Thanks for mentioning Wisconsin CRAW is a active group that has hosted NACRA nationals and has sailors form Ill MN and of course WI Check us out at crawsailing.org. We have a great bunch of folks and sail from sites all over the state.

on the stitching on the tramp coming apart

my 1982 nacra seems to have the original tramp, about 5 years ago? the previous owner ran a simple single running stitch through the mesh to back up the original thread which was breaking from uv exposure

in the usa i guess i would have just bought a new tramp or looked for a 2nd hand one

back in new zealand i would have taken it to a commercial sewing shop to get all seams re sewn but here in backwoods japan no one seemed to have a big enough machine for such work. so instead i spend about 5? hours of quality winter bonding time with my new cat by hand sewing every seam with either heavy nylon whipping thread, for the simple mesh to mesh seams on 3 sides, or waxed heavy nylon thread and a sewing awl, for the heavier area across the back where the tramp is tensioned to the rear beam.

a pain at the time but a good lesson in sewing and i've already used the sewing awl to fix a few back packs etc.

with my new skills and tools i'm also going to sew a couple of mesh pockets to the front of the tramp for the halyards and add some hiking straps

1 of the shots of the supercat seemed to show their expendable shrouds which allows easier righting when the boat goes over

pity you are moving as for $400 the 2 cats would provide HOURS of fun and get you a few credits with friends by getting them off their hands

but as you are moving so far and probably want to get sailing this season you should probably pass on these and pay $800 for something that can be sailed right off

but hey, if you are not buying them and they are not picky about who does pass on the contact details here or elsewhere

Im pretty sure Mr.Mouse just picked up a sweet Nacra 5.0 but i will let him fill you in on the details!

This man speaks the truth!

First off let me thank you all for your replies and input. I can tell that this place has a lot of great folks and a wealth of knowledge to draw on.

I went and checked out TurboCat's boat last night, an '83 Nacra 5.0 that apparently talks! We spent upwards of an hour and a half going over the boat, the trailers and just shooting the proverbial four letter word. He was kind enough to offer to hold onto the boat for a week for me, even though he said he was getting calls left and right for it.

He even got a call after midnight. The way he described it, the heavy beathing on the other line, makes me wonder if it was someone wanting the boat or just a stalker but hey.

Not only was he willing to sit on it for a week, but he's offered to help fix up the trailers, help put a hitch on my subaru, and do some odds and ends on the boat.

I've talked with a handful of cat guys in the area, including TurboCat, and if they are any indication of the type of cat people I will meet wherever the Army takes me than I can't wait to get started.

Here's a question I think both Turbo and I would be interested in asking. He has a light duty cat hauler, and a heavy duty power boat trailer set up for a cat. He thought the HD trailer would be better to haul a cat on because it would not flex the hulls as much while traveling since the trailer frame is more rigid. Seems like sound reasoning to me.

However he says most guys in his area use the light duty trailers. He's giving me both in the sale, and I was wondering which one would be better for a trip from Houston to Chicago. The HD needs springs, wheels and bearings, and the axle looks a bit rusty. It's set up for a cat but I think Turbo saw a problem with the wheel touching the bottom of the hull if the springs flexed enough. He recommended smaller wheels. I don't recall what size is on there now.

The cat hauler is good to go. I would get wheels and bearings but other than that it's ready for the road.

What do you think the best option would be? I'm hoping that selling whichever one I don't use will pay for the extra gas to tow a boat 1100 miles.

Pics of the trailer and boat are here
http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b12/DangerMouse_06/Boats/

thanks again

personally i would go with the lighter duty cat trailer... you DO want some flex in the trailer and the more ridged the trailer the more the boat itself takes the bumps and bruises of being towed... also you really really want fenders so that rockes don't jump up and bite the hulls...
i went from a slighty stiff gavl. trailer for my SC19 to building a flexier aluminum trailer... just my 2cents worth..

most of all our trailers are a little flexible and very similar to the one pictured under that boat. I would use that one.

