beat up not so old man

Yes, that sail number is a little low as well for an 89. Its the hulls that count though.

there is no problem getting prindle parts, look at the classifieds here for example. murray's carries the factory parts new also. the p-16 is better suited for your needs also- lighter than h-16, carries more weight, less likely to flip and pitchpole, more stable... believe me, i grew up a hobie guy-14,16,18...thought prindles were goofy...until i got one. i own both p-16 and h-16, the h-16 is collecting dust. the improvements prindle made over the h-16 are the standard for modern cats today- high volume hulls(esp. on the bow), forestay bridle not on the bow tip(pitch pole maker), modest jib(never gets hung up on mast), crossbars mounted directly to hulls(stiffer design), come from factory equiped with harken blocks(bullet proof) just a better design alltogether. for cruising/camping it's the better choice but if you desire fleet racing, go hobie. i still race my p-16, they just lump me in with all other non-spin boats(besides h-16's)...i don't mind that because i'm the highest rated boat in the race useually. the hobie is a faster light wind boat with that big jib but when the winds start blowin', the modest sail plan of the prindle becomes an advantage...if you get caught in a storm, you would rather be on the prindle...when i was a kid, it was fun to flip the boat, don't care for it now. just wanted to give you some heads up on the prindles, don't turn your nose up!

Oh, I wouldn't turn my nose up at a Prindle. I have been doing a lot or research on small catamarans and wouldn't hesitate to choose a Prindle being all other things were equal as in price and location. I've always been one to explore a different path than the masses and with all things being close to equal, always choose the less used path. You wouldn't know where a good one is for around $800 or less would you?

There is a P15 close to me....

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/boa/2780514040.html

The P15 does not have a jib, this would make it quite easy to throw on a furling jib.

Just called and spoke to the guy listing the cat for sale, he still has it and knows nothing about sailboats, says the P15 was donated to a charity and he is trying to sell it for the cash. I did clarify that it is a P15, sticker on side of hulls declares it to be a P15, and he says it only has 1 sail. If you are interested, I could pursue this further, go and look at the cat for you and let you know. A vacation down to Gulf Shores is long overdue, could always bring it down for you and help out with rigging and sailing. I also have a spare furling jib sail that came off my H16, all you would need is to obtain the Harken Small Boat Furler and Swivel
http://www.harkenstore.com/uniface.urd/scpdinw1.ShowProd?B4RPMEB9Y9CLEO , and have a pigtail or upper forestay made to measure and you ready to go.

I missed the opportunity to go look at the Hobie 16. It was too cold to take Cathy out today, Found out that that P15 is a single person craft and wouldn't fit what I want to do. Thank you so much for the offer though.

Edited by dtfuqua on Jan 18, 2012 - 09:05 PM.

Just a reminder, the P15 is a one person boat. On your original post, you mentioned the possibility of taking a friend out on the boat. I have a P15, the boat is very difficult to sail with two folks; it could be my lack of sailing skills, but sailing with two on a P15 is hard work. The P15 also does not like to tack regardless of weight onboard. I also have a P16, yes, I've turned her over with crew on, but, she is by far more predictible and generally goes where she is told, with less effort than the P15. The larger hull size and the jib make a substantial difference. I'm not trying to scare you away from a P15, just reporting my observations and humble opinion.

Thanks Backasswards. I hadn't read enough to know that.I figured just being short of a 16 and I thought the Prindle had more flotation than the Hobie 16 would kinda equal thing out. And even if I always go solo myself, my son would likely want to play with it when ever he comes on vacation and he wouldn't want to play by himself.
Hi Turbohobo. I hope you catch this before you go to any trouble on my behalf. I found out that that craft wouldn't suit my needs after all but I want to thank you for your very generous offer. I did edit my previous post in case you hadn't read it yet.

No worries mate, having never seen a P15 before, I too, assumed that it would only be a foot shorter than the P16, but would have the same high volume hulls. I know the problems associated with a uni-rig, ie, they tack like a be-yatch, and that's why I suggested the roller furling jib add-on. But hey, I might just pick up that cat myself, offer the guy $400 cash, throw on a jib and sell it for a tidy profit...... 😉

Thank you for understanding. I'm hoping to go see the h16 near me today if the people helping me bathe Cathy come and go early enough.
Having read so much about keeping the jib cleated or not switching sides till the tack was past the wind change to push the front on around, I have wondered why I see shorter cats without a jib as standard equipment. I had just assumed they were likely just easier to work with being a little shorter. I tend to not ask all the questions I come up with but instead come to my own conclusions a lot of the time. So here goes. What is a "jibe". It seems like that is used sometimes where the term "tack" should be used.

