 - 02:30 PM

AND make sure the main sheet and traveler are all the way out (i.e. the main is hanging down in the water). The boat weight of hte 460 shouldn't be a problem for a 160 lb person to overcome (provided they are pulling the righting line OVER the top hull at the front beam) but water weight is the killer when righting.

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

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 19, 2005

Last visit: Sep 20, 2011

Posts: 15
Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 07:34 AM

Thanks for all the replies but no one answered the question. Yes to all of the suggestions above and also dry hulls, sealed mast etc. We're not new sailors...its just a new(er) boat. The boat doesn't seem to be any heavier than a H14 turbo....maybe even lighter. I can solo right a H14 all day (and have ) .
Rider_55

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 26, 2009

Last visit: Mar 20, 2015

Posts: 150
Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 08:01 AM

A mast bob will prevent the boat from inverting completely but I don't think it will help while the boat is on its side. The additional weight up the mast will actually make it harder to right.
Wolfman

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jun 24, 2009

Last visit: Jun 15, 2023

Posts: 1555
Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 08:21 AM

A mast bob actually holds the mast higher in the water when the boat is on it's side. So yes it would help as the hardest part of righting is the first couple of feet.

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

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jan 19, 2010

Last visit: Oct 22, 2011

Posts: 22
Posted: Aug 20, 2011 - 05:55 PM

The effort required to right any cat will also depend greatly on the wind strength. The windier it is, generally, the easier it is to get the boat to come upright. Once you get to a critical point, the wind will actually right the boat for you. Again, great advice to have the main and jibs uncleated.
With this said, was there any wind when you were trying to right the boat?

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Jay Brown
Nacra 16sq. spin and modified
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