I own a older Hobie Cat 14 and it's time to move up to a faster large newer used cat. I do mostly recreational sailing solo (lakes and bays), but may try racing once I get more experience. I have been thinking either a Hobie Cat 17 or Nacra 5.0 or 5.2, but open to any and all suggestion. Thanks!

Apparently Bob Curry whopped evrybody at the Trident #1 with a Hobie 14 on corrected time. If you want to race that might be the happening boat for now...

thom

So many factors go into selecting a cat, you're going to need to give us more ideas on what you're looking for:

new or used?
budget?
1 or 2 people sailing?
your weight
how importance is performance/high tech?
where do you usually sail?
want to stay with no daggerboards?
uni or sloop rigged?
want option of spinnaker?

My nacra 5.0 has been a great boat for me, but the best boat for you depends on the factors above. In fact, I'm getting another cat soon but may keep my 5.0.

The nacra 5.0 can be sailed uni or sloop, has no daggerboards (instead has deep skeg symmetric hulls), and can be handled easily by one person but was designed for two. It sails well off the beach through surf. It weighs about 340 lbs and can be righted by one adult if the right technique is used.

Performance is similar to a Hobie 16, but I've found the hull design more forgiving (harder to pitchpole, thank goodness) and the tramp layout better (tramp flush with hull decks). I've seen guys who know how to sail the 5.0 really rip, and the Portsmouth rating is probably generous. H16 tend to be faster in lighter winds--I think they have more sail area; but the 5.0 seems faster in heavy conditions--hull design is easier to push harder, less sail area(?).

Downside of the 5.0 is that there just aren't many of them around compared to H16s. I haven't sailed the 5.2 or H17, so I can't compare it to those.

Used ones can be had for 1000 to 4000 (you get what you pay for); new ones (now the Nacra 500) are probably about 7500-8000--these have more sail area, I think, than the 5.0.

Good Luck

I have had many different boats. Here is my take on two of them you listed:

Hobie 17SE - Had one for 3 years (circa 1988 model) and it was a great single handled boat. I would still be sailing one, but I have found them to be flimsy. I am a beach sailor, so the spring loaded boards looked like a great idea... but I have never known an H17 sailor that doesn't complain about them. I don't like how the wings are connected to the boat and quite frankly, that boat doesn't need wings. It was a fun boat though. Maybe the newer ones are built better... I had a lot of problems with mine.

Nacra 5.2 - This is a freaky little boat. We have the only active Nacra 5.2 fleet around so I know 10-15 guys with these things. I have a 1982 model. The bad points:
1. Not a lot of room... this is a two man boat max.
2. Not very forgiving.

Good Points:
1. Very powerful boat (good depending on who you are).
2. Cheap to buy and maintain. Parts are everywhere.
3. Built very solid.

It is a freaky boat. I think it is a riot and frequently solo without the jib. When I bought and re-did mine, we weighed it in the shop and it was under 300lb without the mast. Very light boat with 48" daggerboards and 220+sqft sail. Freaky is the only word to describe it. It is a challenge in gusty situation.

I'd like to differ with you on the 17 not needing wings.

When you're in a 25 knot blow by yourself, the only thing to do is trap out on the wing.

Well... for the last season I had mine, I didn't use the wings. We get very gusty days around these parts and either way you cut it, you are still sheeting out when a gust like that (30mph) hits you. Don't get me wrong, I liked the H17, mine just seemed very flimsy, prob. because I had a H18mag before it.

Szar

Depends on what you're really looking for. I like the Nacra 5.0 also. A guy I race with just picked one up and he seems to be doing well with it. But IMHO the SC17 is a perfect all arounder....easily handled by one but has the Huevos for 2 if you want. I've had H16, H17 & TheMightyHobie18 mag and I like my SC better than all of them. Some pros: it has probabaly the biggest tramp of any 17 (definitely bigger than a TheMightyHobie18), a decent rating, simple controls, no boards, and can be found at a reasonable price. The only con I've found is solo righting....but I have now remedied that with a SoloRight. Let me know if you want any more info on the SC, good luck in your hunt!

Jeff