Perhaps the group can give me some advice on the question: Hobie Wave or Nacra 450?

I’m trying to decide between a new Wave and a used Nacra 450 in excellent condition. Both are from dealers (not the same one). The price would be approximately the same; I would get the jib on the Wave.

In a few weeks I’ll be 48, married, no kids. I’d call myself an intermediate sailor with experience with a Buccaneer 18 and Laser. We sail on Galveston Bay out of Seabrook Sailing Club. I also recently sailed a Wave when we vacationed in the Caribbean this winter. We just sold the Buccaneer (still have the Laser) because it didn’t fit our club (often too shallow water to launch) and because I never felt my wife was really comfortable handling the crew duties on the Bucc. When we sailed the Wave in January she seemed quite comfortable. I liked it too but if I had much more experience with it I wonder if I would find it not at all challenging. On the other hand, the Nacra 450, which seems to be a very impressive boat, might be outside of my wife’s comfort zone. The Nacra would be better for simple cruising with four people but that may be a small proportion of the sailing.

So, what do you folks think? Should I get the simpler boat and keep the Laser for a challenge or should I go for the more high-performance boat? (If we turned out to be comfortable with the Nacra we could get rid of the Laser). Am I failing to consider any important points?

Thanks

-Pete