I want to buy a first boat for my 10 year old son (70lbs) and I (230lbs) to use in Tampa Bay Area.
It has been suggested to me to buy at least a 18ft boat that will easily carry load and perform well.
Should I buy an inexpensive boat like Prindle 18 for $1200-$1500 or go for a Prindle 19 rigged for racing, and take a few more sailing lessons. The 19 is around $3000 including beach wheels.
What's your opinion for this newbie?

The 19 is a wonderful boat and for 3K how can you go wrong. But, since I'm an F18 bigot I'd be remiss in my duties as a bigot if I didn't mention the F18 for sale in your area, I think it's at Gulfport and the contact info is in the classified section on this site.

Dudes, he's 10 yrs. old. How about a Hobie Wave or a H-14? Really, a performance cat at 10? Hmmm. - Gina

He did mention that he weighed 230 so I assumed they would sail together. If not... my bad and yes the wave or opti is the way to go.

And the guy I sold my 18 to bought it for his 13 year old son who plans to skipper it with his 200 pound buddy, and the kid weighs 76 pounds... for now. Really cool kid.

My son and I would sail together, not looking to race or get too adventurous.
My question is:
Should I get something inexpensive and relatively easy to sail or spend a little more $, get more boat, faster, better, that may initially be more challenging but some thing that I wuold be happy to keep long term?

John,
For the type of sailing you and your son will be enjoying, you can't go wrong with the Prindle 18. First, it has a very robust bottom layer of glass. The P19 is joined together at the bottom and will not take beach landings for very long. As far as resale, you normally will get your money back out of the 18. Check for soft spots and have fun. Back in the day, I had some of my best times sailing a Prindle 18.

Regards,
Bob Curry <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thank you.

Someone sent me this when I was boat shopping. Do you have any sailing background?

http://www.sail-s.com/Hobie_Cats/hobie_16_blue_book/hobie_16_blue_book.htm

I have a couple questions or concerns with two things stated in the info at the link posted:



I've quoted two things in the info, that I'd appreciate getting other's opinions or experience on:

"All of the current model boats that are being produced by the three main catamaran manufacturers (Hobie & Performance Catamarans) demand a cradle on the front support of the trailer to handle the hull. Do not use rollers as a hull support! You will suffer hull damage almost immediately!"

(I only have rollers on the rear of the trailer, for the stern of the hulls. On the front support on my trailer, the hulls rest on thick, flat rubber (no contour).)


"The trailer wheels should be at least 12" diameter if you plan to travel any distances at all."

(My trailer has 5.70 x 8 size tires. I just installed new hubs with new bearing races and cups as well as new Bearing Buddy hub covers. Both tires are in excellent condition.)

IS my tire size a problem, even if I want to take the boat hundreds of highway miles, as long as I maintain the bearings/grease?

Are my hulls safe, with them supported on the front with the flat rubber that they rest on?

Thanks!
Marshall

I think in a perfect world, your trailer tyres should be the same size, if driving with 15" tyres on your car, and 10" on your trailer for example, the trailer tyres are going heaps faster than the car tyres, and possibly put them out of their safe working speed.

With regards to boat rollers, I would never travel anywhere with my boat sitting on rollers, the load is concentrated on a single point on the hull.

I do the same thing with my 10 and 11 y.o., and race for fun with both of them. I bought a Hobie 16, and you cannot beat the combination of simplicity, durability, and price! Your combined weight should not be a problem (the minimum H16 crew weight is 285, so you are not too far off that, if you would want to do some racing), and if the two of you want to step up to something bigger after a few years you can likely sell the boat for what you bought it for, or let your kid sail it! BTW, my boat is at Gulfport Yacht Club, come by if you want to see if a H16 would fit your needs.

I don't think the roller issue is as much an issue with the Hobie 16 as other cats. (i.e. A-Cat, F17, etc). There are a lot of H16's sitting on rollers.

Besides, when you buy a brand new H16 and trailer, you're going to end up with rollers.

Trailer tires are rated for various loads and speed. Just something you need to look into when buying a tire. I know the tires on my dad's power boat trailer are rated for 7,000 lbs and 60 mph.

Judging by the clearance my trailer's fenders have, I probably cannot go much larger than 8" tires.
Yes, the spin faster than larger size tires, but if properly maintained hubs/bearings/lubrication, they should be fine.
A lot of Cat trailers I see are also running 8" tires.

I don't know about other States, but here in California, an auto, pulling a trailer, is (I believe) limited to 55 MPH on highways/freeways.

I'm using 5.70 X 8 size tires.

Yep when we were kids our boats (mine and my brothers) were double decked on a trailer with 8" tyres and I can't recall ever having any dramas. But like I said 'in a perfect world' I'm running 13" on my boat trailer at the moment and will be going to 14" at so stage to use a couple of aluminium mags I have here. Its not so much the bearings etc that would be the problem, the tyres getting hot and melting from spinning so fast - I have seen tyres melt and disintergrate, and tyres poke the wires out the side. But then again while our season is on, and trailers are being used carting boats in regattas etc.. its usually pretty bloody hot to begin with.

Regards