Ok, first post, I don't own a sail boat yet, but do belong to Clearwater Community sailing center. Completed beginning sailing 6 week course Sailed 2-3 times a week, then completed Intro to Hobie cat racing. Yes I am addicted now. I am looking to buy my own boat, so I can go out into gulf and trailer to other area's.
Hope to learn from this forum and maybe make some friends. π
Welcome to sailing! The season is just staring here in FL, cooler weather, better wind, and fewer thundrer storms. The Dunedin Causeway is where the Cats are, easy launch area and a good group of sailors. Good luck hunting for a boat, if you need someone to give you an oppinion of the on the quality of the boat talk to Mike at Ellies Sail Shop in Clearwater on Betty Lane. He may be able to point you to a used boat.
Fair winds, we will see you on the water.
Hi WIll (27fountain,)
Glad you found your way here. Hope I see you on the water this Saturday. π
Hello Daniel, yes I forgot to include my first name on my first post, again a newbie mistake. Actually just missed purchasing a 20' Tornado today, went to buy it and guy sold it before I got there.
Will
Edited by 27fountain on Sep 21, 2011 - 08:37 PM.
Just an unsolicited opinion, but you do not want a Tornado as your first cat. It's complicated, 10 feet wide, delicate, and parts are expensive. I think a better first cat is: Hobie 16 or 18, G-Cat 5.0 or 5.7, Mystere 5.0, Nacra 5.0, Dart 18 or 20,
Supercat 17, Prindle 16 or 18. All of these boats are boats you can go out and have fun with, all are 8'6" wide or less so they are legally towable and do not have to be taken apart to tow. All can be sigle handed, and other than the H-18 none have dagger boards or centerboards to worry about. My first cat was a H-16, sailed it for one season then sold it. Sailed/Rented a G-Cat 5.7 for a year while looking for my next cat. Bought a Dart 20, sailed it for about 10 years, just sold it last year, great boat designed by Randy Marsh same designer of the Tornado. Current boat is a Prindle-19MX, basicly a 19 foot Tornado that is 8'6" wide. I like the boat, but would not recomend it for a first boat.
Good luck with the boat search.
27fountain wrote: Hello Daniel, yes I forgot to include my first name on my first post, again a newbie mistake. Actually just missed purchasing a 20' Tornado today, went to buy it and guy sold it before I got there.
WillEdited by 27fountain on Sep 21, 2011 - 08:37 PM.
Welcome to TheBeachcats.com Will,
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Damon Linkous
Steve,
Thanks for the advise, I am in a unique situation in that with the Sailing club Daniel and I both are members we have access to 14, 16, tiger Hobies, prams, Lazers, 420's and many other boats we can use unlimited with the exception we cannot take them from the sailing center. So While you are correct a Tornado would not be the best boat to start with, it would probably be one heck of a boat to grow into. Also I should mention the asking price was $800 and it came with a tilt trailer and beach wheels.
Ok have a great day, oh and by the way a Nacra is my #1 choice, I just really like the way they look, I know thats a newbie comment but it's true.
Will π
Will, maybe if we both buy Nacra F17 Sloops we can get a volume discount? π
Will,
How has the F17 worked for you?
What percentage of the time are you racing? Just sailing for pleasure?
What percentage of the time do you single-hand?
Do you have the jib option?
Can you right it by yourself what do you weigh? Sorry to get personal but I'm looking at models and trying to figure out what I want.
Thanks,
Scott
Scott1w
Sorry for slow response, I have gotten much better, usually single hand, and with my boat that is just fine, I was going to add a jib, however I find that I have been passing other boat with jibs and two on board. So Speed is not the problem it is my skill level. Boat is everything I want it to be and more. As for flipping, so far I cannot right it by myself, I have ordered a righting bag to help. However I have only gone over once unexpected. Had to wait for a friend to help. I weight 175lbs, and it does take about another 80-150lbs to right this boat in rough conditions, just many variables. however I love it. The performance it worth.
Will π