BoatBanter.com - Help w/1st Cat purchase

Go to all the local yacht club's within 25 miles of your area and find
out who's actively sailing the catamarans where the local regatta's are
and what classes of cats (or other boats)are raced. Focus on their
bulliten boards and talk to all the staff members you see. Local
marina's might be helpful too. Find the local sailing associations and
determine what class of boats are commonly used. You don't want to end
up buying a boat that no one in your area sails if you really want to
use sailing as a way to join in fun group sailing events. You might
even discover no one is racing catamarans, and if the desire to be
social is driving the desire to join, you might do better getting the
same type of boat that's used in these events. It really is a lot of
fun to participate in a series of races; so keep an open mind, be
flexible, and compromise. If the venue is close & handy you'll find it
so much easier to participate; most every weekend is a big commitment.

So you do that and discover there is a choice of 2-3 different classes
of boat that interest you. Find where they're sold & ask for demo
rides. Chat someone up at the regatta and ask for a ride, or crew for
someone. Sometimes the best boats are OPB's: other peoples boats.
But that might mean one gets a ride and the spouse waits on shore; very
boring & reason to get your own boat. Then you've got a skipper and a
crew; hopefully, no mutiny!

Investigate purchase price new and resale value used. Certainly the
one that holds it's resale value is the better choice. If that class
of boat has been raced for 20 years, chances are it will continue to be
raced--but ask around; don't want it if they're about to start racing a
new design. Then there will always be a ready market to sell to. As
this is all so new to you, I would encourage you to buy a decent used
boat, and probably a new sail. Fiberglass lives forever as long as it
doesn't leak or hasn't been improperly repaired after some collision.
So have someone knowledgeable really look it over for you.

I live in New England and always look forward to putting away my big
boat and "frostbiting" in the fall and spring. It really is a lot of
fun and a great way to get to know people in your area. In your boat
on summer weekends it's just you and your company, but during these
club events it's a lot of fun rigging up beforehand and partying
afterwards. Have fun and Good Luck!

wrote:
Hello, I am just getting into sailing and would like to purchase my
first Cat. My wife & I would like something that we could use for
social week end sailing & eventually for regattas. I am a little
confused about all the different kinds of Cats available &
features.......I think I have narrowed it down to a few but would
appreciate some advice from experienced sailors before I buy. I have
been reading about the Hobie 16, Getaway, Wave...the Narca models &
the G-Cat's. What are the pro's & con's of each? which company & model
has the best rep for quality? Is most of the sailing at the beach or
is there any sailing done on local lakes around here? Is there any
place around the Tampa Bay area that We could rent any of these Cats
to try out before we buy? I live in Tampa Bay so I would be sailing
around this area mostly. Sorry about all the "newbie" questions, any
help would be greatly appreciated. thanks ArchAngel