Hi, I'm looking to get into Cat sailing and i'm trying to decided on a good indeterminate starter boat. I've sailed mono haul (All 420 home fleet) for 4 years in an extremely competitive setting. Just looking to have fun, go fast, and be able to take friends out every now and then. Local conditions vary by day (River sailing) anywhere from 5-30 knots and waves 1-3ft in good weather. From the research I've done I've pretty much narrowed it down to a Ncra 5.8, Hobie 20, or Prindle 19. Any help is appreciated!
~Thanks, Zack
Best boat for a new cat sailer
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**unknown user**
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Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 01:04 PM
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Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 03:54 PM
Crew?
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Greenville SC
Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 09:56 PM
Big boats to start with, especially the 20. You're not going to want to solo any of those 3 for the majority of your time on the water. I'm about 200 w/ gear and have solo'd the 5.8, have buddies that do it quite a bit, but it's still nothing short of a handful with any breeze at all.
Unless there's info you're holding back, I'd say go a little smaller. H18, 18-2, 5.5, 5.2, 5.7, f16, etc.
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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 07:20 AM
i would agree that starting on a 16', 17' or 5.2' is usually a better starting point. These boats will retain their value and you can upgrade after a season or 2.
River sailing makes me think of lots of tacking. boomless and less running rigging would be beneficial in those conditions. -
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 08:58 AM
How much do you weigh?? How old are you?? How heavy will the "regular" crew weigh is you have one?? Do you want to single most of the time?? I have a N5.2.. Son has a N 5.8. I have sailed cats for 25+years. N5.8 is too much for me at my age..That is my 5.2 in the pix here and I like it a lot.. .. Hobie 17 might be right too.. I have one and love the wings.. Hal
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Hal Liske
Livermore CA
H 16 (6+ 1.. Friends) H 3.2 N 5.2 (2) H 17 (2) H-18
Nacra 5.8 (son's) H 20 (Friends)
It's a Sickness
I Need a A Cat Please
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 10:39 AM
Get a cheap easy to sail Cat like a Hobie 16, learn how to sail it and then move on. if you sail solo a lot get a boat you can right solo. This is why everyone is asking how big you are.
Not everyone but most start on a Hobie 16 and learn the differences of Cat sailing and then move on to more complex boats. A hobie 20 is a great boat but not one to Start sailing cats on, it will eat you alive. JMHO, HTH, Ricardo.
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Lake Perry KS
H-18
N-5.5 UNI +spin
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 10:58 AM
The H17 is the best boat for solo sailing but can carrying crew or guests. Be sure to get the sport model and for the ultimate luxury make sure it has wings. -
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 06:37 PM
Probably the best perfromance boat to start on is the Hobie 16. Get a cheap used Hobie 16 in decent condition. Learn on it, sail the piss out of it and then go up to an 18 or 20 ft cat when you feel ready for it. The 16 has a simple rig, is a rocket ship and has a healthy sailing community. I love my Nacras but I also feel that they are a little more complicated and more of a longer term investment. If you are planning on getting one boat in the 16-18 ft range than a Nacra is a great boat, but if you are going to go bigger later and want to race now, the 16 is the best starter boat in terms of simplicity and cost.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 07:17 PM
My $.02
No amount of monohull racing can prepare you for the three cats you have listed.
They are all high-end, complicated sailing machines, both to set up and to sail well.
You will also need to train a crew member to sail with you consistantly, and help with setup.
They all have three story tall masts which are not light.
These are not single-handed craft.
Buying a Hobie 20 and taking that out as your first cat will not end well unless the seller will spend days with you on and off the water teaching you the stuff you should have learned the first two years of owning a more reasonable beachcat.
The basics of cat sailing are different than that of monohulls, so much so that there are books written on the subject.
Master these basics before you subject yourself to a high performance/high dollar cat.
You will have great fun on a 16-18 ft Hobie/Prindle/NACRA/Dart and can take friends without experience once you have some.
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Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
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
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 07:21 PM
Really appreciate all the feed back, definitely think I over estimated the amount of boat I need/can handle just yet. Think its time to begin my search for a Hobie 16 or Nacra 5.2 which ever I can find depending on price and condition. Also since I forgot to add it before I'm 5'7 about 120 pounds any crew I would sail with is roughly the same, and I would be occasionally sailing solo if I could.
~Zack
Edited by zerwin on Apr 03, 2013 - 08:23 PM. -
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 07:46 PM
Hobie 16 all the way until you get bigger or get bigger crew. I solo my N5.2 and N5.7 but I'm over 200 lbs and can't right them consistently without a bucket. You will probably need a righting bucket to solo right a Hobie 16. Any of the 18 ft boats and larger would chew you up and spit you out for at least the first year or two. The 16 will be more than enough boat for you and you will fly with it!
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 09:12 PM
At 120lbs, you might need two buckets just to right a hobie 16. IMHO you should focus on a Nacra 5.0 over anything else, for lots of reasons I'm too lazy to list.
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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 09:13 PM
(or a 500 or an SL16)
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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 10:19 PM
Uh..
Get a H17
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Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
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Posted: Apr 03, 2013 - 10:43 PM
No thanks?
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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Posted: Apr 04, 2013 - 05:03 AM
at 120 lbs a Hobie 14 is plenty of boat, easily righted by most anyone, easy to rig, easy to sail, easy to move around the beach or launch site. a great platform for any beginner.
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'life is too short to drink cheap beer'
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Posted: Apr 04, 2013 - 04:15 PM
I agree with havlii, at only 120 lbs, an H14 will make life easy.
For what it's worth, the Nacra 5.0 is almost as hard to right as the bigger 5.7. I have both, at 170lb I can pull them up solo, IF there is a good wind blowing (15-20mph) AND I get them in the right orientation vs the wind when I hike.
If not, I need a bag, or another crew, even a small one.
I keep them fully rigged, except for the main sail. I will not step the 30' mast solo, if you have to setup the boat each day, get one that you can handle, or the fun ends quickly.
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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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Posted: Apr 04, 2013 - 05:18 PM
At 120 You should start with a Hobie 14 -
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Posted: Apr 04, 2013 - 06:16 PM
well ... you asked for opinions... :)
I sail with a friend who is 130 and does very well on his h16. Even in heavy air. Granted he did have a lot of "support" when he started.
I would add prindle 16, to your short list (if you are looking at H16's). They are a great boat, with LOTS of spare parts around.
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