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The A Cat #173157
03/29/09 10:14 AM
03/29/09 10:14 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Cutler Bay, Florida
Bajan_Bum Offline OP
member
Bajan_Bum  Offline OP
member

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Cutler Bay, Florida
What's exciting about it? I haven't ran with 1 up since the Hobie 14 back in the late 70s. I just wanted to know what the A class sailors like about the A cat. Also, can you use main and spin on them just for recreation?

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: The A Cat [Re: Bajan_Bum] #173161
03/29/09 11:57 AM
03/29/09 11:57 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 713
WA, ID, MT
davefarmer Offline
old hand
davefarmer  Offline
old hand

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 713
WA, ID, MT
Simplicity. Quick to rig. Very easy to handle on the beach, easy to right. Light and sensitive helm. Slices the water in a sexy way. Points spectacularly well. Light weight translates into instant acceleration. No need to line up crew. Not generally designed to accept the loads of a spinnaker, but when powered up carries apparent wind down very well. Try it!

Dave

Re: The A Cat [Re: davefarmer] #173177
03/29/09 07:26 PM
03/29/09 07:26 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 613
New Hampshire, USA
windswept Offline
addict
windswept  Offline
addict

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 613
New Hampshire, USA
If you go to this link there is an email link that you can send a message out to all of us A-cat sailors. You will get quite a few different answers. http://www.usaca.info . Or you can ask Lars guck at Gunkinc.com. He is a great promoter of the class. Or post this question in the A-Cat forum at the bottom of the forum page.

Last edited by windswept; 03/29/09 07:27 PM.

Tom Siders
A-Cat USA-79
Tornado US775
Re: The A Cat [Re: windswept] #173183
03/30/09 03:42 AM
03/30/09 03:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 246
Kiel, Germany
Baltic Offline
enthusiast
Baltic  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 246
Kiel, Germany
- You are totally independent (rigging, beaching and sailing)
- Fast, according to Texel- and SCHRS-ratings faster as a F18 (and as a Hobie 14-18 anyway ...)
- the only class with true innovations (e.g. curved daggerboards) due to less strict class rules compared to F18s or Tornados
- it will take enough time to get the most out of your mail before you feel to have the desire for a spin

Kai


F18: C2 / A-Cat: Minelli
Re: The A Cat [Re: Baltic] #173187
03/30/09 06:41 AM
03/30/09 06:41 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Several have rigged spinnakers but honestly, it doesn't need it. I thought I would miss the spinnaker when I first got my a-cat but after experiencing it downwind in 12 knots for the first time, a spinnaker is completely unnecessary! It's a great boat for all the reasons mentioned above...


Jake Kohl
Re: The A Cat [Re: Baltic] #173295
03/30/09 08:08 PM
03/30/09 08:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 805
Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
dacarls Offline
old hand
dacarls  Offline
old hand

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 805
Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
1. Every time I lift my 166 pound high-speed, high-performance boat, my back says "Thank you very much!"
2. Who the hey needs a 450 pound boat?


Dacarls:
A-class USA 196, USA 21, H18, H16
"Nothing that's any good works by itself. You got to make the damn thing work"- Thomas Edison
Re: The A Cat [Re: dacarls] #173303
03/30/09 08:24 PM
03/30/09 08:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,655
Portland, Maine
T
ThunderMuffin Offline
Carpal Tunnel
ThunderMuffin  Offline
Carpal Tunnel
T

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,655
Portland, Maine
Quote
2. Who the hey needs a 450 pound boat?


Those of us that are 240lbs :P


Re: The A Cat [Re: ThunderMuffin] #173307
03/30/09 08:41 PM
03/30/09 08:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Team_Cat_Fever Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Team_Cat_Fever  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Originally Posted by Undecided
Quote
2. Who the hey needs a 450 pound boat?


Those of us that are 240lbs :P


Keep telling yourself that.


"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea
Isak Dinesen
If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most.
E. B. White
Re: The A Cat [Re: Team_Cat_Fever] #173308
03/30/09 08:43 PM
03/30/09 08:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,655
Portland, Maine
T
ThunderMuffin Offline
Carpal Tunnel
ThunderMuffin  Offline
Carpal Tunnel
T

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,655
Portland, Maine
I'll tell myself anything I damn well please, and you'll [censored] live with it bitch!

:P


Re: The A Cat [Re: ThunderMuffin] #173339
03/31/09 08:37 AM
03/31/09 08:37 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Team_Cat_Fever Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Team_Cat_Fever  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
And you'll stay the same non-sailing, over yapping, under experienced,excuse making,bad advice giving, Ronald McDonald boat breaking BEEAAAAHHHCCCHHHH that you are now.
:P :P :P :P


"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea
Isak Dinesen
If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most.
E. B. White
Re: The A Cat [Re: Team_Cat_Fever] #173404
03/31/09 07:57 PM
03/31/09 07:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 190
lesburn1 Offline
member
lesburn1  Offline
member

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 190
I was always a little embarrass that I weighted more than the last 18Sq that I built! It weight in at 220 lb.



lesburn1.blogspot.com

A-Cat USA 49
18Sq 49

member- Royal Society for Making Cool Stuff
Re: The A Cat [Re: ThunderMuffin] #173467
04/01/09 09:06 AM
04/01/09 09:06 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Cutler Bay, Florida
Bajan_Bum Offline OP
member
Bajan_Bum  Offline OP
member

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Cutler Bay, Florida
Many thanks for the input, seriously. Didn't mean to start any fights. I understand the love for the A-Cat now. The other cats are obviously more work, but 2 and 3 up sure makes the boat look more exciting. Someday I hope to try a A-cat.

