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[quote=azcat]In the early '80's I owned a Hobie 16, had a lot of fun on that boat. Easy to sail, Stuffed the bows a hundred times. sold it in the late 80's and three years ago found a "free" Sol 18. I fell in love at first sight, ree-built her and went sailing for two years until i had an opportunity to get a Nacra 5.7. 
I re-built the SolCat from the ground up. 
A little tip. 
Dont buy a tramp from Salty Dog Marine. The thing has lasted three years and is now falling apart.
I bought a Hobie 18 Main and it worked perfectly. stay away from equipment used in salt water. 
Murrays, Beachcats, catsailor, mast bearings from "timgoes" on ebay, and ebay, provided the rest of what I needed to make her a very cool boat.
I mmounted a gps to the front beam and recorded 24.3 mph while sailing 2 up in a winds I clocked at 25 to 32 mph. Now, Im not saying that I actually went that fast, I had just left shore less than a minute before and wasn't watching the gps, but when I looked at it, it gave top speed as 24.3mph. I have had it up to 18-20 mph many times with the lee bow just dipping below the surface while crew and I were being pummelled in the face by three foot waves. We were laughing our asses off and crapping our shorts at the same time. AWSOME!!! 
the sol is a great boat but it has been getting some hard sailing, ie high winds latley and the bridle connection on the port bow are failing. Hopefully we fixed it with epoxy. Make sure you check the top of the hulls in front of the main beam for soft spots and separation at the bridle attachments. 
I set the trailer up with a winch and a block at the top of the mast cradle for raising the mast single handed, it works like a champ. Trap wires are attached to the Jib blocks for side to side support. 
I have righted the Sol 18 many times single handed with a rope and a righting bag. I am 5'10"- 180lb. Most of the time I single handed. 
Before I got her, my boat sat in a guys back yard under a tree for 20 years so she still had some shine left. I hit her w/ some 1500 grit wet paper and wax and when I pulled up to the club's , it was like pulling up in a mint 57 Chev. Then I would go out and stand her up on one hull for a while.
Very cool boat!
That being said, there is no such thing as a free or even cheap boat.
My 5.7 Nacra cost $1500 and I have less than $2000 in her for ten times the boat.
That's pretty close to what I had in the Sol whenit was all said and done.
Good luck and steady winds.
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