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Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? #182003
06/15/09 11:45 AM
06/15/09 11:45 AM
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Rob from Bullfrog Offline OP
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Rob from Bullfrog  Offline OP
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I have found a boat on Craigslist locally while looking for a Hobie 16. It is a 15-17 foot Pacific Cat with a rigid cross member (no frame and trampoline). Hull numbers are - WPB31801231086. Does the "86" at the end of the tag discribe production year?
If I am used to a Hobie 16 how would this boat compare?
Any help appreciated.

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Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: Rob from Bullfrog] #182014
06/15/09 02:11 PM
06/15/09 02:11 PM
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catandahalf Offline
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catandahalf  Offline
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Gene Wallet still holds the record for the fastest elapsed time in the annual Gulfport, MS to Pensacola, FL Race (approx. 120 miles). He sailed the race on a Pacific Catamaran with a spinnaker. The circa, early to mid eighties, rings in my memory.

They are a titch heavy and not really owner/beach friendly, but they do like offshore conditions. I also believe Gene raced in the Olympics years ago - that may have been a factor.

Cheers,
Bert Rice, Pensacola Yacht Club

Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: catandahalf] #182017
06/15/09 02:33 PM
06/15/09 02:33 PM
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Hullflyer1 Offline
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Hullflyer1  Offline
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I did at search with the hull number and came up with
WPB= Westport Marine Inc. 447 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, California

Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: catandahalf] #182018
06/15/09 02:38 PM
06/15/09 02:38 PM
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calcheck Offline
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It is an 18.5 foot with a short and stout main- it carries 268 Sq.Ft. of sail- We wet sailed it in Presque Isle bay in the late 60's- I don't think they've been made much into the 70's it weighed about 650 so it is a lot slower than a Hobie- but very sturdy. Ours had a roller furling jib- it was fun to sail past the 30 foot monoslug upwind with it's rail awash, they were doing 6 knots and it would do 12 in the right conditions. It was a great boat to wet-sail- we would pump out the bilge- it shipped a little water above the waterline when it rained, and pull up the sails. Look for soft spots. John

John R.

Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: calcheck] #182020
06/15/09 03:39 PM
06/15/09 03:39 PM
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Posts: 105
Bloomington, IN
jbecker Offline
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Bloomington, IN
My dad owned an 18' (or so) Pacific Catamaran back in the 70's/80's. It was a nice daysailer, and the rigid deck with foot wells was comfortable to sit on. It was fast compared to monohulls, but a dog compared to the Hobie 18 when it came out. It's much heavier. That model had a roller furling jib. If the previous owner left the jib up, look for sun damage on the jib. My dad's jib fell apart after about 10 years. I've seen the smaller model, it looks very similar, just scaled down a bit.

Last edited by jbecker; 06/15/09 03:41 PM.

Jeff
Tiger 849
Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: jbecker] #182068
06/16/09 06:58 AM
06/16/09 06:58 AM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,355
Key Largo, FL and Put-in-Bay, ...
RickWhite Offline

Carpal Tunnel
RickWhite  Offline

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Key Largo, FL and Put-in-Bay, ...
Rob originally asked my by email, and I said I had never heard of a PC16, but the 18s were very popular on the west coast and there were a lot of them in the east as well.
I was racing on a Shark back then and they were of comparable speed. A bit heavy as I recall. HaHa, but so is the Shark. What am I thinking?
Rick


Rick White
Catsailor Magazine & OnLineMarineStore.com
www.onlinemarinestore.com
Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: RickWhite] #182118
06/16/09 12:57 PM
06/16/09 12:57 PM
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Rob from Bullfrog Offline OP
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Rob from Bullfrog  Offline OP
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Thank you all for your information and replys.

Now let me ask the same question in another way - I'm going to buy a Cat fairly soon. I have my pick of several Hobie 16's locally in varied age and conditions but here is the typical boat i'm looking at:

Hobie 16, 1985 or so, w/ trailer, some have trampolines and sails that are newer/replaced. Around $1000

VS.

Pacific Cat PC16 from 1986, Hull is in "stored inside" condition, Has all three sails. With trailer. Around $2000

Please feel free to weigh in - and don't hold back.

Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: Rob from Bullfrog] #182119
06/16/09 01:25 PM
06/16/09 01:25 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,116
Annapolis, MD
Mark Schneider Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Mark Schneider  Offline
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Posts: 3,116
Annapolis, MD
How and where are you going to launch this boat?

A 600 lb boat will not drag easily over the sand.. no matter what kind of beach wheels you get. A hobie 16 was made for trailer to beach kind of life.

If you plan to launch at a ramp, sink the trailer, float the boat off and then tie up to a dock to put sails up... different story.

Think of this choice between an antique car (p cat) and an old reliable very used toyota corrola.


When looking at 1000 dollar boat... It's the condition that matters more then age... replacing any of the bits... tramp and sails, rigging, rudders, strait mast, traveler car, boom, blocks will get expensive really quickly.. and amount to a signficant chunk of change for what you put in it originally.

Safety issues like standing rigging matter... you don't want to be dismasted 3 miles from home in 15 knot blow. WAF = -100!

rudder castings are a constant aggravation when the boat ages. Nothing worse then sailing a cat with the rudders locked down but not under the boat... = helm to kill you.

Fiberglass soft spots ... you don't want to learn a new craft before you go sailing. failure could lead to hull breaking up in big waves.... WAF = -200

The running rigging status are things you can put up with on a beach boat.

Finding your local cat club/yacht club will make you some new friends and get some valuable local knowledge and advice!




crac.sailregattas.com
Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: Mark Schneider] #182145
06/16/09 03:37 PM
06/16/09 03:37 PM
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Rob from Bullfrog Offline OP
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Rob from Bullfrog  Offline OP
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It will be launched at a launch ramp. Then towed out to the beach. We have a houseboat, a couple of jet skis and we want something fun for when the afternoon winds come up on Lake Powell.

I had an H16 when I was younger - and loved it. I want to repeat that great memory for me and give my kids the same great experience.

Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: jbecker] #182149
06/16/09 04:04 PM
06/16/09 04:04 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,203
uk
TEAMVMG Offline
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TEAMVMG  Offline
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"My dad's jib fell apart after about 10 years."


Did you take it back to the manufacturer and ask for your money back?


Paul

teamvmg.weebly.com
Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: TEAMVMG] #182166
06/16/09 07:01 PM
06/16/09 07:01 PM
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
Hmm... sounds like you might be better off with a 16..

You can push it off the beach and most importantly drag it up the beach without an army... The Pcat will just be heavy to deal with on the sand. You could put it on a moring for the day, night, or weekend if that would work for you... still a beach needs a beach boat.

What you really need is a former Pcat sailor to explain how manageable the boat is. 650lbs.. sounds like H21 terrority and this boat is not built like a H21.

Different circumstance that particular Pcat might be a perfect boat but it sounds like you want another beach toy and that is what the 16 was created for...

Last edited by Mark Schneider; 06/16/09 07:01 PM.

crac.sailregattas.com
Re: Please Help - What is a Pacific Catamaran? [Re: Mark Schneider] #182191
06/17/09 05:07 AM
06/17/09 05:07 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,844
42.904444 N; 88.008586 W
Todd_Sails Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Todd_Sails  Offline
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42.904444 N; 88.008586 W
If I had a choice between the Pcat and a decent h16,

the H16 for sure! Fairly light, will handle heavy air, and lots of spare parts.

I'd stay away from the dinosaur if I were you.


F-18 Infusion
#626- SOLD it!

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