Dart 20
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Posted: Nov 27, 2016 - 06:57 PM
Always been on a quest for a 20 foot cat that is not a total over powered rocket. I mostly adventure cruise stayed away from Nacra 6's and Prindle 19s. Saw a Dart 20 for sale. Weight seems reasonable to handle on the beach. The skeg hulls seem similar to a N5.7, do those make it difficult to push on the beach? Board less and Boomless which I like. Have not found much about them which I'm guessing means spare parts are an issue. There is a dart 18 on my beach that seems well built, I guess I can assume the same about the 20? Any feedback from some that owns or use to own or sailed one would be awesome -
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Posted: Nov 27, 2016 - 10:45 PM
There are lots of Dart 18s around- I know a guy who owns four of them (don't tell his wife!)
The Dart 20 is rare in North America, so yes, parts will be an issue.
Tag Dartman here in thebeachcats.com, he knows of some Darts.
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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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Posted: Nov 28, 2016 - 08:56 AM
A lot of the Dart 20 parts are identical to the D18's.
There's an old thread on TBC here http://www.thebeachcats.c…ms/viewtopic/topic/13725
At our cat club, we consider the dart rudder-system the best
system ever made for a beach cat, simple and sturdy.
Replacing them can be very costly, so have a good look at them.
The beams slide into the hulls, make sure the beam system works
well and all the springs and clips are in good shape.
Cat must be dismantled in order to place or take of the tramp.
Handling a D20 solo on the beach is easy, just make sure the
cat-track has the matching V-shaped hull-supports, otherwise
you'll be all over the place.
I have an original Dart 18 set up manual, I'm told its similar to
the D20 manual. Tried to upload it onto the tech-section, but it
didn't work.
So, if you pm me I can send it to You.
Grtz, André
Edited by catmodding on Nov 28, 2016 - 04:14 PM.
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Nov 28, 2016 - 09:10 AM
Just another tip, the original name is "Dart 20 Stampede", might be
helpfull when you search the web
.
A
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Nov 28, 2016 - 09:20 AM
Damon once told me it was tricky to post a multi page PDF file. I sent it to him, & he set it up.
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Hobie 18 Magnum
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Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
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Posted: Nov 28, 2016 - 09:37 PM
I recently acquired a Dart 20 sail #431 , I think it's a 1980. I found it on the hood canal in the PNW. It has a shop sticker for Mulder catamarans in the Nederlands which seems to still be in business according to their website (language barrier). I've found lots of information with a Google search including the manual. Check out the "Dart family statement ". Try searching variations of : panthercraft (the builder) dart20 stampede katamaran, also search dart 18 because they share so much . There's a YouTube called "dart 18 set up" that shows a lot . There are parts available in England ,bnrwatersports.com. it seems to be almost identical to the 18 except 2' longer.
The simplicity of the design of this boat is amazing. It can be assembled without any tools and I found the tramp can be removed without dismantling the boat. I haven't sailed it yet, it's in the shop for minor hull repair and paint, then new tramp and rigging, luckily the sails are in good condition. My computer skills are lacking so I'm unable to post photos or links but if you can't find the sites on your own, I'll try to get it together.
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Dart 20
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Posted: Nov 28, 2016 - 10:46 PM
You asked about pushing around a skeg hull on the beach. I have had a NACRA 5.7 forever, and the skeg hulls can be dragged around, but this will eventually cause enough loss of material that they need repaired. A set of Cat Trax prevents this damage and makes life so much easier. The skeg is your centerboard, and it digs in like an anchor. DAMHIK
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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Posted: Nov 29, 2016 - 08:48 AM
i have sailed dart 18 and 20's - all things stated above are true and on point
great boats for big air (originally made for sailing in the north sea)
DOGS in light air - stock jibs are basically handkerchiefs -
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Posted: Nov 29, 2016 - 10:55 AM
Scott, for the links, click on the little box just below where you type your post, the one that says URL. That will open a set of brackets in your message. Copy the link from the address bar, then place your cursor inside the two sets of brackets, then paste the link.
It will now be live. It will show up in blue on these pages, & others can just click the link to open it.
True, for all sizes of Dart. There is an 18 around the point from me, & the N5.7 walks,(runs) away in light air. The Dart 18 mast is 2' shorter, & the jib is practically nothing. The smaller Dart 15, (previously known as a Spark) also sports a tiny jib.
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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: Nov 29, 2016 - 03:22 PM
Scott, sent you a PM (Private Message)
If you would like to share the manuals and links but can't get it posted in the forums please email them to me at.
damon@ (domain name for this site) and I'll get them archived in the Beachcats Identification section and posted here.
Thanks
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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN
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Posted: Nov 29, 2016 - 04:53 PM
Oh noes , wanted a new cat and got a dog!
Damon, Thanks for the help I sent you a email with the pdf dart 20 manual , hope it works.
The 2 jibs that came with my dart 20 are more like diapers than handkerchiefs but we'll see when I get the boat together.
