Mary-

My first Sol Cat 18 sank on the first sail. There was flotation but the water overwhelmed it. They had apparently not sealed the sandwich hull/deck properly and the hulls filled with water. We ended up turtled about four feet below the water. So the mast was released when it snagged. The boat raised about a foot. Finally we were close enough to shore to swim for it. The boat got dragged to shore after a few hours of looking for it. They replaced the boat and sails. They also accused me of hiting something that caused the soft deck to rupture outward. When I said the water filled hulls may have caused unusual stress they shut up. I sold the replacement boat after one season and bought a Tornado. I really don't know how that boat stood up overtime.

That was myy first negative experience in catsailing the next came when i saw a family of five on a Sol Cat 18. All three children were under five years old. That same dealer told them the boat would not capsize or sink...according to the new owner. I never saw them after that.

thom