They still make Aqua Cats?

~~ Yer kiddin, right ??? 😆 Well I guess nuttin like havin a piece of "Glorfied Lawn Furniture" on the water. Does it have Beer holders??? 😀

Wow, what an odd little boat. I like the spars instead of shrouds and the cute little mast float. It all looks very 70s.

i saw 1 recently advertised in nz as newish

exactly the same look but with a slightly different name...

wonder if the chinese have picked up on them:-D

IF there is a market for the Hobie Bravo, why not these? They built over 30,000 counting all the different models, (Cats,daysailors,dinks)yes that's thirty with three zeros at the end. They still make a 12.5' & a 14' Cat model.
We shouldn't be to snobbish, what with our Hobies & Nacras. I think these would be a great little boat for kids to learn on & camps & resorts. Plus they are good for the economy, made by a respectable company right in the USA, Charleston SC.
H.e.l.l., if there were to be one on the beach at a resort I would certainly take it for a spin, & hopefully it DOES have beer holders!8-) (though probably not the nice gimbaled versions like on Andrews boat)

http://www.americansail.com/

edited by: Edchris177, Jun 29, 2010 - 09:48 AM

Don't get me wrong, I'm actually thrilled that the Aqua Cat still exists, scoff at it all we want, but it's great for the sport to have an entry level cat. I wish they were sold in the sporting goods department of Walmart.

Seriously, one of the first boats I ever sailed was a Styrofoam hulled dinghy they sold in Sears sporting goods, can't remember what they were called, started with an S I think.

Also the Aqua Cat 14 turns out to be the solution for the "Cat for Big Boys" thread. Carrying capacity of 1,000 pounds for a boat weight of 230 lbs!

"The small keels have replaced the daggerboards used on the smaller Aqua Cat and allow for easy beaching thru the surf. Designed for ocean sailing or inland lakes this cat has it all. The Aqua Cat 14 is ideal for four large adults or where capabilities to support 1,000 lbs. are needed.

The boomless sail rig supported by the tubular "a" frame provides simplicity and safety not found in traditional wire shroud designs. One sheetline and a simple tiller arrangement result in sailing simplicity, fun and excitement. Weighing in at 230 lbs. and with a 6-1/2 foot beam, it can easily be car topped or trailered to your favorite spot on the beach. "

Forgive me but I look at that and think "wow that is a lot of things to bash your teeth out on in a capsize". I saw that boat in Berman's book from the 80s and it made me shake my head a little.

One question that comes to mind immediately is if they made 30,000 of them here are they? I have only seen the one for sale here and never seen one sailing anywhere. Points to some quality issues maybe.

Anyway just one of those things that makes you think. Like, why can't they make a relatively high end rotomolded Cat like they can with Kayaks? Don't get me wrong the Wave class has done wonders with the boat considering it's limitations but there is defiitely room for a mid-priced bomb proof mid/high performance Cat.

D.

edited by: Wolfman, Jun 29, 2010 - 12:50 PM

HaHa, the Sears,(or as we used to call it in Canada, Simpson-Sears, or pimps & q.u.e.e.r.s)sailboats. I remember too, seeing those boats in the summer catalog. I was 10 years old, & really wanted one for the lake we spent our summers at in British Columbia. I think it cost $200, & I didn't have that kind of cash, nor would Dad buy me one. I thought they were a Sunfish?
Dave, they didn't make 30K of the Cats, I think that is their total production of about 6 different lines.
Go here, then click on "products".
http://www.americansail.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=9

edited by: Edchris177, Jun 30, 2010 - 10:49 AM

My buddy asked me to go look at an unusual looking boat for sale in someone's front yard a few weekends ago. He knew I've been sailing for a few years and hadn't had the chance to crew for me yet on my H-16. It was an Aqua-Cat, just like the pic in the ad, needed some clean-up but solid and dry. They were an older couple, said it was their kids from the cabin but hadn't been sailed for a few years, but rigging, lines and sail were in decent shape. Very easy to transport, set-up and sail. He bought it for $100. He cleaned it up and I went over the basics with him, wind clock tack and jibe, etc. We took the boat out on a cloudy day, 10-12 mph winds and sailed that boat. He wouldn't go alone yet so we tended to bury a hull and tacking was interesting carrying 400lbs and no jib (but did have small daggerboards)bottom line-he had a blast and is now sailing regularly. Next I'm going to suggest expanding his fleet with a Hobie Wave and then moving up from there. This guy was a confirmed gas-boat addict and thanks to a 30 year old Aqua-Cat has seen the light.

Great story, they all have a purpose. I love converting people.

I cant say much about the aquacat I started on a sunfish that was named rasta mama!! lol!! I sold my H16 to a big powerboat guy he said it was going to be for his kids. Now he sails with us on the weekend he sold the H16 and bought a Hobie Tiger & a super cat 17 he goes by Bean and also a fellow beachcat member here.

Being new to the whole sailing thing, I looked at one this past weekend in Michigan. It was a nice "little" cat but I was afraid it just wasn't big enough. I'd like to take my daughter and maybe a friend out. He wanted $400 and wouldn't budge and the sail needed replacing. I could see it being a great little cat for someone though.

I was thinking of getting a conventional sailboat but I'm starting to think a Cat would be a lot more fun and a little simpler.

Fred - What kind of Cat were you looking at? A lot of guys on this site can help you with the boat value and maybe a deal on a used sail for the boat.

edited by: sailinagin, Jul 14, 2010 - 10:59 PM

The Aqua Cat is a great boat, I sailed it all the time in my youth, and plan to return to it now that I have so many aging body parts that I can either rig or sail a boat, but not both. The aqua cat is great solo or with a friend, two adults are fine on it (can even add third).