Perhaps a spin pole with something larger is in my future.
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Dart 20
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Posted: Nov 29, 2016 - 04:55 PM
I believe the Stampede i sailed had a sprit and f18 spin on it at one time - bet it was a hoot in a blast -
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Posted: Nov 29, 2016 - 08:24 PM
I've uploaded the Dart 20 Manual you sent, there is also a manual for the 16 and 18 in the Dart Catamaran folder in Beachcats Identification.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…/pictures?g2_itemId=3477
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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN
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Posted: Nov 29, 2016 - 10:21 PM
Scott sent me a PDF that is basically the history of Dart Catamarans, I've added it to the Dart album in a History folder.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…/pictures?g2_itemId=3477
The history and troubles of the Dart class mirror many other beach catamaran classes that were introduced in the 60's and 70's. If you aren't aware that there have been a lot more brands than Hobie and Nacra, take a look at the Beachcat Identification album. I try to collect information on all the "extinct" brands, so if anyone has this kind of info please send it my way.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…res&type=&g2_itemId=3120
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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN
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Posted: Nov 30, 2016 - 09:21 AM
Mulder catamarans is the Dart specialist in the Netherlands,
https://bnrwatersport.com is also located in the
Netherlands, not in England.
They have a large stock of second hand parts and catamarans,
not only Dart.
Oops,sorry, didn't know that. When I see the Dart 18 guys dismantling
their cats, they always slide one hull of the beams and then take of
the tramp. Last month I helped a guy doing it this way.
I assumed it was the way to go.
Grtz A
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Nov 30, 2016 - 07:32 PM
I have a Dart 20 Stampede. In lighter air with me @200lbs and 250lbs of others we were about even with a Hobie 16 with one guy @ 170 lbs. In medium to heavy air it takes off. Mine has a bigger jib. A p/o put a small crossbar on the bows and rigged it to so the forestay is longer and the bridal is lower. I also have a square top main. I sail in Tampa and Sarasota bays so the lack of dagger/center boards is very nice with all the shallow areas and sea weed. I do solo it in up to medium air and its is very easy to do from the harness. The boat tracks well with little input from the helm. Moving it in the sand is best done with Cat Tracks, but dragging it on the beach from the water is no problem for one person. Just drag and lift at the same time. Don't leave it on the beach with the main attached to the sheet or it will take off on its own. I have had no problems getting parts from windsport.co.uk. It uses most of the same hardware that the 18 uses. Another plus is that is is not a cored hull, so no delamination and easier repairs. If you think about it the Hobie Wave has a very similar design and is assembled and disassembled the same way. The Wave has a much smaller SA ratio though. Good luck! -
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Posted: Nov 30, 2016 - 08:15 PM
How is that accomplished? Are the hulls pulled in against the beams by tightening the tramp? No bolts?
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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN
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Posted: Nov 30, 2016 - 09:13 PM
The Dart trampoline is part of the boat structure, much like a monocoque race car structure. As such, the trampoline must be properly attached and tightened to keep both hulls butted up against the 4 stops which are attached to the crossbeams. No doubt this was designed for the European market due to the limited storage spaces which required the catamaran to be taken apart as easily as possible!!! -
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Posted: Dec 01, 2016 - 03:02 AM
Yes the tramp but more so the rig tension pulls the hulls together with the bridle putting the most force on pulling the hulls together. The forward beam has a massive 6" cross section and the tramp feeds into the leading edge (no dolphin striker) and the trailing edge of the aft beam. That puts a binding (stiffening) tension against the hulls. Doing the lift one bow test on my newly acquired d 20, without the rig up and with a rotten trampoline, it was stiffer than my nacra 5.2.
I understand from those here who are more experienced that the boat is underpowered but,
I'm intrigued with this boat, its clean simplicity, sort of a blank canvas. How can I power it up to fit my venue (salish sea)
A fun project.
My newly acquired 1980 d20 was purchased there, someone loved this boat enough to ship it to the PNW with its trailer . I bought it from someone who had no clue of what it was, or what to do with it. I can't wait to get it wet.
Good to hear they're still in business, seems selling cats is more profitable than making them .
If you're going to break it all the way down anyway, that would be the easiest way. There's a feeder slot in the center of the forward beam that allows you to pull the bolt rope (?)out without separating the hulls.
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Dart 20
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Posted: Dec 01, 2016 - 07:31 AM
Correct. They utilize a clip/spring. You slide one end of the beam into the hull til it hits the retaining clip. When the other hull is slid onto the beam, the spring will pop the clip into place when beam is fully seated. If you look closely at the photo in your Dart 15 album, you can see the clip at the rear beam.
I agree. The Dart 15 assembly manual, ( I added it to Damons Dart 15 page), Page 1 talks about removing Cat from car roof.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures?g2_itemId=126206
Page 4 of the manual explains how to assemble the frame via the springs/clips
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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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