Announcements
New Discussions
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Hop To
what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? #273976
07/17/14 07:21 AM
07/17/14 07:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
C
Chris Ross Offline OP
stranger
Chris Ross  Offline OP
stranger
C

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
I would like to buy a beachcat for the purpose of racing it in CRAW (Catamaran racing association of Wisconsin) events. They run a handicap system so basically any beachcat would work. I have been racing sailboats all of my life - I started with optis, moved on to scows, and keelboats. Then I bought a Gougeon 32 catamaran 3 years ago. I have been racing the cat against monohulls in mixed fleet racing, and I realized that I haven't improved much in the last couple of years. I still have a long long way to go to be competitive with the G32 in a multihull fleet. So, my plan is to buy a beachcat and race other beachcats with the hope I would improve more quickly as a multihull racer. I weigh about 170lbs, and would like a cat that I could race solo, but could also race with a crew if I could find someone interested. What type of cat should I look for?

Last edited by Chris Ross; 07/17/14 07:24 AM.
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273977
07/17/14 07:30 AM
07/17/14 07:30 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 124
Madison WI
ewindsail Offline
member
ewindsail  Offline
member

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 124
Madison WI
CRAW has a regatta August 2-3 in Green Bay. Check out the various types of boats being sailed. I sail a F16 and at 175 like the ability to single hand as well as have crew if I want.

Capt. Chaos
CRAW member

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273978
07/17/14 07:32 AM
07/17/14 07:32 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
The best piece of advice that I have to offer is to get a boat that is actively being raced in your area in a sizable fleet. I raced as an x-boat (the odd boat) for several years and it wasn't until I bought a boat and assimilated with one of the more active fleets in our area that I really started to learn and improve at a rapid rate.

You have a lot of options at 170lbs.


Jake Kohl
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Jake] #273980
07/17/14 08:50 AM
07/17/14 08:50 AM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
waterbug_wpb Offline
Carpal Tunnel
waterbug_wpb  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
+1

If you own a boat that has a nice fleet nearby it improves your skills faster and a lot cheaper than having to travel extensively to find regattas with boats of your type.

Buying a boat you can "grow into" is another good idea. Of course, almost any boat fits this category since they are all easy to learn but difficult to master.


Jay

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273983
07/17/14 09:42 AM
07/17/14 09:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
bacho Offline
old hand
bacho  Offline
old hand

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
X2 on Jake

I did the handicap thing on an i20 for a couple years, it's not so great after a while IMO. Our race results suffered some after moving to an F18, but we have certainly become better sailors from it.

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273988
07/17/14 12:44 PM
07/17/14 12:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Originally Posted by Chris Ross
what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer?



What kind of experience do you have? That's the biggest question I think. If you are really green and just getting into sailing, the more complicated the boat the more likely you are to be turned off by the sport. Not to scare you off, but the modern boats power quickly too, and if you don't know how to manage that power they are a handful at best. Most everyone on here started with a H16, they're durable, cheap used, and easy to unload if you want to move onto something different. BUT, if you're coming from another spinnaker boat, then the transition wouldn't be all that hard.

CRAW is made up mostly of F16's and F18's. It's a pretty even split with a few other boats here and there. They race on handicap, but the difference between the two main classes is pretty minimal. It's basically boat for boat. No matter what kind of catamaran, CRAW would welcome you. Don't think they'd turn you away if you showed up with a Hobie 14 or something.

I have a 2012 Viper I would like to sell if you are interested.


I'm boatless.
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273989
07/17/14 12:50 PM
07/17/14 12:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
Timbo Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Timbo  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
Originally Posted by Chris Ross
I would like to buy a beachcat for the purpose of racing it in CRAW (Catamaran racing association of Wisconsin) events. They run a handicap system so basically any beachcat would work. I have been racing sailboats all of my life - I started with optis, moved on to scows, and keelboats. Then I bought a Gougeon 32 catamaran 3 years ago. I have been racing the cat against monohulls in mixed fleet racing, and I realized that I haven't improved much in the last couple of years. I still have a long long way to go to be competitive with the G32 in a multihull fleet. So, my plan is to buy a beachcat and race other beachcats with the hope I would improve more quickly as a multihull racer. I weigh about 170lbs, and would like a cat that I could race solo, but could also race with a crew if I could find someone interested. What type of cat should I look for?


