Has a small car topperable cat been produced?
I know the Wave is said to be car toppable but at 13' and 220lbs/110Kg,
its length and weight really make roof carrying impractical.
Something smaller and lighter would get around this.
Anybody out there have any leads?

We are making something here in the UK, see http://www.fourhulls.com/frames.htm

I beleive the main criterea is that the boat has to weigh under 75kg, including the roof rack! as that is the limit for most vehicles in Europe, I would be interested to hear if other countries have different load carrying rules.

All the best

Gareth

Some Masts can be divided!

In the UK, the Dart 15, www.dart15.com and Catapult www.catapultcats.com Both are rated faster than the H14
The Catapult has inflatable hulls and is soooo light.

The cat in that picture on that car-WOW!

That would handle REALLY BAD, at any speed, making it worth carrying it anyway. I wouldn't want to be driving that in a crossing head wind. Although, I guess you could sheet in!

How does that thing handle, at say 80-100kmh?

This pic from Switzerland reminds me of European mountain pass situations I have seen personally. Several tiny cars pulling caravans (travel trailers to you Yanks) were seen after turning over and splattering wives, chilluns and dogs down the Autobahn.

The Sea Spray 15 is car toppable. They weigh about 160 - 180 lbs. and are pretty narrow (something like 7'). There's a guy in our club that carries his on a rack on a pickup. I wouldn't be afraid to cary one on the roof of a small car, though.

There's a feller in Canada who sells carbon fiber Sea Spray hulls.

The Dart 18 has an available optional mast which is two-peice. The rest of the boat disembles very easily. The hulls slide off of the cross bars without using any wrenches. Very slick.

GARY

Depending on what version you get, the Wave breaks down pretty easily. It is all in how the tramp attaches. One version hooks on to the hull while the other runs through a track and laces in the back. The mast comes in two pieces, too.

Also, the Trac 14 breaks down VERY easily, but I thought it was a little heavy, The mast does not come in two pieces, but it should be OK for any car top. The beams pivot on a bar on the hulls, then the end of the beam has a big screw-in device that you can hand-tighten! The tramp then just laces in the back beam. Pretty easy and pretty slick. We transported one on a Suburban with no problem and I think you could get one on a much smaller car, too.

And you got that up there how!!!?????

Dan,

Which version of the wave tramp is easier/faster/better?

Jerry

Looks like I've found what I was looking for and it was almost in my own backyard. It's called a ROCAT and seems to fit the bill. Modern design. light weight and full of fun.

Look through the manufacturers web page for details.

http://www.creatron.com.au/

I'd like to read other peoples opinions

{I've also attached a photo]


Inland

Looks like I've found what I was looking for and it was almost in my own backyard. It's called a ROCAT and seems to fit the bill. Modern design. light weight and full of fun.

Look through the manufacturers web page for details.

http://www.creatron.com.au/

I'd like to read other peoples opinions

{I've also attached a photo]
[img]http://[/img] [img]http://www.creatron.com.au/html/Riggs.htm[/img]

Inland

Try the Hobie Bravo as a car topper! Its light and is one piece so no dis-assembling, in-or-de-flating is needed. Simply take it off your car, rig it in just a few minutes and off you go. I have car topped mine by my self all last year as I explored all the small lakes in Eastern WA, North Idaho, and Western Montana. Great fun.

By the way the H16 is not that difficult to car top once there is no rigging or mast to deal with. Still you want a bigger vehicle such as a truck to car top on.

One thing I thought was interesting on the website is the $300 cash back for customer referrals. Do any other manufacturers do this? Apart from the marketing value, perhaps also a useful way of encouraging the development of the sport.

Mark.

It looks a lot more interesting to me than that Bravo--yes, more complex; but lighter and wider. Anyone know how the ROCAT sails?

Hi, While it would be smaller than some of the boats shown being car topped, I would not recommend it for most people or vehicles. Still, if someone is looking for a very complete, up to date, small cat it would be hard to beat the value of a Mystere 4.3. I confirmed with Mystere just yesterday that they are holding last year's price of $4500 U.S. (FOB Montreal) for new boats this year.

Glenn Ashbey (A Class World Champ) in Australia carries his A Class on top of his Ford Falcon wagon.

Pre Atlanta Olympics, Darren Bundock/John Forbes and Gary Geitz/Arron Salt from memory, roof racked 2 Tornado on a large van in America.