ventnor_cat: You really need to check on that length limit as dogboy suggests.....most length numbers in boat names/models are nominal figures. Of all the cats specified above, only the Prindle 16 and Dart 16 are 16' or less LOA. No experience with Darts, but it sounds like a Prindle 16 would fit all of your criteria.
+1 on Joshua's advice to find other catsailors in your area as well. Even if you have to travel a little, it's by far the best way to learn and find the right boat.
Edited by rattlenhum on Mar 23, 2019 - 09:53 AM.
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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
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Looking to purchase my first Cat - Need Advice
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- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Aug 01, 2002
- Last visit: Sep 14, 2024
- Posts: 425
Posted: Mar 23, 2019 - 09:45 AM
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- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Feb 05, 2011
- Last visit: Jun 15, 2021
- Posts: 575
Posted: Mar 23, 2019 - 05:24 PM
A Super Cat 15 will meet the length requirement. It will sail two well enough, three will be crowded and performance will suffer. There is plenty of buoyancy in the hulls.
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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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Posted: Mar 23, 2019 - 09:53 PM
Not sure how flexible your budget is, but in my neck of the woods a Getaway will run at least 4K, and you need to have a little left over for the unforeseen things a used boat always needs, and beach wheels should probably be in your future as well. 3k will go pretty far in Hobie 16, Prindle 16 world. I think you’d like the Getaway, and really the only option if you plan on more than one passenger, but with your budget and size restrictions it will pay to be open minded. I love my Hobie 16 -
- Rank: Lubber
- Registered: Apr 23, 2017
- Last visit: Feb 19, 2021
- Posts: 64
Posted: Mar 24, 2019 - 07:13 PM
I own a nacra 5.2 almost the same size as a hobie 16 it cuts thru the water like butter and try as I might I can't pitch pole it but I have stuffed both bows and pops up like a cork. Pretty good with 2 people getting crowded with 3 .This is a cat with dagger boards so one more thing to pay attention to especially coming in to shore.I have sailed many hobie 16s at my club and this is the 1st cat I bought no regrets no trouble getting people to sail with me either this boat is alot of fun. -
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- Registered: Oct 20, 2011
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Posted: Mar 25, 2019 - 06:45 AM
Plus 1 on the comments above. Great support from Aquarius and a very fun boat for 1 or two. OK when you load up with 3, if the two are smallish. I sail regularly with two grandkids at under 100# each, and myself at 185.
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Supercat 15
Windrider 17
Several Sunfish and Sunfish clones
Ratboat built from Zuma and Sunfish parts
Shallow water sailor in the Delaware Bay
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