Here you go Chris: http://www.formula16.net/


Blade F16
#777
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273993
07/17/14 05:06 PM
07/17/14 05:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
C
Chris Ross Offline OP
stranger
Chris Ross  Offline OP
stranger
C

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
Thanks for the replies. I'm planning to visit the green bay regatta in august, so I can see f16s and f18s in action. I have spinnaker experience with the G32, and was hoping to step into a boat with a spinnaker right away.

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273994
07/17/14 05:19 PM
07/17/14 05:19 PM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,383
Kingston SE South Australia
JeffS Offline
veteran
JeffS  Offline
veteran

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,383
Kingston SE South Australia
Buy a very well set up boat with a very good spinnaker and you will master it a lot quicker


Jeff Southall
Current boats
Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services
Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider
Nacra 18 Square
Arrow 1576
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273995
07/17/14 05:50 PM
07/17/14 05:50 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Chris, I can try and get you out on the water Friday if you like.


I'm boatless.
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273998
07/17/14 07:53 PM
07/17/14 07:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
C
Chris Ross Offline OP
stranger
Chris Ross  Offline OP
stranger
C

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
karl,
That would be great! My email is laser28 at mac dot com. I can send you my cell number once I hear from you.

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #273999
07/17/14 08:19 PM
07/17/14 08:19 PM

M
MN3
Unregistered
MN3
Unregistered
M



whats your budget?

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #274006
07/18/14 05:50 AM
07/18/14 05:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
C
Chris Ross Offline OP
stranger
Chris Ross  Offline OP
stranger
C

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12
Budget depends on what I would need to spend in order to get a "club competitive" cat that is for the most part squared away. I have a feeling I will be at the back of the pack for a while, and I would like my first cat to be good enough to win races if a good sailor was sailing it. Basically I don't want the boat to be the reason I finish last smile A new NacraF20c or a new flying phantom are out of bounds, but a F16 or F18 that's a couple of years old looks doable.

Last edited by Chris Ross; 07/18/14 06:01 AM.
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #274007
07/18/14 07:00 AM
07/18/14 07:00 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
You have the right attitude, grasshopper. Get the boat out of the equation. If you don't, you'll blame it (instead of the real reason for being slow) every time.


Jake Kohl
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #274008
07/18/14 07:03 AM
07/18/14 07:03 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 382
SE MI / NE IN
rehmbo Offline
enthusiast
rehmbo  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 382
SE MI / NE IN
Probably more F18's on the market than F16. You'll need a regular crew for the 18 though.


Jeff R

H18, C2 USA1193
cramsailing.com
crescentsail.com
Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #274009
07/18/14 07:05 AM
07/18/14 07:05 AM

M
MN3
Unregistered
MN3
Unregistered
M



that's a great place to be able to start from. Many if not most are limited with a low starting budget.

That being the case, F16 sounds like the right boat. mostly because it is a 1 or 2 person cat/racer




Originally Posted by Chris Ross
Budget depends on what I would need to spend in order to get a "club competitive" cat that is for the most part squared away. I have a feeling I will be at the back of the pack for a while, and I would like my first cat to be good enough to win races if a good sailor was sailing it. Basically I don't want the boat to be the reason I finish last smile A new NacraF20c or a new flying phantom are out of bounds, but a F16 or F18 that's a couple of years old looks doable.

Re: what is a good 1st beachcat to buy for the beginning racer? [Re: Chris Ross] #274026
07/19/14 01:08 AM
07/19/14 01:08 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,430
california
F-18 5150 Offline
veteran
F-18 5150  Offline
veteran

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,430
california
I'm getting rid of my 2013 boat to make space for the new one. PM sent.
[Linked Image]

Last edited by F-18 5150; 07/19/14 01:08 AM.

Richard Vilvens
Brand Ambassador
PSA Capricorn USA
R.Vilvens@yahoo.com
Fairfield, Ca
F-18 5150

http://www.capricornsailing.com/

Moderated by  Damon Linkous 

Search

Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 451 guests, and 93 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Darryl, zorro, CraigJ, PaulEddo2, AUS180
8150 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
Forum Statistics
Forums26
Topics22,404
Posts267,055
Members8,150
Most Online2,167
Dec 19th, 2022
--Advertisement--
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1