First beachcat for solo sailing.

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sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

Last visit: Dec 07, 2022

Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 12:32 AM

MN3Meh

What does 'meh' mean?
sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

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Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 12:34 AM

tominpaI would not touch a H14, or for that matter an H16 as an adult or especially large adult. Lots of better choices.

I am 150lb.

So...What are the better choices?
tominpa

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 29, 2015

Last visit: Apr 24, 2024

Posts: 578
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 01:32 PM

The 14 is most suitable to youth and small sailors, and at 150 lbs you qualify. Any catamaran with taller hulls is going to be more stable, especially downwind, but on all points of sail and in rougher water. I don't find a H-16 to be particularly easy to upright without help or a water bag. I'm too large for a H-14 and that is part of my prejudice, but it's way to easy to bury a hull on those boats, and it's all over when you do.

Better choices? There are a lot of Prindle 16 cats around that are inexpensive, amazingly light, easy to move around on the beach and more stable and faster on the water. Nacra 5.0 is a light, fast skeg hull that will grow with your skills.

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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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dssaak

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 18, 2005

Last visit: Apr 19, 2024

Posts: 236
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 02:51 PM

Better choice ... F16 of whatever manufacturer you can get your hands on. Yes it has boards but they are very light and easy to handle. Don't confuse them with Nacra 6.0 or H18 boards. You can rig it like a H14 without jib, without spinnaker and it is lighter, easier to move around. Even main only, it will out sail a lot of the boats discussed. Best part is you'll never have to buy a new boat as it will grow with you as you gain more experience.

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dk

Blade F-16
Hobie 14
Corsair F-242
Mirage 25 (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
TomCat 6.2 (Sold)
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sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

Last visit: Dec 07, 2022

Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 02:53 PM

MN3Nothing wrong starting and learning on 90's sail plan - esp if you have basic sailing skills to start with

I don't know if I have the basic skills yet. Maybe I'll get there on my Sunfish.
sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

Last visit: Dec 07, 2022

Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 02:59 PM

dssaakThere isn't a whole lot of bouancy in those H14 hulls.

I have beenn watching some videos and started to understand what you mean with that. Maybe, I shouldn't be obsessed with the H14.

Edited by sun on Dec 07, 2022 - 03:08 PM.
sun

Rank: Lubber

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Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:06 PM

tominpaThere are a lot of Prindle 16 cats around that are inexpensive, amazingly light, easy to move around on the beach and more stable and faster on the water. Nacra 5.0 is a light, fast skeg hull that will grow with your skills.

I have been hearing about Prindle 16 a lot. I will get into that. Nacra 5.0, I will have to check it out.
sun

Rank: Lubber

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Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:13 PM

dssaakBetter choice ... F16 of whatever manufacturer you can get your hands on. Yes it has boards but they are very light and easy to handle. Don't confuse them with Nacra 6.0 or H18 boards. You can rig it like a H14 without jib, without spinnaker and it is lighter, easier to move around. Even main only, it will out sail a lot of the boats discussed. Best part is you'll never have to buy a new boat as it will grow with you as you gain more experience.

You mean that one that Nacra has? The semifoiling one? I don't think I can handle that anytime soon.
dssaak

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 18, 2005

Last visit: Apr 19, 2024

Posts: 236
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:14 PM

I have owned mine for 35 years. Basically, I am keeping it for the grandkids. The only time I take it out to sail is if it is blowing 20-30 mph.

I sold my F18 Tiger because the F16 not only is a great solo boat, we found that 2 up performance doesn't drop off much even without the jib.

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dk

Blade F-16
Hobie 14
Corsair F-242
Mirage 25 (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
TomCat 6.2 (Sold)
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sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

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Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:17 PM

dssaakI have owned mine for 35 years. Basically, I am keeping it for the grandkids. The only time I take it out to sail is if it is blowing 20-30 mph.

I sold my F18 Tiger because the F16 not only is a great solo boat, we found that 2 up performance doesn't drop off much even without the jib.

https://falconmarineusa.com/racing-sailboats/
?
sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

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Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:37 PM

Well, thanks for all the help. Eventually, these are the cats, and I'll have to pick one. I really want to rent a Wave and see how it feels before any decision. Seems like in windy conditions, Wave is not bad at all. I can add a jib on a used one.
dssaak

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 18, 2005

Last visit: Apr 19, 2024

Posts: 236
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:37 PM

Yes, the Falcon is the next generation to my Blade. There is also the Viper (https://www.goodalldesign.com.au › pages › viper). Nacra makes an F16 as well.

We now have three F16s at my club and are hoping to build a larger fleet.

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dk

Blade F-16
Hobie 14
Corsair F-242
Mirage 25 (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
TomCat 6.2 (Sold)
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sun

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Nov 23, 2022

Last visit: Dec 07, 2022

Posts: 33
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:42 PM

dssaakYes, the Falcon is the next generation to my Blade. There is also the Viper (https://www.goodalldesign.com.au › pages › viper). Nacra makes an F16 as well.

We now have three F16s at my club and are hoping to build a larger fleet.

So, F16 is the class, and there are multiple manufacturers building for that.
dssaak

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 18, 2005

Last visit: Apr 19, 2024

Posts: 236
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:53 PM

Correct.

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dk

Blade F-16
Hobie 14
Corsair F-242
Mirage 25 (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
TomCat 6.2 (Sold)
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danielt1263

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Registered: May 21, 2013

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Posts: 99
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 03:55 PM

sunSo, F16 is the class, and there are multiple manufacturers building for that.

That's right. The Taipan was one of the early representatives of the class as well. That's the boat I owned. It's a high performance boat, so the SA/D ratio is quite high, even with just the main.

The SA/D of a Taipan is 49.1, Topaz 14CX is 29.2, RS Cat 14 XL is 27.8, and Wave is 31.8 (these calculations are with Main only and include a single 150# crew.)
dssaak

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 18, 2005

Last visit: Apr 19, 2024

Posts: 236
Posted: Dec 07, 2022 - 06:37 PM

This thread has gotten to long to re-read. If they haven't been mentioned, there are two boat criterial that are very near the top of my list. Buy a boat you don't have to repair; free boats are never cheap. Find out what they are sailing where you will do most of your sailing. Having the fastest boat it isn't much fun when you are waiting for everyone else all the time. It is really no fun being the slow boat in the pack and everyone has to wait for you. That is the main reason why the Tiger became my main boat over the Hobie 14 initially.

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dk

Blade F-16
Hobie 14
Corsair F-242
Mirage 25 (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
Hobie Tiger (Sold)
TomCat 6.2 (Sold)
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