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Help w/1st Cat purchase
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 |
#2
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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 |
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