Light is usually better, just like your new cat.

I don't like flexy trailers, so I homebuilt my trailer. Flexiness isn't good for the trailer or boat, it's just a way for compensating for improper axle springs IMHO. My new trailer is fairly heavy and very stiff, but I used rubber torsion axles which are well matched to the loaded weight of the trailer.

The converted power boat trailer is probably way over-sprung for the weight of the 5.0.

Do they make spinner-hubs for trailers? Got to tow in style, you know...

haha werd.

What if we took the springs off the light trailer and put them on the heavy duty?

What size wheels do you think would be best for a long distance trip?

Also, fenders for trailers? What are those and can I get Yosemitie Sam on them telling people to back off???

Don't bother. Just use the light one. I had to replace my old trailer, so I went all out on the new one. I'm sure the your light trailer is well enough designed, just check it over first.



Bigger means fewer wheel revolutions for the same speed, which is easier on the bearings.



Fenders are required for trailers in my home state, quite possibly in other states too. Maybe you are thinking of mudflaps?

There are fenders on the Lighter duty trailer already. in pic# 3115 you can see it right under the orange tie down strap. Replace the rusted bolts, new bearings and bearing buddy's, tires and you will probably be good to go. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you want something to get out on the water and your not worrying about looks you can make a go of it…if you want to make it into something that looks good…forget it …it will cost you a ton of money and time and you will still end up with an old boat.

I have a 1994 Super cat 17 and I use to own a 1982…that one is pretty neglected…but hey its $300.00…the factory is in Minnesota…you might want to shoot them an E-mail and get their opinion.

The Supercat 17 is a great all around boat…

Regards,
Robert

MR.Mouse is now the proud new owner of a Nacra 5.0 . He came by and we rigged and de-rigged yesterday so he knew what to do when he hits the beach. Im glad my Boat went to Mr.Mouse to say the least. If i didnt find a buyer that would actually use the boat often and i knew would take care of it i wasnt going to sell it. Mr.Mouse came along and i knew immediately that he had good intentions for the boat, and was very enthusiastic about his new cat sailing hobby. We loaded him up for his trip and made a few corrections to the boat and trailer.

Hey Mr Mouse...Have a safe trip man and remember that if your ever back in Texas you,ve got somebody to call to sail with. Take care and have a safe trip. Oh Yeah..dont forget to take all the sockets and wrenches incase you get a flat.

AND DONT FORGET....When she talks to you, you have to talk back...It makes her happy! I'll miss Her, but maybe we will cross paths again.

Did you give him a house plant too? NO??? perhaps try the decaf! - <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Glad to hear a happy ending to this chapter of the story! Mouse Sounds like you got a great boat! The 5.0 is another I've often admired. Turbo I like your attitude!

Plastic fenders are available for trailer supply places on lin. I recommend them as they are polyethylene & their corners won't scratch your boat.
A SC-17 was at Kelly Park Regatta a week ago and broke a hull off in medium air. They had a spare... and came back out Sunday.
Always check your bearings before a cross country trip.

How do you check / what should you look for?

Haha, I think I'll be getting the house plant for my wife. Both of our significant others started getting a little pissed because Turbo and I were taking our merry time with the sale, spending pretty much all day yesterday teaching me how to rig the boat and just hanging out.


Likewise, when you find yourself in Chicago let me know. Hopefully it will be in the warm months but if not I'm sure we can find something to do...Maybe take the Nacra out ice fishing????

Sucks that I'm moving now but I think if I had found you guys sooner I probably would have failed out of college and would have had to go back to Active Duty.

Try explaining to you Commanding Officer why the guy that was such a pain in the butt paperwork wise to get this early discharge and scholarship is back in the unit, prematurely, because he spent too much time sailing <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Oh, the subaru handled the boat like a champ, BTW.