OT: Catamaran fun.....Total Newb.

[William]

Curious if any of the fine forum folk here have experience owning, sailing, and otherwise having fun with a catamaran?

What's the learning curve like?
Building your own?
Good makes?
Cost?
Etc..



Thanks!
William

[Smiley]

Prindle 16 for a over a decade
Prindle 19
Nacra 18

Big boats too !

I think there are good books on learning to sail Hobie cats , my memory serves me well there is one called Welcome to A fleet. Biggest fear is PITCH POLING a cat on a broad reach when your having some screaming fun. Contact me off line if you want to talk. I think with your size and weight you really need to THINK a boat like a 19 footer and stay away from any smaller 16 footer. Smiley

[L84dinr]

When I was 14, I learned to sail. Spent time sailing Lasers, and a Sol Cat. The Laser is a great boat from a beginner to a Professional. However the Sol Cat was BAD A$$. Flying the hull about 3-5 feet in the air, Ton of fun and exciting! but me being about 110 pounds back then, when it went over I had to wait to get some help to right the thing. I Went to a few regattas. But didn't no what in the world was going on, just had fun sailing with a bunch of other folks. I would like to get another Cat, owned a Catalina awhile back (about 2 years ago) but wasn't my cup o' tea so sold it.

I have been looking to get a Hobie 18... My children are all fairly good swimmers and love the water.

Catamarans are FUN!

[William]

Prindle 16 for a over a decade
Prindle 19
Nacra 18

Big boats too !

I think there are good books on learning to sail Hobie cats , my memory serves me well there is one called Welcome to A fleet. Biggest fear is PITCH POLING a cat on a broad reach when your having some screaming fun. Contact me off line if you want to talk. I think with your size and weight you really need to THINK a boat like a 19 footer and stay away from any smaller 16 footer. Smiley

Yes, my place on the Bell curve strikes again. :crap: :D

I'll look for the book. Seems like some good info here as well:

http://www.sailingproshop.com/catamaran_guide.aspx



William


PS: Related & pretty wild!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-PpU8MUbHE&mode=related&search=target=_blank

[Too Tall]

I've sailed a bunch of cats and compared to a single design race boat can't compare. Yes I'm very biased!!! I sailed a Laser for many many yrs. You can dump them all day long and it's fun trying to find new ways to do really stupid things. Single design boats are easy to come by used too.

Make a nutshell pram for the kiddos :) Kewl.

[Kevan]

too. A single hull is the starting point. I spent my yout on wee-rag boats: Dyer Dohws (excellent for tiny sailors and frost bite sailing), blue jays, lightenings, 470's (2 man kick-ash), lasers, on to larger craft.

Start small, learn the elements and navigation before biting off too much.

[znfdl]

William:

One of my fondest sailing memories was sailing a cat off of the coast of Gloucester, Ma. with some high school buddies, when a nor'easter was approaching. We were jumping 5 and 6 foot waves. Probably not the smartest thing that I ever did, but my friends in I were in high school.

[J.Greene]

I've sailed lasers, snipes, mc scows, and my favorite single was a thistle. But for fun in Florida a cat is the way to go. With water warm enough to play year round a mono is just not as much fun. I don't know how you cats sail cats in Gloucester, RI, or any place that freezes 1/2 of the year.

JG

[Too Tall]

too. A single hull is the starting point. I spent my yout on wee-rag boats: Dyer Dohws (excellent for tiny sailors and frost bite sailing), blue jays, lightenings, 470's (2 man kick-ash), lasers, on to larger craft.

Start small, learn the elements and navigation before biting off too much.


COOLNESS, Lightnings are soooo fine. Yeah there are a bunch of neat old designs that are a thrill a min.

[William]

I'm so confused!?!?!?! :confused:
http://www.dngoodchild.com/5613pic.jpg

http://www.morrellimelvin.com/sailboats/racing/art/A2-profile.jpg

http://indianapolissailing.org/images/laser_line_drawing.gif

All things being equal, I think I know which way I should go....

http://www.multihullsmag.com/store/Books/This%20is%20Cat%20Sailing.jpg

:D


William

[Kevan]

is a relatively old model class first built in the later 30's. The smaller and younger cousin, the blue jay, was later build in the late 40's. Both boats had their heyday in the northeast, particularly in Long Island Sound. Both boats were actually built by several builders in support of the classes. The models went from cedar ply hulls on to fiberglass. The lightening is a terrific boat though some think it's dated. This was a great learning boat as it had every adjustment in terms of lines a sailor could imagine.

The blue jay, I owed one for a short while, was a simpler, smaller rig, perfect for 2 people, kids mostly.

The cat has been around even longer if you include the outriggers from the pacific. Hobie made them famous. Fast and wet these boats are relatively easy to sail, except things happen fast. Real fast The boat barely draws any water so it is terrific for beaching. Capsize the boat and you'll be in for a treat uprighting it, especially under weathered conditions. Whatever you do...don't turnturtle!

I don't sail nearly as much now and now there are models out there I know little to nothing about. I miss it.

[William]

Why do I always gravitate to the more expensive sports??? :crap:

:D


Thanks Kevan! You sound like you know your stuff. What kind of shoes should Sandy wear for being in the water?

;)

Whatever you do...don't turnturtle!

Is that when the big pointy thing goes in the water?



William



William

[bluesea]

I raced Hobie Miracle 20s off and on.

For bigboy singlehanded sailing, check out the old (although not-so-old) Hobie 17. They came with mesh-covered tubular wings attached to each hull, and no jib, just a mainsail. I seem to recall a single trapeze setup, but you can forgo the trap.

[William]

I raced Hobie Miracle 20s off and on.

For bigboy singlehanded sailing, check out the old (although not-so-old) Hobie 17. They came with mesh-covered tubular wings attached to each hull, and no jib, just a mainsail. I seem to recall a single trapeze setup, but you can forgo the trap.

http://www.hitempo.com/hitemposail/images/hobie_17S.jpg



William

[bluesea]

http://www.hitempo.com/hitemposail/images/hobie_17S.jpg



William

Yowza. The main downside to beach cats is if you can't leave it on the beach. Then it has to be trailered, rigged and unrigged every trip to the water. That's why I quit scuba within a couple of years. Too much equipment.

[keno]

I'm beginning to wonder if you have a trust fund. Did you bring enough for everyone?

keno

[William]

I'm beginning to wonder if you have a trust fund. Did you bring enough for everyone?

keno


More like wishful thinking. I was looking into doing something that my kids and I could learn together, have fun, and take advantage of living in the "Ocean State".




William