I'm currently in the mist of selling my keeled boat, a Catalina 34 and simplifying my sailing experience.
I live a couple hundred yards from the bay in Breezy Point, NY. I have kept the boat in a nearby marina for over a decade, but the costs is getting to much, with the new house and all. I often use the beach to take off in my kayaks and have always had this image of dragging a beach boat onto the water for a beautiful late afternoon sail. The traffic can be a bit busy on the weekends, but mid week is always quiet. We always get nice wind, but im thinking of taken advantage of the lighter air of early morning or late afternoon to keep it manageable at least until I get used to a non keeled boat. What's a good size cat to be able to solo and take kids or family out in. My cat experience is limited to a few vacation rentals over the years.
Thanks
Ron
Considering a beach cat...
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Posted: Jun 10, 2017 - 07:03 AM
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Posted: Jun 10, 2017 - 07:39 AM
Hobie getaway
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Greenville SC
Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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Posted: Jun 10, 2017 - 09:18 AM
I second the getaway. I have a Prindle 18, but it wasn't spacious or comfortable enough for my family.
I just bought a Getaway, and am excited to get the whole family out. Nothing else out there does it better.
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Hobie Getaway
Prindle 18 - Sold
South Padre Island, TX
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Posted: Jun 10, 2017 - 03:37 PM
The Getaway is a great family boat
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Supercat 15
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Ratboat built from Zuma and Sunfish parts
Shallow water sailor in the Delaware Bay
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Posted: Jun 11, 2017 - 05:26 AM
Waves might fit the bill, at 245 pounds, much easier to move solo. Not as comfy obviously, but super simple. There is some thread here about anticipated versus real number of people that will be going with you. Probably lower than at first glance. Yesterday we didnt to set up the Tornado for a one hour sailing window (funky CT shore winds),. So the Wave got in the water.. Any sailing is good sailing!
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John
Nacra 5.0
CT
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Posted: Jun 11, 2017 - 01:50 PM
Your simple question is not so simple. On a catamaran, solo and family are two sides of the same coin.
Will you store the cat with the mast up or down?
On a trailer or on the beach?
Your setup time and effort will vary greatly between just these four factors.
If you sail solo, will you also be setting up the cat solo?
If this is the case, and you are serious about being able to sail solo - solo setup, launching, getting it back into storage alone should be a primary concern in your cat (and trailer) selection.
That said, I love soloing my cat, but do it very seldom - like once a year on the lake. I prefer to share the experience with family and friends who are passionate about sailing too. I never solo in the ocean. I have a friend who does, on a cat exactly like mine, but he is crazy and has sailed his cat in the same waters for three decades, and with that experience comes the wisdom (or insanity) I lack.
If you could get help setting up when you solo, then do you like working on boats? Would you be willing to look at a 25 year old G-Cat that has an end-to-end tramp for your family? Maybe a Hobie 18 with wings? A Prindle 18, or NACRA 5.8? Possibly a Dart 18? Are you physically beefy enough to solo a family cat? You may have to right it yourself. If fun is your goal, there are lots of choices out here, but no perfect solutions. Any selection will be a compromise. Explore the variables, make a choice, and get sailing.
My $0.02
Edited by klozhald on Jun 12, 2017 - 09:52 AM.
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Sheet In!
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
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Posted: Jun 11, 2017 - 02:35 PM
There are hundreds, if not thousands of posts here about the different aspects of solo sailing a catamaran. This is a much more complex topic than soloing a monohull.
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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: Jun 11, 2017 - 09:14 PM
If you plan to pull a cat up on shore, be sure to get a set of Cat Trax wheels. Life is a lot easier. Beach cats come in two basic flavors...with or without centerboards. If you are looking for easy solo handling, a skeg hull without center boards can be a lot easier.
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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Posted: Jun 11, 2017 - 10:09 PM
Lots of good information shared by catamaran sailors. Buying your first cat can be quite daunting, especially if you lack the experience of piloting these rockets. I concur with Klozhald that a basic, simple boat, like the Dart 18, would be ideal to learn on and continue to grow and develop your sailing skills. Good luck in your search. Bob Martinez, Dartman. -
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Posted: Jun 12, 2017 - 09:00 AM
Getaway is a great family cat - and probably the best for a first time cat'er
i think any of the 16 footers can do the job too (hobie, prindle, gcat, etc) - just depends on your preferences (rotomolded vs fiberglass)
typically:
rotomolded are very durable but lower performance
fiberglass is less duarble but higher performance -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 09:15 AM
Thanks for all the responses.
