Hi
I'cm looking for a Cat for singlehandle sailing on the local lake in lightwind 6 to 14 knots, I have newer been sailing a cat but I have been windsurfing for 20 years. What cat should I choose?
Best regards,
Jan
Edited by janb on Apr 13, 2014 - 07:38 PM.
Which singlehanded cat for lightwind sailing.
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Posted: Apr 13, 2014 - 08:59 AM
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Posted: Apr 13, 2014 - 11:02 AM
Jan, you have the advantage of windsurfing so you know how wind operates on a sailing vehicle, so really then just depends on whats available in your area. There is another sailor, catmodding who is from your area, if you can contact him its always good to get TOW, time on water. You want to start out with something in the 16ft range and practice righting technique untill its second nature, when you go to the 18ft boats you then require a righting bag to assist righting the boat when sailing solo. And with lake sailing you will be dealing with swirling winds that change direction and velocity constantly, keep us informed.
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Renovator -
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Posted: Apr 13, 2014 - 12:48 PM
Hands downh, the Prindle 16. Pete -
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Posted: Apr 13, 2014 - 05:54 PM
Prindle 16, Hobie 16, Nacra 5.0, Hobie 17 (the H-17 is only good for single), They are all great boats. -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 12:41 AM
i found soloing a nacra 5.2 on a smallish lake an easy and safe way to fly
an old A-cat would be even better -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 06:17 AM
the epic I think would be an A cat... lightweight... like smooth water... all about finesse... very simple clean boat... but expensive compared to a 5.2 or Prindle 16... guessing a cheap A cat would still run 4 or 5$K... but so worth it... maybe start w/a P16 or other...? -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 08:02 AM
I found a Nacra 5,5 here but it's to heavy 170 kg I think.... -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 08:57 AM
Hi Jan,
I solo a prindle 18-2, but I am a heavy weight
. Where are you ? When you
are near the markermeer, Warder,The Netherlands. I can show you around our little
club and take you out for a sail in a couple of weeks, its to cold now.
At the club there are several types of catamarans, all privately owned, but you are
welcome to have a look at them and maybe sail some of them.
A P 18-2 is less in weight, so I doubt a 5.5 is heavier. Anyway let me know if
you are interested in a tour at our club.
And yes.. a surfing history is definitely a plus...
Grtz André
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 09:12 AM
Thank you André
I'am 84 kg, and I'am Danish and living in Poland on the border to Germany, 60 km from a big lake called Berzdorfer See and 40 km from the polish lake Mietkow where I windsurf. I think the two best cat for my use on a lake not open see is the Prindle 16 and the Nacra 5,5. What do you think of those two?.
Edited by janb on Apr 14, 2014 - 04:13 PM. -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 10:04 AM
I think the Prindle 16 would be a nice and cheap cat to start learning Cat sailling on the local lake in lightwind, then next year i could buy me a used A-Cat. -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 10:20 AM
Jan,
If you sail solo all the time, the P16 seems the way to go. Simple,
no daggerboards, fun.
A beach-cat in the true sense.
Remember with 84 Kg there's not much margin to take friends for a sail.
The N 5.5 is more of an older racer type catamaran, more speed,
daggerboards, more tuning possibilities and a little harder to handle solo.
But more thrill !!
Given the fact you did windsurfing for 20 years and you are sailing in moderate
wind-conditions I reccomend the 5.5 as the boat for you.
When its really blowing strong, you always have the opportunity to take a friend
out on the wire
Edit:
Just make sure you can right the 5.5 solo, if not, buy a righting-bag, and
sail with the appropriate safety-gear. Cellphone, flares, gps, pdf, etc etc
Shame we live 850 Km apart... ( sorry Renovator ) would have liked to show you around
the small cat club here.
Grtz, André
Edited by catmodding on Apr 14, 2014 - 05:36 PM.
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 10:38 AM
The 5.5 Uni drives like a dump truck with two on the boat and no jib, especially in heavy air and waves.
Buy the 5.5 sloop vs the 5.5 uni if you ever want to sail with crew.
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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 10:54 AM
We are talking about the N 5.5 sloop, never have seen a N 5.5 uni for sale
in Europe, lots of 18sqm though.. No offense btw
André
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 11:32 AM
Here are the polish page with pictures of the Nacra 5.5 can you see what it is, a slope or uni?
http://www.dobrewiatry.pl/na-zaglach/katamaran-nacra-55-genaker-przczepa/ -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 12:06 PM
Jan,
That's a slope,it has a fok (jib) and with a little help from a translation-site, I understand it has
a spinakker setup as well , and a very good price. Just make shure you get the beach-wheels
with it. Apart from the road-trailer.
Pictures are looking good.
Grtz, André
--
Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 12:20 PM
That's a 5.8 original in the picture, not a 5.5 sloop. See the 5.8 on the sail. Having a jib makes it a sloop vs just the main (uni). Also, if it was a 5.5 SL or 5.8 NA it would have a bridle foil.
Edited by nacra55 on Apr 14, 2014 - 12:21 PM.
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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 12:43 PM
Ok
If we can belive the pictures and the number on the sail, it's a Nacra 5.8 and not a 5.5 but is the 5.8 a cat to sail alone or do I then need crew. I wanted a cat to sail alone and in ligth wind on a lake, I don't sail on the ocean because it's 500 km away from where I liveand the roads are shit here in Poland, and I don't want sail with a crew I will have the freedom to sail here and now if I wan't to. -
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 12:51 PM
In my opinion, the Nacra 5.8 is not a solo boat and not for you. Look at the P16.
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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 12:58 PM
Jan,
Buy the 5.8, learn how to right it and have fun.
Grtz, André
--
Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 01:52 PM
Darts are plentiful in Europe. Up to 4 months ago I would have ageed with prior response Prindle16 "hands down" But this February brought 1 iof my dart 18s to Florida and sailed it on a 685 acre lake and I came to appreciate lake sailing and the sudden gusts and shifts one has little or no time "to read". Dart 18s are very light less than 200lbs! They are designed for high wind but turned out to be superior to a hobie16 that already was on the lake I sailed. In truth the dart 18 does not come into its own until winds exceed 18 knots. But my dart outperformed all other admit tingly smaller cats on the lake. I follow dart 18 prices in Europe and believe that price wise coupeled with future probable use in larger venues (dart disassembles with ease)by an experienced board sailor expecting hi performance leaves little issue as to best choice, ps I still have my 5.7 nacre.ahobie 16 and Prindle16. Lost my 5.2 to "sandy" and love them all but dart18best choice in Northern Europe