DT,

You are correct to pick up on the similarity between tack and jibe...essentially, they are the same in that you change the windward side of the boat (ie wind from the port side or wind from the starboard side with mainsail on opposing side)...the difference is that to make a jibe, you turn away from the wind and on a tack you turn into the wind. Skipper's preference in how to make a turn but I usually consider a jibe when heading on a broad reach or mostly down wind...tack when sailing tight to the wind. The word "tack" can also refer to which side you have to windward...usually carrying importance to right of way. Starboard tack has right of way over port tack...or "what tack are you on?...I'm on port tack" (means windward side is the port side of the boat).

Bert

oh...forgot to add what might be obvious...with a jibe, there is a bigger concern with the boom swinging across the boat. a tack always seems to be non threatening...but the amount of swing and the potential of an unannounced "uncontrolled jibe" will have boom swing a long way and if the crew is not ready...well, that "boom" could live up to its name. When you jibe, just be careful. You can grab the boom or the main block before it gets a head of speed to keep it cool...but once it's rolling, it only takes a split second to hurt someone or stress the rigging.

Thanks for the clarification. I can see where it would be good to say one or the other when sailing with a crew. One recognizable word to warn people what to expect when maneuvering and possibly shouting in a high wind. I probably won't talk much sailing language but I do like to know what people are saying when talking about a subject I'm interested in.

Edited by dtfuqua on Jan 19, 2012 - 07:58 AM.

dtfuqua wrote: I have never been on a sail boat of any kind yet.

Do it!
Find a local rental place and see if they have someone willing to take you out for an afternoon. You will know immediately if you like it, and a few days later your body will tell you if you can take much more of this. I'm of a similar age and often find sore muscles I didn't know still existed after a good afternoon's ride.
Sheet In!

Well, my local deal turned out not to be a deal. The guy turned out to be a wheeler dealer type. Talking like he was a religious person and acting like a used car salesman. The starboard hull had soft spot in front of the pylon and a real large soft spot under the edge of the trampoline that you could hear crunching sound without a lot of pressure. The same hull had waves in the side directly under the front pylon like it had a lot of flex from being run hard causing that hull to bend inwards slightly. The sails were trash. The rope had worn through the pocket it is supposed to ride in and all this was apparent without even rolling out the sails Then, on top of all that, the mast was bent sideways more than the thickness of the mast diameter. I didn't even look much at the rigging except to acknowledge there was apparently more than was needed just to rig up the boat. And it was a 79 model hull that I checked the numbers on.
And that wasn't the worst part of the little trip. Just setting up and riding in the van wore Cathy out pretty good. I am always careful when driving with her to not accelerate too fast or hit the brakes hard so she won't have to exert herself trying to stay upright in her seat. So I won.t be doing much checking till the people that are supposed to start setting with her to give me time away from the house actually start showing up. Well, you know that old saying, "life's a bitch and then you die".

no worries on not using the sailing lingo....I've always thought that's what makes some folks shy away from the sport unneccesarily. On my boat, I am just fine with any words that get the job done. If anyone thinks all sailors must speak a new language before enjoying time on the water, I'd say they are snobs. Try it, and if you like it, do more and let the vocabulary fill in as needed. In fact, I'd say a higher priority before learning the terminology is to learn those right of way rules or "rules of the road"...which are not difficult. Recreational power boats should yield to beachcats (most of the time). But you'll have to work out your priority when passing or crossing with other sailing craft or large vessels limited in their maneuverability. Don't be intimidated by this. In P-cola, the bay and intercoastal will offer plenty of room for everyone to get along.

Good Luck,
Bert

You know now that you mention that I saw a complaint about a boat on CL with that same hull color. Could have been that one, a guy mentioned he drove to Pensacola and was very mislead.

Just keep watching, now is a slow time of year. I monitor all beach cat craigslist adds in the area and have noticed its really slowed down as of late.

dtfuqua...i'm checking on a p-16 in panama city right now in real good shape my buddy says(he has looked at it)...and it's a whooping 300$...he is supposed to call me back tomorrow. i'll let you know if it's still available and give you the contact info if you interested. it's nice to have some cash left over for all the acessories(you know, shoes, hats, purses)...hang in there!

