I have read all sorts of Hobie vs Nacra or Hobie vs Prindle, but what about 5.2 vs Prindle 16? I am looking at buying my first cat, and have a choice to make. Also, please address all positives and negatives of each boat. I plan on doing some single handling, some sailing with the girlfriend as crew, and want the ability to take friends out. What about a comparison of speed for the three boats? Any other suggestions for another type to buy? Thank you...

http://www.sailingproshop.com/catamaran_guide.aspx

Read that^^^^^^^^^^You will learn what to look for in certain models.

just buy the one in the best shape and get on the water. as long as you dont blow it up... you can sell it and buy another anytime...

Where are you located?

I am located in Southern CA, nearest to San Bernardino

make sure the trailer is titled for whatever boat you buy, and if not then tell the current owner to do it because it is a huge pain and will cost you close to the cost of the trailer.

If you are in the So Cal area and would like to participate in any organized events you should seriously consider the Hobie 16 or a Formula 18. The 16 will be way less money to buy.

If you do not care and are only going to sail by yourself in a vacuum there are plenty of choices. You should make sure that you get a boat which you can by parts for. You will be breaking a used boat especially if it has not been maintained.

The advantage of a daggerless beach cat is that you can run it up on the beach without worry. Not good for the boat but fun if you do not care too much about it.

Later,
Dan

I have sailed all the boats you list and they are all very good. Just be sure to read that link and check for all the serious defects listed in it. Most everything else can be repaired, but if something such as soft decks (hulls) are present you wont be able to repair it. I like prindles myself.

If you are new you probably want to read a book to get all the safety info. also post here we will be happy to help.

Formula 18 is probably too aggressive for a first boat unless you are already an experienced racer.

I bought a 5.2 after due deliberation, much like yourself I assume.
Got a lot of help from the people on this forum, they are an excellent bunch.
First you need to be brutally realistic about what you are going to do with this boat. Its not what you INTEND to do with it, but what you are actually going to DO with it that counts! Get that cleared up first off. IE will you race, get a boat with a good local fleet.

I think my 5.2 is excellent, but coming from a (racing) keelboat I am used to having underwater appendages (like daggerboards on a 5.2) that can badly damage the boat when grounding at speed. If sailing in an area with shallow water and lots of nasties under water, you might want to consider a boardless design.

The Nacra 5.2 itself is about as gentle as it gets. Not too quick to fly a hull, which is either frustrating (to a pro) or reassuring to a catamaran beginner like me. Precision steering due to the daggerboards is truly excellent! The boat is quite straightforward to rig (IMHO). Very easy to de-power, mainly because it isn't really overpowered in the first place. You can go with just the main for really relaxing sailing. Does not tend to nose dive (in fact I need my weight quite far forward when sailing solo to keep the transoms from dragging). Mine has the center bar in the tramp, I like this because it gives me some support when the boat starts to heel, so I don't go sliding off the tramp.
The 5.2 is quite heavy for on the beach solo handling. On a nice sloping beach you may be able to get it back up high and dry solo, but can you still drag it yup the beach after a couple of hours sailing? I know I can't at our local beach, which has this huge sandbar you need to negotiate first. Luckily there's always help nearby. (Maybe I should get a Newfoundlander and rig the dog up with a harness...)
Righting solo is a hit and miss affair though. I really can't tell you if you can pull it off solo in light winds. My web research reveals that some can do it (heavier sailors like 200 lbs+) and some can't (those with a more average posture). You may want to consider this and carry a righting bag or install some other righting help. Or get your own Newfoundlander you can dangle off your shoulders....

Regards,
Dennis

If you don't sail with crew or friends ... you SHOULD invest and carry a righting bag.

can you sail three on the 5.2? You are right about the folks on the forum, extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I was ready to buy a 1977 5.2 yesterday, and the seller did not have any paperwork on the trailer. He and myself are trying to determine the how-to's and cost of what it will take to get the trailer in my name if I buy. So dissapointed, thought I was going to have a boat in the driveway when the girlfriend got home yesterday. For now, will be looking at available Prindle 16's in the area. Question: is the Prindle 16 easier to raise the mast singlehanded? Which boat is easier to right singlehanded? Is one boat lighter than the other?

Bewlow is a rough guide to boat weights.
I do not think it is correct is stating the P16 is 150 lbs. I think it is 300.


The prindle 16 is a lighter mast... and pretty easy to self step. There are tricks to doing it safely (have the boat slanted downhill. run a saftey line through the jib turnbuckle, get a mast stepper)....

http://www.multihullsmag.com/boats/boatlists/cats_up_to_20_feet.htm

As per self righting.. i stand by my statment above... bite the bullet and purchase a righting bag if you plan to sail solo ...

Prindle guides - http://www.nacra.us/Prindles/

think you'll find the 16 is slightly lighter with a shorter mast and so easier to right solo, but

the 5.2's longer hulls and taller mast mean it will carry the extra weight better

I didnt get any paper work when i bought my 5.0 so i went down to the court house and told them i made a homeade trailer and needed to make it legal. I signed a paper and handed them about $30 and i was on my way with stickers and tags. Check out the law for homeade trailers in your area.

P16 is a pretty beefy little boat. My P16 was very aesy to right. The mast on the P16 didnt feel that much lighter than my new 5.2 though...I think it has something to do with the ball vs prindle set-up. The 5.2 compared to the prindle has about the same deck space, actually the prindle may have a little more because it's boardless.

I'm in So Calif and recently bought a Prindle 16 on a trailer. The seller did not put either of them in his name, leaving both in the original owner's name. Yeah, bad situation, but I checked with the DMV. Costs and penalties would not amount to a lot, so I made a good deal on both. Since the total amount paid was low, which is what the fees and penalties are based on, I got out of the DMV, for both the P16 and trailer for just over $100. Includes everything up to date, new Calif Permanent Trailer plate, etc.
It did help that the seller had the expired reg and title papers from the original owner.