I recently traded my keel boat for a 1984 5.0 in great shape for the age and all of the original paperwork (even the salacious NACRA brochure by 2018 standards). I was doing research to see if there was any info on standard mods for these boats to improve them. Much like Hobies and rudders, or G-cat mast rotator. I could not find anything or even a following for these boats. Any helping hands?
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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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NACRA 5.0 - Performance mods?
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Posted: Dec 20, 2018 - 10:41 AM
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Posted: Dec 20, 2018 - 07:44 PM
If the hulls don't leak, lines, sails & tramp are good, there is not much to do. They are a well thought out platform, built with quality parts.
Put up an album, under Personal.
Those boats are tough, & fast, though the 5.0 is a bit undercanvassed vs the 5.7, it really shines when the wind gets up to 20. You have lots of flotation, no problem for 2 adults on the wire.
it should have all Harken blocks. Make sure you have a preventer from the end of the front beam, up to an eye on the mast,(usually around 2' up), then down to the far end of the front beam. 5/16" bungee works well.
Check your hulls for leaks, those skeg hulls are a bear to lift high enough to drain, unless you are working off a steep beach.
Make sure the mast is sealed, add a bit of sealant to every rivet on that mast, the top fork, the hound, & all bits lower down.
If you solo a lot, roller furling is the best thing you can add, go with the Harken Hi Load system. I have an album here under Technical.
I'm not sure which traveller you have, my '84 5.7 had a Harken car on the track. Squirt a bit of soap into the car, & roll it back & forth, then flush with hose. BE VERY CAREFUL if you elect to remove the car from the track. Those years do not have captive bearings, & they WILL go everywhere when you pull the car off if you don't have a loader, ( short piece of plastic track you slide the car onto)
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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: Dec 21, 2018 - 08:59 AM
Thanks Ed.
I do have a preventer on it already. I have a friend with an H18 furler he was going to send to me. A furling jib just makes life easy. I will definitely check out the traveler with soap. I don't foresee taking it apart.
I did notice that my traveler and mainsheet are not one continuous line. I have had it both ways on a cat. Which is better?
I will be mounting a trolling motor to my rear beam too. My club has a beach into a mud slick and is always covered in logs. We have a jetty that is 1/4 mile long and is not cat friendly. I plan to have it tilt under the tramp to keep clear of the tiller and use a small battery just to assist in the final turn out which is usually dead upwind.
See for yourself
https://www.google.com/ma…3d30.581608!4d-88.071474
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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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Posted: Dec 21, 2018 - 04:17 PM
It's a beach cat. Launch it on the beach, on the SW corner of the property. Trolling motor/battery is inviting many other problems.
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Philip
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Posted: Dec 21, 2018 - 06:13 PM
Jib blocks attached to the hulls are not ideal, if you bring them inwards the cat will point a bit higher, you can tie a line side to side with loop knots to attach the blocks, for instance one pair near the foot strap and another a bit closer to the hulls
Edited by Andinista on Dec 21, 2018 - 06:14 PM. -
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Posted: Dec 21, 2018 - 11:46 PM
Doesn’t make any difference, I use 2 lines, the traveler is a different colour, easier to see when solo. Just tie the 2 ends together. I wouldn’t buy a new main sheet just to have it continuous.
The H18 furler is a heavy bit of kit, & overkill, the Harken is better for a 5 meter boat.
Looking at the map, I see 2 cats, one in the trees. It looks like the only place to put in is just to the left of where the logs are piled into the corner. Is the water deep enough there, or are you in quicksand?
Personally I would not have a battery trolling motor on either the 5.0 or 5.7.
It’s hard to secure anything bigger than a lawn tractor battery anywhere.
Is the wind light & water smooth?
When you start flogging that cat in 20mph you will bury the bows, right up to the front beam. You really have to be ham fisted, or push it to pitchpole, but it is not uncommon to have green water coming over the deck in a good blow. Anything tucked under the tramp is going be detrimental.
Unless you are very conservative, you will eventually flip it. As you know once on it’s side, it’s over center. Battery & motor will mean 30+ lbs extra trying to turtle. By itself the boat will float at appx the mast hound, the extra weight might mean you need a mast float. All of these will mean more effort to right. It’s a sturdy mast, I can only right either cat unaided if the wind is at 20+. Otherwise I need a bag.
Forget about rigging something to move the job blocks, the tiny gain is not worth cluttering the tramp. My 5.7 (‘84), has tracks to slide jib blocks fore/aft, the 5.0 ,(‘88), is a single point.
You will appreciate the no boom no boards & uncluttered tramp design, but I would try anything, including moving logs, (maybe some poles to slide across on), to avoid mounting a motor.
Edited by Edchris177 on Dec 21, 2018 - 11:49 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: Dec 22, 2018 - 12:06 PM
A wooden paddle will go a long way to moving a cat in light conditions if that is the concern.
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dk
Blade F-16
Hobie 14
Corsair F-242
Mirage 25 (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
TomCat 6.2 (Sold)
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Posted: Dec 23, 2018 - 10:04 AM
Hi Robert,
There are a number of folks on here (me included, 1983 model) with 5.0s that have posted many tips, tricks and projects. Look around a bit with the search in both the forums and photo galleries. If you don't find what you need, just ask there's help a plenty here.
As far as groups dedicated to the boat, here is the closest thing I've found. These folks really know the boat, have many, many of them and just like here are willing to help.
https://www.facebook.com/…267683321/?ref=bookmarks
As far as parts, you can shop ebay for used, Murrays carries a few things, and here is a source for any part and/or an entire new boat:
http://www.nacra.com.au/
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Hobie 16 (3 formerly)
MacGregor 25 (formerly)
Chrysler Dagger 14 (formerly)
NACRA 5.0 (currently)
High Point, NC
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Posted: Dec 24, 2018 - 10:26 AM
Thanks for the responses. The "beach" at my club is either ok to launch or if the tide is low a mud flat for 100ft. I have anchored an H-18 out in the mud and waited for the tide to come back in. The others cats at my club are junk that showed up and are unused.
I hear you about the weight. The trolling motor is about 16lbs. The battery is from my kids power wheels and is 11lbs. I plan to do something similar to the following:
https://www.hobie.com/for…f1c7g0LXXwlSnXARwLKmcEF4
I will also mount a righting pole to the board near the mast step. None of this will be permanent or require drilling. I have had good luck with my previous righting poles. Our bay is only 10ft deep so no turtleling. Just really muddy sails. I will post my findings.
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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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Posted: Dec 24, 2018 - 11:36 PM
Do you have the 2 Nacra assembly manuals here, in the tech section?
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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: Dec 24, 2018 - 11:37 PM
Do you have the 2 Nacra assembly manuals here, in the tech section?
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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: Dec 31, 2018 - 03:42 PM
I finally got around to fabricating the mount and righting pole. I still have a few details to finish but you feast your eyes. https://www.thebeachcats.…ictures?g2_itemId=130664
I have not loaded any of my docs. All of mine are brochures.
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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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Posted: Jan 01, 2019 - 09:46 PM
I have not loaded any of my docs. All of mine are brochures.[/quote]
Ha ha, I see how my post could be construed as a question going either way.
I have the manuals, & Damon has them posted here. I was wondering if you had downloaded them for YOUR use.
They are old, but there is quite a bit of good information if you don’t have previous experience with the legacy Nacra boats.
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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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