Hi Coastrat. that sounds like a very good opportunity. Thank you. Yes I would be very interested. I had the fortune to get someone to set with Cathy late this afternoon and looked at the one in Milton. http://pensacola.craigslist.org/boa/2805956368.html .He was willing to lower the price considerably so I could afford to buy it but the sails were in pretty bad shape and I wouldn't have had anything left to repair/replace them so I walked on it. I probably wouldn't have bought it anyway because I saw something very odd on the deck around the front pylon. The deck was buckled like it had been bent doing a pitch pole in shallow water. I don't really know exactly about boats that much but having been an iron worker/fitter in my previous life, I can make a pretty good guess based on the evidence of the buckled deck considering what motions the craft was likely to have been going through. Besides a little waviness on the inside surface, there wasn't any other sign of an accident so it wasn't done on the trailer or in his yard. I'm mentioning this flaw in the craft wanting someone to either shoot my hypothesis down or confirm the likelihood of me being right. I'm kinda anal-retentive about needing to know things.

This is a great place. I have never found a place where people are so supportive of a stranger (me) and willing to help out. I just don't know what to say besides thank you all.

Edited by dtfuqua on Jan 19, 2012 - 08:27 PM.

big soft spots right in front of the crossbars is abouth the worst place to have them as you can imagine...cat-a-strophic failure. the wavy inner hulls useually means the cat was flipped a lot and people were standing/bouncing on them to right the boat. you can tap on the hulls all around and here soft spots because they sound hollow compared to the firm places around them. soft spots are not necessarily deal killers, as a matter of fact, you can save big bucks on the boat if you act freaked out by them. just look out for the ones right in front of the crossbar, or the size of fat kids, or as numerous as ex-husbands of elizabeth taylor...they are a simple repair that works fine...but tell the owner that you will have to bring it to the shop and get them professionally repaired before you will feel safe on it. my boat was a piece of work, 2 different hulls(one yellow, one white, a'77 and '79 models), a hand full of soft spots, keels skint through, every bolt on the rudders bent, mast is a "lefty". i did have good sails and a decent tramp along with beach wheels and a good trailor. i got by my first 2 seasons on the "antique" standing rigging(only 1 de-masting!) but i DON'T recommend you do that. i bought a new set of rigging this year from salty dog(165$ w/shipping). keep your fingers crossed on the panama city boat, he remarked on how good the sails and hulls were. you just need to hook up with someone with experience to go out with the first few times to "show you the ropes", then you will be ready to ask the next round of questions!

I was right check this add http://pensacola.craigslist.org/boa/2810744473.html

This guys prices are a little higher than what you seem to be looking for, but I would contact him if I were you for some leads/information.

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/boa/2787856465.html

Hi Coastrat and all. Anything about the P16 in Panama City? I found a wave on craigs list there and may go look at it. I believe it says best offer but he doesn't want any low ball offers. What do ya'll think?

just heard back yesterday, sold...but there is a nice hobie 18 new sails ready to go 2000k but that might be out of the range. wish i could have hooked you up. waves are cool, kida fit your specs but they are a little high useually. seek and you shall find!...i'm still looking for ya!

Did you see the one I mentioned? http://panamacity.craigslist.org/boa/2815553259.html ? Any thoughts?

And yea 2K is way out of my range. This Wave is all the way at the top of my financial limits and would have to be sailed as is for quite a while if I can't get the price down some.

I saw that wave, its a pretty good deal. I will be in PC tomorrow. I plan to take a look at the wave, and the p16.

Hey dtfuqua,

Did you see the new listing for the 5.2 Nacra in Jacksonville on here? 1K and newer sails! Good Luck

Haven't seen it yet but will check it out. Not a real likelihood of it being right for me because the distance but I never know what circumstances will arise in my situation.

That would be something to check out if it weren't so far from me. I can't take Cathy out for long enough to get to Jacksonville and back. I'll be stretching it to take her to Panama City if I get to make the trip.

Edited by dtfuqua on Jan 26, 2012 - 07:08 AM.

bacho wrote: I saw that wave, its a pretty good deal. I will be in PC tomorrow. I plan to take a look at the wave, and the p16.

Can you post about what you find? And if their still for sale when you leave?

Sure. There is an old hobie 16 just listed near you for $500