Looking at buying a boat with my intentions on sailing on small inland lakes here in Michigan. I have sailed monohauls on the inland lakes as well as Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie raging from 19' - 28'. I grew up sailing my own 12' trimeran (bought from Sears LOL)and my Dad's home built 19' trimeran at the local metroparks. I did buy a 16' Venture Cat from an estate sale when I was 16 and sailed it a few times buy it did not have it's original rigging and did not preform well at all (don't even remember flying a hull). Never could afford a "real" cat.
Now some 25 years later (maybe my mid-life crisis) I can get a real cat. I am married with 4 boys 13,10,6 and 2 and remember how much fun I had with my Dad exploring the local lakes being able to beach the boats on the islands and beach.
Loking at either a Hobie 16, 18 or Nacra 5.0, 5.2. I am 6' 250. Wondering if something with wings is more comfortable (backrest) or you spend most of the time hiking out?
How easy are they to right once capsized?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated....
From what I have read so far, seems like the Nacra's are little more beefy but parts are easier to comy by with a Hobie....
The Hobie Getaway would be a great starter boat for you, rotomolded plastic hulls, wings, forward tramp, furling jib, boomless main, practically indestructible, high volume hulls can carry your entire family and gear and you could still fly a hull. Can be pricy though, but the ability to sail up onto a beach and not worry too much about the bottoms is priceless.
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Marc C.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Current love: Nacra 5.0
Old loves: Int Laser, Int Europe, Int 470, Int 420, Vaurien
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Out of the ones you listed the 5.0 would be the winner. You can right it by yourself, has good volume in the hulls, no boom to hit kids heads and its fast. Parts aren't a problem for Nacras and the 5.0 is still made as the 500 (almost all the parts are common between them).
The advantage of the getaway is comfort and toughness. The wing seats are very comfy and the boat itself is bomb proof. The only problem is that it isn't real fast and Hobie puts those awful pastel sails on the darn things. Also I'm not sure how much hull flying or trapezing you can do on one (which is a lot of the fun for me).
With 4 kids of that age, if you are buying for the family I would tend toward the Getaway. If you are buying for yourself get the 5.0.
Was kinda leaning towards the Getaway but thinking the 5.0 is more inline with the Wife's idea of a budget...where I plan to sail 90% of the time is a Metroparkhere in Michigan and basically the family would set up "base camp" at the picnic area where the kids can swim and play while Dad sails and the kids can take turns with Dad.
Seems as if Nacra's can be had under $3,000 with trailer for a decent boat where as the Getway is mid to upper 5
I being on the "fluffy" side of things did like the idea of the wings as it did look more comfortable on the back rather then just sitting on the tramp. Never flown in the trapeze, maybe that would be comfy as well as a helll of a ride....
Get a Getaway, it is bullet proof, we bought a Wave for 2k this year, keep looking and you will find a get away for a good price. No boards, no boom, no hassle, no worries, just a great recreational boat. I have a Hobie 18 and an Nacra, both have their good points but for your needs the getaway is the best bet. JMHO, YMMV, Ricardo.
- It's a very fast boat (I carry 3 kids sometimes without issues, even pulled a tube behind it). I have seen a wave and though a good starter boat I think you will be looking to switch pretty soon.
- no boom
- no dagger boards to handle (or break).
- easy to set up, it takes me literally 15 minutes to set up the boat (mast stays up).
- straight hulls are very forgiving so no pitch poling, etc..
The bad:
- It might be a little harder to find a good used one and so you may pay a little more then a hobie 16 of the same age as those are readily available.
- What else is bad? Your wife might get pissed because you are hanging out with your new love too much.
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Marc C.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Current love: Nacra 5.0
Old loves: Int Laser, Int Europe, Int 470, Int 420, Vaurien
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You dont have to buy a Hobie Getaway just so you can have wings. I was desperate for wings, but had to find a similar boat in South Africa, so I bought a Dart18, and I'm now almost done with custom wings. I tried to include a pic but without success...
Darts rock!
Just got beat by one, racing in the Pacific.
He bested Hobie 18's, an F16 and a Nacra 18 and 20.
Edited by klozhald on Aug 24, 2012 - 10:10 AM.
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Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA --