Hi there,
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<br>I'm looking at a new cat. I've been sailing a Hobie 16 for several years and have had a chance to spend a few days sailing a Nacra 18sq. I really love this boat. I'm not limited to trailering because I keep my boat at one location, but I don't see the 18sq being built anymore. I always prefer new boats...gives me piece of mind. I see that there has been some discussion on the Inter 17 and the Nacra 5.5sl. I was wondering if anyone had performace comparison information on these three boats.
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<br>Thanks!<br><br>

Try checking out the Ultimate Catamaran Guide at http://www.sailingproshop.com/catamaran.htm<br> . Find a way to get a test-sail on an Inter, and you'll be sold. You could go either for the I17 if you mostly solo, or consider the I20 for maximum fun factor (it can also be solo'ed easily, and you can also roll up the jib to reduce power in strong winds).<br><br>Try it, you'll like it!<br><br>Sail fast and have fun,<br>Alan Thompson<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>

I would look into any one of the Inter boats. I own the Inter 18 and love it. Very easy boat to control and the spinnaker is a big advantage over the Nacra 5.5sl. I have never sailed a Inter 20 but from all indications, it is also nice (fast) boat and there are more used Inter 20 models around (if this is a factor). Personally, I love the big tramp on the Inter boats--lots of room for an extra beer or my kids.
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I have owned a Nacra 18 Sq., Nacra 5.5 Uni and currently own the Inter 17R. I have not sailed the Nacra 5.5 Sloop. If you look at the Portsmouth numbers, the Nacra 5.5 Sloop, Nacra 18 Sq. and Inter 17 R are all pretty similar, but they have different ways of getting there. The sloop gets it using a 2 man rig with a big jib and generating good speed upwind and downwind with the slot effect created by main and jib. The 18 Sq. gets its speed with a large mainsail and wide beam. Like all unirig boats, it is less exciting downwind, but goes upwind very well. The I-17R get it's speed from a modern rig and mainsail plus the spinnaker downwind. In my opinion, this is the most exciting and fun boat to sail. If your interest is in the I-17 without spinnaker, it is the slowest of the three. Another of the advantages to the Inter is the way it handles and steers. It has a near-nuetral helm and tacks extremely quickly. I loved the 18 Sq. for its wide beam and forgiving nature in going fast upwind. I loved the N 5.5 Uni for the great class racing here in Michigan and its ease of trailering, set-up and take-down. It is also a great upwind boat, although more challenging than the 18 Square. Best of all has been the single-handed I-17R with it's high aspect Technora mainsail and the spinnaker. This boat gets around the race course very quickly and changes the focus from being an upwind boat (which it is) to being a downwind boat because of the fun and excitement, although short-lived, going downwind. After sailing single-handed boats since the mid-eighties, I can't believe how quickly the downwind legs are over!<br><br>Les Gallagher
<br>Inter 17R USA 104
<br>"little yellow boat"

Is anyone actually manufacturing the 18sq anymore? How easily is the Inter 17R sailed solo utilizing the spinnaker? Thanks for everyone's input to date.
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I have sailed the I-17R with the Spinnaker and was amazed how easy it is to operate. It is intimidating before you whip out the shoot for the first time, however, once you hoist it up, it is pretty easy to operate.
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<br>It is a very well laid out boat.
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<br>Russell Weaver
<br>IRCA
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I have sailed an I20 for a year (previously a P19), and I often singlehand it. You can sail the boat w/o any problem solo or with a non-sailor. This Saturday, I took out a friend from work for 2 hours in nice 12 kt winds, and we had a blast. He was a total non-sailor (I'm trying to convert him). I had him steer for a 1/2 hour on reaches while I ran the sails and he loved it. Later, I took over steering and mainsail trim, giving him the jib. On a long downwind run home, I ran both the main and the spinnaker.<br><br>The I17R is very similar to the I20 in design and handling. It's very easy to use the spinnaker with the snuffer system, even solo. <br><br>Give it a try and you'll be sold on it.<br><br>Sail fast and have fun,<br>Alan Thompson<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>

Out of interest sake, what sort of cash is a fella looking at for a new Inter 17R? Does anyone know of any Western Canadian distributors? I've read alot of positive information on the Inter cats and can't wait to try and actually find one to look at in person.
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<br>Thanks!<br><br>

I'm not sure of the exact price, I think maybe $8k or so. If you can't find a local dealer, check with Ron Lane at http://www.fastlanesailing.com/ in San Diego. He sells a lot of Inters and can ship it to you.<br><br>Alan<br><br>http://www.fastlanesailing.com/<br><br>

The 18 sq is a development class. NACRA made a Square, but as a whole the Squares were never actually made as production boats (read, we don't need no STEENKIN' class rules). You can get hullplans by Lindahl or any hull design for that matter. The only real limitations are 18' length (5.5m), 18 square meters of sail area (in any config you want), and the Category I squares are 330 lb or less, Cat II sq are 330 or greater.
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<br>For the details, see the Square page
<br>http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/nacrasailor/18square.htm
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<br>I love mine...
<br>tami
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I suspect they are more in the teens (i.e. 11 - 13K). Just an educated guess.<br><br>