[quote=gordonjs]FWIW, I just got my first cat (sailed hobies a few times in the past, like yourself) about 3 months ago, a Nacra 5.0 (without daggerboards) and LOVE IT. It's in your price range, and I believe very similar to a 5.2 just without the boards.
To me, the slight gain I would get from the boards are easily outweighed by the negatives. From what I've gathered, slightly easier tacking, a little better upwind angle, and maybe a tad more speed are the only real advantages.
The disadvantages seem to be the chance of breaking them, and just one more thing for a beginning sailor to fiddle with.
Now, for me as a lake sailor, the first disadvantage is a very real one, less so for you I guess being down south. However, why have another thing to have to mess with? That just makes it less enjoyable in my opinion. The 5.0 is more of a boat than either one of us are sailors, I would imagine. [/quote]
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