I will be keeping the boat on a Beach trailer/cart. Which was my next question, I watched you tube videos of the Hobie getaway. Looks good for a group, a bit large for solo. Question, with the right cart can I solo move the cat from the beach to the water?,
An back up the dune.. about 50 feet or more depending on tide?? -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 09:26 AM
Yes - beach wheels properly balanced at the center of effort (middle / balancing point of the boat) it is possible to move 400lbs up the beach solo with good technique . My cat is over 500 and i do it every week (often solo).
the trick is to remove all the weight from the boat you can (sails, cooler, even rudders sometimes for me) and then go up the beach at an angle - even turn (traverse) a few times if needed.
Straight up a steep beach will be much harder
Edited by MN3 on Jun 13, 2017 - 09:29 AM. -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 09:41 AM
I do not think a getaway is too much for a person to handle solo, and I think anything smaller you won't really enjoy as a family boat. You will really enjoy the front tramp and wings, if equipped. As far as beach wheels, I find that having the ones with cradles makes life a lot easier, a little more expensive but worth it. -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 09:51 AM
Gotcha..thanks for the guick response.
I know catamarans are all about speed, but I'm thinking there also about simplicity. I'm liking the option of the wing when it's suitable. I just want to cruise or daysail without the expense of a 6000$ a year marina and other expenses. I'm 200 yards from a great sailing destination, I'm figuring a cat will fit the bill.
Ron -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 11:33 AM
not really - sailing is not a very simple sport
getting proficient at all the aspects (upwind, down-wind, reaching, tell-tales, spinnakers, etc... = not simple / not rocket science either but it can be as complex as rocketry (just ask the guys designing the america's cup boats)
the bigger the boat, the more control lines
the more spaghetti all over the place
but the smaller the boat, the less the control lines, the less the fine tuning - the easier
you can make a hobie 16 sail with little or no knowledge (and having it trimmed wrong)
try getting a f18 or other complex race boat to go without having it trimmed correctly - not so easy
Edited by MN3 on Jun 13, 2017 - 11:35 AM. -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 12:04 PM
I hear you,
My 15 years of sailing and owning keels boats will help, but I realize a cat boat will be a learning curve as well.
Thanks again,
Ron
Pearson Ensign
Cape Dory 27
Catalina 34 -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 12:31 PM
oh yes, i forgot you had a sailboat
so they are about the exact same thing, only completely different :) -
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Posted: Jun 13, 2017 - 06:02 PM
This site needs a "thumbs up" "like" "i second that" "great advise button" or something! I truly respect and value the experienced input. Reduces the guessing and possible dangers of damaging people and/or property. This is my fave cat site. At least 10x a week i'm saying to myself "Hell yes and i'm buying a round of beers, Rum or a firm handshake"
MN3 is top of the list! Gave Damon a flying cat decal for his new 4Runner couple days ago or he'd be #1 ( great guy )
Edited by fxloop on Jun 13, 2017 - 06:04 PM.
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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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Posted: Jun 14, 2017 - 09:36 AM
Thanks Tim - i'll take the rum (and maybe a handshake too) -
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Posted: Jun 15, 2017 - 09:44 AM
Hey Ron,
Great advice here so far. I hope you've also looked at the Nacra 460, 500, and 570. If you have any questions I'm happy to help.
These boats are just a simple as the Hobie Wave and Getaway but you get significantly more performance and excitement out of them. You can even get it with double trapeze and spinnaker set up. They lack the forward trampoline and wings of the Getaway but if you're looking for a better sailing experience then you should consider them.
If you're looking something to haul a ton of family members then a Hobie Getaway would be a great option. The Wave limits itself to sailing well with just one or two people, once you put more on it really lacks performance and space.
I sell rotomolded boats with another brand I work with. Both Fiberglass and Rotomolded have their place.
If you can respect your boat (not running it into things and etc) a fiberglass boat will ultimately be easier to take care of and last longer.
If you plan to run into things and want a tank then a Rotomolded Plastic boat is better, there are repair methods that are about the same ease as repairing fiberglass, but it will never look pretty.
-Todd Riccardi
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