Don't know if it is a true F14, but here is the new NACRA 430 in Australia. Don't know how to post images so here's the link.

http://www.catsailor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000218.html

Here you go

Nice looking boat but why aim it at fun sailors with no boom and centre boards??

It is a boat for anyone, spinnaker if you want it, no boom to knock you out, No boards to worry about......
Now with a jib !!!!

You have any "head on shots" of the hull?

The 14ft cat scene in Australia is dominated by "simple" off the beach cats. Mostly Maricats, Windrush and Paper Tigers. There are some Arrows plus the occasional old Hobie 14. The top boats are all pretty similar in performance and racing is usually close and hectic. Probably the main 14ft regatta is the Mannering Park 14ft Regatta in October and I'm sure we will be keen to see the 430 in action.

The paper tiger is the most complex simple boat ever!

quick vid

Engineer,
Can you tell me if this boat conforms to the F14 rules?
If you have not read the rules would you mind publishing
the specs for the N430 so I can check?


Regards,
Phill

I do like this boat, its seems to be blend of simple beach cat and performance orientated boat.

but because nacra Australia is the designer... you will not get a min weight. further to that you can et that every year they will be made differently so that no two are the same.

obviously this boat could never match a true f14, it will be too heavy and no dagger boards.

Dazz,
It would be good to find out if it fits inside the rules or not.

Doesn't seem that the manufacture is making any claims about the boat being an F14, Whether or not it is the next generation 14 footer, that all depends upon your criteria. When viewed against the Hobie 14 yes, when viewed against the A&O... they wish...If what they are aiming for is a more modern design replacement for the void that the Hobie 14 left, then fine...nothing wrong with that. More like an updated Mystere 430...

If it was at, or near minimum F 14 weight you can bet it would be splashed all over their advertising. The conspicuous absence of the boats specifications in their release leads one to believe that its a new hull design constructed in standard 1970's/1980'S technology.

The NACRA 430 is a welcome addition to the small cat arena, whether it is a credible F14 which can race head to head with Darrel's A&O remains to be seen.. it will have to prove itself on the water...first impression is the Nacra 430 and the A&O are two very different animals with different markets targeted.

I have no Idea what the F14 specs are, but this subforum seemed to be the only place it fits. It is a fun boat, I highly doubt that it would even come close to an F14 on a race course, but it is aimed at a broader market, seeming it has storage compartments and a massive tramp. I will be going up against an Inter 17 this weekend which should give a good comparision.

I wasn't inferring that the N430 should be compared to Darryl's AO14. The AO 14 is cutting edge racing the N430 wouldn't be in that league.
I was just wondering if you had an F14 race could it be included without it violating any of the F14 rules. That was all I was thinking.

Where does one find the F14 rulebook?
I'd like to know that one myself.....

http://www.catsailor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000010.html

I don't think the f14 class ever got off the ground. mores the pity.

Darryl should be able to provide more information though.

Where does one find the specs for the Nacra 430?

I need to buy a tape measure and some scales.........
I don't think the specs are even done. I can tell you it's about 7'6"wide, wouldn't have a clue on sail plan, and I have no idea what they weigh.

The F14 box rules are pretty broad...it would be surprising if it fell outside of them.
Here are the rules cut and pasted form the F14 Site: Hope you don't mind Darrel...it would be nice if Rick could put the rules permanently at the top of the F14 forum.




The “Box rule” governing an F14 catamaran is

The craft must be a catamaran, having two identical hulls of equal volume, with the rudders attached at/to the transom/s.



1. Length Over All.

L.O.A. of the hulls (excluding only foils, rudders, all rudder fittings, and spinnaker pole with fittings)

14’ 1 1/4” 4.3 metres

2. Maximum Beam (Overall)

8’ 0” 2.438 metres

3. Mast Height

Mast height is unrestricted, although the mast can only form a percentage of the mainsail area of no more than 15%, albeit that the circumference of the mast shall not exceed 400mm, i.e. no “solid” wing mast/sail (articulated or not).

The sail(s) shall be of a single “laminate” fabric.

4. Maximum Sail Area

The sail(s), including half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail without having any wrinkles or folds, shall not exceed

300.00 sq feet. 27.87 sqm

Albeit that the maximum allowable area of a spinnaker/reacher shall be no more than

150.00 sq feet 13.93 sqm

and the combined “working sail(s)” including half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail shall not exceed

150.00 sq feet 13.93 sqm

The maximum total area includes the combination of the areas of ALL sails plus half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail. The measurements of all the sails shall be by the calculation of the “actual” sail/mast area.

