I'm not into the racing scene, but I like to go fast and cruise around and do some camping. Currently I sail a G-Cat 5.7M which is very close to being perfect at those requirements, but lacks storage area and a place to get out of the weather.

I've found a Reynolds Cat 21. While I'd prefer a boardless design for the shallow waters in and around Tampa Bay, I'm not hung up on it. I was wondering what these boats are like, is there really enough room in the hulls to sleep, store the sails and gear, rig a stereo system, blender, and a small fridge?

Is there any way to store them on the beach and move them around with cat-trax (preferably powered!)

Can they sail faster than the wind?

I sail a R-21 on Flathead Lake in MT, and I really like the boat. Good social boat, can easily carry 6 or 7 adults, much higher off the water than a beach cat, so drier up til 15 kts. Weighs close to 1000 lbs, so stable and not super fast in light air. Points ok. 31 foot mast so decent swail area, I'm using the original fully battened sails, still in good cond, tho I'm considering spending money on more current technology. I also have a reacher (3/4 oz?) and a symetrical spin. off a 30' monohull that works really well with the boat's 11' beam. I've clocked the boat at 19.8 kts. with a GPS on a screaming reach in 20+ kts. of wind, tho it took me several years of sailing the boat b/4 I had the skill/balls to sail it that hard. Sleeping below is a joke. Comfortable cushions , but it feels like a coffin, even w/ hatch open. Sleeping on the tramp is ok, tho it slopes aft and the tramp is slippery. I camp on shore, as the boat is easy to beach. It's really a day sailing boat, but you can easily haul a bunch of stuff below deck. I,ve had it out in 4 to 5 ft. long rollers and it's a blast to surf. The boat really powers up over 15 kts. wind. Below that its pleasant sailin, tho not exceptionally fast (unless using spin. or reacher). 2 sets of reef pts on my main, 1 on jib. Somewhat clunky rudder system, daggerbds stout enough to tear up hull if grounded at speed (as previous owner discovered). Mine has a neat mast raising gin pole. Tramp extends 6' in front of main crossbeam, so there's ton of space on deck. I think it's probably impossible to bury the leward hull, I've certainly tried hard. Never flipped it in 6 yrs, am real curious as to what it'll take to right it. Mines an 83 in good shape, I think its worth maybe $6500 equipped as it is (outboard and expanding trailer as well). What are they asking for the one you're looking at? Dave 509 276 6355

Since you are in FL, you might look at the Stiletto 23 and 27. On the 27, there is room to sleep inside. Dry and fast. Prices start at $10,000. The 23 is very fast and can be very wet. No sleeping accommodations inside, but I'm 6'2" and have been inside the hulls. Parts are still made for both and originally made in FL . Try http://stiletto.wildjibe.com

There is actually 2 of the reynolds 21 sitting in a sailing club that I used to belong to near Charlotte NC. One has never been titled but both have blisters and have been sitting outside. They are for sale but I don't know what they would take for one. I was considering buying one but the tramps was rotted and all of the running rigging was junk, along with the blisters I just thought it was too much of a project. I would guess they could be had for $1000 or possibly less. Let me know if you are interested and I'll get a phone# to the club.

Dave Seely

Don't the Stilettos have the single daggerboard right in the center of the "main deck"? The 23 doesn't have bunks, which is part of the reason I want the Reynolds (cruise to the Keys from Tampa Bay!) Also, the 27 is much too large for me to ever hope of "cat-tracking"... possibly the RC21 is too!

There's an RC-21 in sail-away condition for $3k on the Atlantic Coast of FL, and another for a few thousand more in Tampa Bay, I believe.

The 27 has a centerboard. The 23 has a dagger in each hull. But what is "cat-tracking"?

Cat Trax are the original catamaran beach dolly. Two large low-pressure pneumatic tires with a long aluminum pole passing through them and extending past each tire. You set the hulls on the ends of the aluminum rod so the boat is nuetrally balanced fore-and-aft and tie it firmly in place. Then grab the bow, bridle, or forward beam, etc. and roll it down the beach to the water's edge. I can load my 400# G-Cat onto the wheels and one-handedly roll it to the water by myself. I'm only 5'10" and 145lbs.

To "Cat-Track" is a term derived from the above product. It simply means to roll the boat around on a dolly similar to the one mentioned above.
It's the same as when someone says they are going to "Zerox" a page. What they mean is they are going to make a photocopy, but since Zerox made the original photocopy machines, the phrase stuck.

You are right about "Cat-Tracking" a S27. All up you are looking at anywhere from 1200# to 1500#. You could do it with a set of tracks and rollers with a winch, but you would get tired of doing that after a couple of times. It can be trailer sailed easy enough but sitting in the water is probably better. For an extended cruise that would be the more comfortable option. I've slept in the hulls on my 27 and I think there is plenty of room. You can also pitch a tent on the front tramp if you like the open air better. Price is going to be more than what you could get an R21 for I'm sure, especially if its in good shape. Another option is a Viva 27. It is a little lighter (I know someone that has one for sale.) and really fast.

Too many options I know. I have two cats a S27 and H16. You can have the best of both, quick and easy to move and comfortable.

Your situation may warrant going with the smaller boat in order to move it on the beach, otherwise it will not move much. JMO.

Good Luck,

Clayton D.
S27 , H16

I just found another R21 check http://www.sailinganarchy.com/classified.htm

I've seen that one for sale, but it's nearly twice the price of the one I'm looking at. There is also someone selling one for $6k CAN who's posted it in dozens of free forums. I don't know what the currency rate is right now though....

Also- I've found another boat that looks like a winner! The SeaWind 24 MkII or MkIII.

So... I've finally thought up some requirements for this "beach cat with accomodations"...
Less than 25' long
Less than 2000 lbs
Fast enough to be fun, yet stable and sturdy enough to handle rough conditions.
Enough storage to hold all the sails, enough food and water for a week, and a place to sleep out of the weather.
A place to take a crap...
I'd also like to be able to rig the boat with running/steaming lights, a VHS, GPS, Depthfinder, Radio/CD-player, and of course a small refridgerator and a BLENDER!

Now... the 1986 Reynolds 21 I'm considering has a pretty nice list of equipment:
Hobie 21 mainsail and roller-furling jib.
Boom tent, Porta Potti, Carpeted Marine Plywood rear deck with **** lockers, 3 y/o trampoline fore deck, cushions in hull, Mariner 4hp outboard

take a look at the tomcat 6.2 its a bit pricy, but has what you want.

This is an interesting thread. I have been looking for a reasonably priced (to me) small multihull. I live the SF area and wanted something a bit bigger than a beach cat. While the F-24 looks great, the entry price is steep. The costs on the Reynolds 21 and Stiletto's are much more attractive.

Does anyone know about how they handle high wind sailing? As all of you know, we get some serious wind/wave action out here.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Drew

Drew,

Go to Google, type "Seawind 24" into the search blank (with the quotation marks) and check out what you can find about these boats. TheMultihulls.com has a good SeaWind 24 section with a lot of pictures and a pretty good forum. So far that seems to be about my ideal relatively small "beach cruiser"

Drew-

The owner got back to me via e-mail and said that he has had the R21Cat out in 45 knots winds, and would feel confident sailing the boat to the Bahamas or the FL Keys (though it is not rigged with lights...)

The Reynolds website says that some sailors have cruised Baja, living on the R21Cat for months at a time...

Brian,

Thanks for the info. I just noticed a classified add for an R21 in Latitude 38 this month. I think that I will give the owner a call and explore this option more.

Fair winds,

Drew