I have sailed lasers, sunfish, flying scots, solcats, and occasional hobie or larger boat. The aqua cat outperforms many small boats, and is the easiest boat on the planet that happens to go fast and fly hulls.

agingboomersailor wrote: The aqua cat outperforms many small boats

like what?

Andrew whenever I post I fear your rapier wit.

I'm sure it would take a sunfish on, maybe an optimist, a laser would be close and a laser 2 would likely blow it away.

If it's easy to rig and get out what the heck, I'm all for it! To be honest though, if I was looking for an easy cat in that size range my first stop would be the Nacra/Escape Playcat! Light, easy to rig and bombproof!

Whatever gets out out of the easy chair though, if it works for you I wouldn't laugh. OK maybe I would laugh if you sailed a sizzler (unless it was the one eaten by Jaws), but that's all. Erm maybe one of those inflatables ones too!

golfdad75 wrote: Andrew whenever I post I fear your rapier wit.

Don't be a-feared, his rapier ain't that sharp. 👿

Funny, I saw three of these(new)on the back of a pickup heading West out of Houston. The truck had Louisiana plates...I thought it odd.

turtlecat wrote: Funny, I saw three of these(new)on the back of a pickup heading West out of Houston. The truck had Louisiana plates...I thought it odd.

These are BP's latest great ideas to help with the spill...I dont know what they will use them for, but I am guessing it is better than dispersing the crude oil to the bottom of the ocean floor 😡 😡 😡

I would bet that the styrofoam dinghy bought at Sears was a Snark.

Who here knew that you could buy a brand new Aqua Cat? I thought these were long extinct, apparently not.
http://www.theb...0570/cat/all

three houses down i the neighbor has this same boat

I have a 12' Aquacat (bought for $300 three years ago) made in 1990. I replaced all the fastening hardware after I broke a shackle pin, but have had no other issues. My boat does very well in a good wind, and deals w. waves well. It is easy to right (even if it turns turtle). It will only carry me and a dog or a kid; two adults is too much, but it's only a 12' boat. I really like the fact that I can take it apart in 20 min. with three tools; I have no beach and 45 stairs to climb to reach the water from my location.

I've never sailed a Hobie Cat and am wondering what people would note as the big differences? ALso, can one moor a Hobie for the season? (I really have *no* beach).

damonAdmin wrote: [quote=golfdad75]Andrew whenever I post I fear your rapier wit.

Don't be a-feared, his rapier ain't that sharp. 👿

You just made the list buddy!

've never sailed a Hobie Cat and am wondering what people would note as the big differences? ALso, can one moor a Hobie for the season? (I really have *no* beach).

having never sailed an aqua-cat... i still feel safe in saying the difference is night and day.

much more responsive (hobie) easier steering, less weather helm, able to really (i mean really) fly a hull... able to go through surf without being bounced off the boat... etc

No you can't really moore any beach cat. they are not intended to spend their life in the water. condensation will cause problems, moisture in your hulls can lead to soft, weak hulls (not good), barniccles and other marine growth will not serve you well at all (esp if you capsize and have to stand on the inside hulls... etc

But beachcats break down fairly easily. it is soooooo worth the effort i think

edited by: andrewscott, Sep 08, 2010 - 09:07 PM

andrewscott wrote:
much more responsive (hobie) easier steering, less weather helm, able to really (i mean really) fly a hull... able to go through surf without being bounced off the boat... etc

No you can't really moore any beach cat. they are not intended to spend their life in the water. condensation will cause problems, moisture in your hulls can lead to soft, weak hulls (not good), barniccles and other marine growth will not serve you well at all (esp if you capsize and have to stand on the inside hulls... etc

But beachcats break down fairly easily. it is soooooo worth the effort i thinkedited by: andrewscott, Sep 08, 2010 - 09:07 PM

Interesting - the 'Cat certainly shows a lot of weather helm,and flying a hull is asking to get dunked. I think I'll try to find a Hobie to test...

I really enjoy my Aqua Cat 12.5 and it is a perfect boat for the lake behind my house. I've been sailing for about 30 years on monohulls and own a J-24 that I race. The Aqua Cat is great for tooling around on lakes when it's to windy out in the ocean. Let us not forget that the first boat Hobie Alter sailed was the Aqua Cat.

Quick follow-up; I *still* have the aqua-cat and still like it (I'm actively looking for an H16, having tested one, but I won't sell the A'cat). It pulled up its mooring in the waves from Hurricane Irene last weekend and floated 6 miles down the lake before shallow water re-moored it. Boat is in good shape; sail will need repair/replacement, but was old to begin with. Dog and son now take it out without me; weather helm issue is lessened by experience; lots of weather helm means you have reached the limits of the boat's design, and if you push it any more, you will go over (speaking from experience), but it is still a nice boat to have for messing around.

Yep they still make them, they aren't bad boats, I wouldn't show up to a race or regatta with one but they are fun to play on as mentioned above.

They are SO easy to setup up and use they are great beginner boats, buy one used for cheap, learn on it, then when it is time to upgrade pay it forward to someone else looking to learn, that's my thought.

I actually sold mine this weekend to a cool family who plans on playing around on it just like I did (time for me to move on up though, I've sailed H16's and have a small mono also). The bad news is that he left the sail out in a storm the day after he bought it, yeah it got shredded. He is looking for a replacement sail if anyone has one they would like to sell.

These boats catch a hard time from a lot of the guys who are performance cat guys but at the end of the day i think that they do a good job at doing what they were designed to do.

http://www.sailboatstogo.com/v_page.php?content=attach