Anyone here have experience with these boats? I have no experience with the skeg hulled boats and how they handle... My cousin looking at one as a replacement to his NACRA F18 (too much boat for him).
Thanks
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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NACRA 5.7 (570)
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 05:41 PM
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 06:22 PM
i have been beat every time i race by our local 5.7 team
father and son, both great sailors, pretty big boys .. i can beat them on some angles but they out sail me every time.
great boat, fast, boardless, - i would want one if i had room and money for it
Edited by MN3 on Sep 19, 2017 - 06:23 PM. -
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 07:00 PM
I love mine to death. Super easy to sail, very well behaved, i single hand it quite a bit. And faster than most. Won't beat an f18 but it won't try and kill you as often as an f18 either.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 07:06 PM
How does the boat point?
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 07:12 PM
I don't have hands on time on the newer,(very slightly faster rating) 570, but years on the 5.7, & it's little sister, the 5.0.
They are tough, faster than my H18 Magnum, especially in light air. The boat will ghost along with nary a ripple on the water.
For the recreational sailor, who doesn't care about Class racing, or areas with shallows, it is hard to find a better boat.
For the newer sailor, no boards, no boom, rocks. If my wife wasn't in love with wings, I would dump the H18 tomorrow & keep the 5.7
The boomless rig likes sheet tension, but you can certainly oversheet & hook the leech. Keep a few telltales, or small flag on the leach, it will be readily apparent when they wrap around the sail.
When going upwind, get forward, as in the front beam. Sink that leeward hull & they will point quite well.
I have clocked over 20mph 1 up on the wire, 2 on the wire, & 3-up.(2 on wire, myself sitting on rear beam).
There is room for 4 on the totally uncluttered tramp.
It can be done, I have pitchpoled the 5.7 once, or more correctly my buddy drove it full speed into a steep wave, but you really have to push hard.
The boat is robust, you can set the skeg right on the beachwheel axle if you don't have cradles. Blocks were all Harken, should be 7:1 on the mainsheet, Harken traveler. The mast is 30', fairly heavy, I always use an extra hand to raise it.
Roller furling jib is your friend.
The 570 has a kite option.
The sail can be raised/lowered even if it is being blown against the shrouds. Mine is stored on a SeaDoo lift, I am almost never head to wind. The Nacra wins hands down over the H18 in this regard.
Lots of used parts. The expensive ones-rudder castings, mast base, beams are common to many of the older boats.
Cons- not many around if you want to race against. The rise in the hull, aft of the skeg means you need to have a decent slope, or two strong people to lift & drain water, or install a hatch in front of rear beam.
The newer Hobie rudders are better. The Nacra rudders are OK, as long as you have proper bungee.
One must use care when raising/lowering the mast,(applies to many boats), if you don't keep the mast rotated 90* you can bend the dolphin stiker.
They can be harder to manhandle around on grass, or sand, as the skeg wants to dig in. If you have beach wheels, no problem
If your cousin just wants to blast around, on a very simple rig, no boom, no boards, only a couple of strings, they are great.
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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: Sep 19, 2017 - 07:32 PM
Ding Ding Ding... this is exactly what he wants... Hell, now you have me wanting one...
Question, how is the mast rotation handled? Is it like the 5.8 with the forward facing wishbone?
Thanks for your response, your time is appreciated.
John
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 08:13 PM
The boomless rigs- mast rotation is mostly automatic, it goes where it needs to go with no input required. On these rigs supplementl mast rotation is to INCREASE rotation,(vs decrease on boomed rigs).
The only need for extra rotation is downwind sailing, & yes, it uses a forward wishbone. I had it on the 5.7, but removed it- if you use it you MUST change your order of operation, & release the rotator 1st. It is easy to forget this step if you have not bothered to use it other than deep downwind.
I found that broad reaching in a blow was plenty of excitement, & since I usually solo sail, more power was the last thing I needed!
Lighter winds/sailing deeper it can give more power.
You might find some helpful tidbits here;
https://www.thebeachcats.…1e37b4760daed31d44e4909a
I have both this wishbone, & the larger "rounded" one, if you decide you'd like to try it. If it's not your thing, mail it back.
That is how it was when I bought the boat. It should be rigged with a continuous line 2:1. Line dead ends on those pad eyes just inboard of the cleat-through rotator end-back throu same side cleat--around back of mast-through cleat-through end of rotator-dead end on pad eye.
I can solo right at 172lb, but only in 20mph wind. Below that I need a bag. I use a Colorado Big Bag, with a 3:1 purchase.
There was some angst recently regarding placing your line around the DS. I've washed these sails many times, you won't bend the Ds unless you drop the mast unrotated- here's why.
Edited by Edchris177 on Sep 19, 2017 - 08:25 PM.
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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: Sep 19, 2017 - 08:34 PM
It does start to get problematic. My sister-in-law was up with their kids this summer. One of them asked,"is Uncle like a Cat lady, with boats?"
We have 4 Cats, winter storage takes some creativity, but the Little Girly Cat comes apert with no tools & will sit on the roof of the summer car that goes in the barn for the winter.
My wife commented that we had to many boats- being the good husband that I am, we no longer have a canoe.
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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: Sep 19, 2017 - 08:42 PM
we use wishbones on N570 & Dart 18; used wishbone on my N 5.7 lost to n"or easter. But on Dart 18 we use a spanner( a line runs from wishbone to bottom end of main- grommet where blocks attach -and returns to wishbone i rigged a pulley system on each end for curvature/shape of sail but we found no need on nacras -
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Posted: Sep 19, 2017 - 09:27 PM
The NACRA 5.7 is a gas and beats most of the legacy cats on the lake. Points well, good low-wind sailing and very easy to sail. With 2-trapeze wires it can be exciting as you can handle on big water, or just cruising.
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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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