Greetings, i sold my last catamaran about 8 or 9 years ago when my son was born, since newborns don't do well on catamarans... I now have a 4, 6, and 8 year old and I think my oldest is ready for sailing. I have previously owned 3 different 18 ft sol cat catamarans which I have loved very much and have become quite experienced with . I am now looking at getting something a bit newer. I came across a Nacra 5.7 for a good deal "ready to sail" for $1200. I think it is a good size for my family, but am concerned with a couple things:
1) I have read that without dagger boards the boat can be hard/impossible to right by myself. I am only 5'9" and 175lbs. Would I be able to right this by myself (possibly with an 8 year old bobbing around in the water at the same time?) I don't imagine I would be sailing in conditions where I would flip it over with my son on board, but weather conditions can change pretty quick...
2)I may be sailing this by myself occasionally. The boat ramp at our preferred lake requires crossing a street with power lines between the parking area and the ramp, so mast stepping while on the trailer would be impossible. There is a sandy beach next to the ramp I could use to rig the boat and step the mast. Could the be done with one person while off the trailer? I was able to manage the 28 ft mast on the sol cat. I understand the mast stepping is a bit more complicated on the 5.7.
Should I look for something else? I was considering a hobie 17 but I know it is more limited for crew weight.
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70's 18' Sol Cat "Venora"
70's 18' Sol Cat "Bumblebee"
60's 14' Sailstar Tallstar sloop "Arandora"
Heber City, UT
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Nacra 5.7 purchase?
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Posted: Jun 30, 2023 - 06:26 AM
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Posted: Jun 30, 2023 - 10:27 AM
With or without boards and at 175 lbs., don't count on being able to right an 18 ft catamaran by yourself. However, there are devices.
All the Nacras I'm familiar with require the mast be turned 90 degrees when raising and lowering. This is problematic with diamond wires; you will need something to hold the mast up a few feet before you even start because if not the spreaders and/or wires would be against the tramp. I don't believe the Sol 18 had diamond wires.
Stepping the mast while the boat is off the trailer might involve some stability issues but what I think is more important is the added time to set up. I'm talking about reconnecting all those wires.
Have you considered a boat with a front tramp? With an 8 year old, you could put him on the front, out of the way while you familiarize yourself with sailing the boat until he's ready to start learning. I've owned a few G-Cats and I feel qualified to discuss the pros and cons of front tramps and I might as well mention the Hobie Getaway has a front tramp and used ones frequently come available.
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Bill Townsend
G-Cat 5.0
Sarasota
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Posted: Jun 30, 2023 - 01:33 PM
I used to rig exclusively on a beach with my G-cat, H18, & N5.0. I would launch with the mast lashed so it doesn't bounce in waves and swim it to the beach. Pointing the bows down hill helps the mast stay put when you are getting the forestay ready. Be prepared for dropping a forestay pin into surf :(
All three kids could help hold the mast head while you land the base. I would sometimes skip the mast base pin and just stick it on the ball and hand over hand walk it up from the ground and step onto the tramp.
I sail my N5.2 with my 8 & 6 year old daughters and now use a gin pole.
Weather apps are good these days and you can always leave the jib behind if conditions may be dicey. When kids are onboard I don't push the envelope and have never come close to capsizing. Without the kids...I broke a rib once.
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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: Jun 30, 2023 - 07:56 PM
I use the "big-bag" righting system that allows me to right my 5.7 solo. I weigh more than you and was never able to right the boat alone until I got this system. A righting pole is another option. This is what I use, and it is 100% reliable. Just tell the kids to hang on and stay out of the way of the descending hull. The bag has pulleys to give you a big advantage to lift up to 250 lbs of water ballast over your shoulder to upright, and acts as a drogue to keep the boat from running away once upright. https://www.murrays.com/p…33ef1166c21e55526efc8801
Edited by tominpa on Jun 30, 2023 - 09:00 PM.
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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Posted: Jul 02, 2023 - 08:49 AM
Thanks for the replies. I would love a boat with a forward tramp and often considered adding one to my sol cat. My wife won't let me spend the $4k+ on a getaway... Especially not knowing if my kids will even like it. I think I am leaning towards the hobie 17, which lo can get for under $1000 and looks a bit simpler to rig, and the wing seats would be very nice to have, also retractable centerboards are a plus (I once shipwrecked my sol cat in the middle of a busy harbor by ripping a large gash in the centerboard casing after hitting a rock). I can take the kids out one at a time and if they like it I will upgrade to an 18, or something with a forward tramp.
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70's 18' Sol Cat "Venora"
70's 18' Sol Cat "Bumblebee"
60's 14' Sailstar Tallstar sloop "Arandora"
Heber City, UT
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Posted: Jul 03, 2023 - 02:36 PM
Look in the for sale ads here as there is an 18 Magnum for sale in CO I believe it's listed for 1,450.00 -
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Posted: Jul 05, 2023 - 05:17 PM
Very glad you are considering getting back out. I took a 10 year hiatus with my kids. The 5.7 is a great boat. I would go for the larger hulls to sail with the family. I understand you don't intend to capsize (yet) with the kids on board, but..... I do not think it will be easy/possible with your weight to right it. There are several systems out there that tend to work. I would say go for the boat that appeals to you and figure out the rest then. Being a board or boardless boat will not really dictate how easily it will be to right. Having the masthead sealed will be a bigger factor.
You can easily step the mast solo with a bit of forethought and ingenuity. I step my modified P18-2 and Tornado mast by myself. Take a set of trap lines and connect them to the front beam. Add an eye bolt or use soft shackles or such. This will stabilize the mast side to side. Use a winch on the trailer to raise the mast. I use a 6' ladder to hold up the tip while on the trailer and a block and tackle. If I'm rigging the Tornado by myself, I will move the beach wheels forward to the bridle and use the axle as a pivot point to raise the mast.
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Scott
Prindle Fleet 2
TCDYC
Prindle 18-2 Mod "FrankenKitty"
Tornado Classic "Fast Furniture"
Prindle 19 "Mr. Wiggly"
Nacra 5.8 "De ja vu"
Nacra 5.0
Nacra 5.8
Tornadoes (Reg White)
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