5. Construction

Materials are unrestricted

6. Minimum Weight

All up minimum sailing weight, excluding only the crew.

165.35 lb (imp) 75Kg

7. Foils

Any/all foils used for the stablelization of pitch, and for the “lifting” of the hull (s) in/out of the water are allowed.

8. Built in buoyancy

Closed cell foam (poly styrene or similar), is required to be fixed internally in the hulls, sufficient to maintain the vessel, and its crew, in the upright position, with the hulls at, or above the surface of the water, when one or both hulls are completely full of water. (Safety rule)

9. Centre/Dagger boards, Rudders and Hulls.

Any centre/dagger boards and/or rudders shall not be included within the maximum beam/length as described within the “box rule”.

10. Number and weight of crew

Weight and number of crew is unrestricted, (with reference to “Crew and Crew Weight” in the preceding section of the class rules)

11. Spinnaker pole

Any spinnaker pole and/or fittings shall not protrude further forward of the forward most point of the bows (measured at 90 degrees from the centre of a line connecting the two most forward parts of the bows of each hull), by more than one metre.

12. From time to time

By an agreed vote by the executive of the F14 catamaran association, those catamarans that do not fit within the preceding “box rule” definitions (from item no 1. through to item 11. inclusive) may be allowed inclusion to sail/compete with and against all those catamarans that comply to the afore mentioned items, 1. through to and including item 11, by being afforded an appropriate handicap/rating, designed to keep all racing results fair and equitable between the different “classes” of catamarans so competing.

I think it fits, wont come near Mr Barretts F14, but it's in the box.

"I think it fits, won’t come near Mr. Barretts F14, but it's in the box."
I think it is so cool that the F14 class came right out of the box with Darrel's A&O Super duper, all carbon, state of the art race boat. That way, there is none of the typical whining like in all the other classes… who live their life in fear of someone building the ultimate all carbon race boat and "buying" the race. Now if we can just keep the cry babies from meddling with the F14 class rules we are all set. This is just a pet peeve of mine…a general statement, not in reference to anyone on this thread, or to the Nacra 430.
If you are having fun with the Nacra 430 don’t worry about “coming close” to the A&O… just enjoy it for what it is….

IMHO the reason for the 430's birth was because the of the Mannering Park 14ft Regatta's and similar. I was sailing a 4.5 (sometimes with Spi) and places like Mannering Pk wouldn't let me compete as it was closer to a 15ft cat. This annoyed me and other 4.5 owners. So I think the 430 is BCC's answer to get a good little cat to compete against the Windies.

And maybe? I think they may tried to make it not too fast but tried to keep to potentual VYC above 86 so it is kept in the 14 ft class and not in with the 16ft boats like the fast (possibly faster?) 14^2 NACRA is.

I'm hearing you Jon, I feel it is aimed at the more conservative sailor but is more about getting our juniors off a Laser and into multis. It is an attractive little boat, even the mums at Tinaroo were all commenting about how "cute" it was, which disgusted me to no end!!!
EVERY family that I've shown this boat to loves the concept that Dad can race and take the Family for a burn after the race with enough floatation to cope with the weight and a spinnaker to boot. Everyone can store it in the garage with a beam of 7'6".
It is perfect in every way, and the ladies in the video that sailed with me were at no point uncomfortable or uneasy, even when i put the kite up. They even said it was better than the Hobie 16 and didn't bounce as much through the waves (ski boat wakes). If you are after a pure race boat, probably better off with an A class, but as a family boat, you will not do better.
Having said all that, I love it as a spinnaker trainer. I've learnt more on this boat than I have any other boat I've sailed and had heaps of fun doing so.
Do you think I should apply for a Nacra Sales position?
Chocko

Well the men in Briscat have released some specs on the boat, i might try and weigh mine at the lake tomorrow, but it is the prototype so it may not be accurate.
Will try and get some vid of it racing tomorrow as well, will be racing 2 up for the second race.
Specs can be seen here
Nacra 430 release
there is a vid of the 430 sailing at Tinaroo at the bottom of the page....
Chocko

F14 or not, they are cool....