I strongly prefer the 500 over the 450 (and I guess the 460 too)

At my club we have both 5.0/500's and I think two 4.5's (predessor to 450)

Some advertise the 450 and 460 weights at 280 lbs 127 kg but NacraEurope doesn't nor the measurement based rating system like Texel and ISAF, here the boat is quoted as 142 kg (313lbs) and thus only 17 lbs lighter then the 500 at 150 kg.

It is also the 500 that is on a par with the performance of a H16 and not the 450 (or 460) Which is almost 10% slower. Considering that the difference between the fastest and slowest beach cat is about 40% that means that 10% is significant.

The most striking difference between the 500 and 460 is the fact that the 500 mast has diamond wires on the mast and the H16 and 460 don't. This makes the 500 more tunable, but there is a thing to be said about the ease of carrying and storing a straight mast tube without any spreaders or diamond wires.

Personally I strongly prefer the 500 if you are looking for some performance or ever want to participate in a regatta of catamaran race. With the 500 you'll be in the pact with much nmore common boats like the Hobie 16. On the 460 you'll be very much in the rear part of the fleet unless you have really good sailing skills.

As the 500 is much better known and much more sold I think the 500 is a better investment,it should be hard to ever sell that boat. My personal opinion is that the 460 is somewhere between the Hobie wave and getaway and the nacra 500 and therefor a bit of neither. If you are looking for a pure recreational boat with ease of maintainance that rotomoulded (plastic) is very attractive (Hobie wave). If you are looking for some more performance and to blast around with your (male) friends after you have gotten the hang of it then the 500 is your ticket.

Personally I would go for the 500 (or the original 5.0). there is just more growth potential there and you'll get used to the cat speed pretty quickly. At first the smaller boats may feel perfect, but when you really get into it you'll progress very quickly and I think the 500 has significantly more meat to it without being too complicated or much more heavy.

Wouter