Re: The A Cat [Re: Bajan_Bum] #173469
04/01/09 09:33 AM
04/01/09 09:33 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,116
Annapolis, MD
Mark Schneider Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Mark Schneider  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,116
Annapolis, MD
The first call to make is whether you like RACING solo or with a partner. The racing experience is very different and both are fun in different ways. The team aspect of getting the boat to move is a lot of fun as is the private experience of a solo boat flying upwind or down. (if you go solo... make sure you buy beer for your friends with a sloop boat... crewing is still fun as well)

The next big decision is whether you RACE solo with a chute or not. Since you only have two hands... racing a spin boat shifts your attention slightly. You have to get the boat around the corners first and then worry about the fleet. The simpler A cat allows you to race your competitors around the corner a lot more aggressively.

Another factor is the length of the race course that prevails in your area. A short race course will get old fast with a spin boat... (one or two man).

Finally, if you want to race today... it comes down to what is popular in your area right now. Growing a fleet is slow and unpredictable. You rarely see a region with equal numbers in the classes.

Bob Hodges had a great description of the two forms of racing... but I just can't remember it..


crac.sailregattas.com
Re: The A Cat [Re: Bajan_Bum] #173470
04/01/09 09:38 AM
04/01/09 09:38 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,844
42.904444 N; 88.008586 W
Todd_Sails Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Todd_Sails  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,844
42.904444 N; 88.008586 W
When you read the rosters at regattas, many of the most seasoned sailors seem to flock to them. I can uncerstand.

If you've seen one up close, everything is carbon, even the carbon is made out of carbon. Every bolt, wire, line, is the lightest possible. They are truely often a work of art, and FAST too.

Years ago, living on the island of Galveston, I had a windsurfer-for the too windy/no crew days; and a P18-2, for the other days. I had the entire summer off- paid (school teacher at the time). Good days.


F-18 Infusion
#626- SOLD it!

'Long Live the Legend of Chris Kyle'
Re: The A Cat [Re: Todd_Sails] #173483
04/01/09 10:31 AM
04/01/09 10:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Cutler Bay, Florida
Bajan_Bum Offline OP
member
Bajan_Bum  Offline OP
member

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Cutler Bay, Florida
What about the cost of the A-Cat? And I don't mean in comparison to any other boat. Just ball park figures.

Re: The A Cat [Re: Bajan_Bum] #173485
04/01/09 10:39 AM
04/01/09 10:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
Timbo Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Timbo  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
There are several used A's listed on the A cat website, and try this Classified tab at the top of this page.


Blade F16
#777
Re: The A Cat [Re: Timbo] #173487
04/01/09 10:51 AM
04/01/09 10:51 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 75
Ljubljana, Slovenia
mayhem Offline
journeyman
mayhem  Offline
journeyman

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 75
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Over the past 10 years, I am amazed how many active 20ft (n6.0, i20, etc) racers have moved to A-class. Most of the time, I would honestly rather be screaming along with a N6.0+spi, but as I get older I have less time to rig and organize crew. Also, I have less need for the high wind ultra high adrenalin but want a good, full drug, rush even in light wind (which is more common when your sailing days get reduced).

Downwind, the A-class is still fast like spin cats (mostly)if you sail it very, very well. The biggest downside is that they are very fragile. You must handle them with care (especially on land), but their light weight makes this easy.

Re: The A Cat [Re: Bajan_Bum] #173493
04/01/09 11:08 AM
04/01/09 11:08 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Originally Posted by Bajan_Bum
What about the cost of the A-Cat? And I don't mean in comparison to any other boat. Just ball park figures.


I bought a new-looking, well maintained, kevlar 2000 Boyer MKIV last year for $7500 with a nice trailer, two decent mainsails (one had been sailed three times although it was an older sail), a full Kinder yard cover, foil covers, a relatively new harness, and a beach dolly. Believe it or not, it's actually proven to be a relatively competitive boat even with the older designed mainsails (or maybe BECAUSE of the older mainsail!). I've got a new main coming soon and it will be interesting to see what that does for me.

If you buy a new boat outright, you're looking at around $20 to $22k and most don't come with a sail (since they're typically custom made to weight and wishes).


Jake Kohl
Re: The A Cat [Re: Jake] #173509
04/01/09 12:36 PM
04/01/09 12:36 PM

A
andrewscott
Unregistered
andrewscott
Unregistered
A



Originally Posted by Jake
it's actually proven to be a relatively competitive boat even with the older designed mainsails (or maybe BECAUSE of the older mainsail!).


OR MAYBE it sails fast because of the Lose Nut benind the tiller !

Re: The A Cat [Re: ] #173510
04/01/09 12:43 PM
04/01/09 12:43 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,253
Columbia South Carolina, USA
dave mosley Offline
veteran
dave mosley  Offline
veteran

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,253
Columbia South Carolina, USA
what he's saying is...Despite all of his boats inadequacies, the skipper is fast! JK JAKEY!


The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matthew 8:27





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