I am thinking of looking around for a used single handed boat for recreational sailing. Where I sail has some shallow shoals so I may lean toward a non-centerboard boat but also look at all. Anyone have a strong recommendation? It will be mostly recreational use and at most will carry two occationally. I have a Hobie 14 which is a little overloaded with my 185 lb frame. I am thinking maybe Nacra 5.7 or 570. I like my Nacra 5.8 but I worry about righting it by myself, which I haven't tried yet.

All suggestions are appreciated.

Blade.

I sail a P19 (I would guess similar to the 5.8) and cannot right it by myself (180 lbs). However I have not tried with any aids (pole, bag). Find someone else that can sail another cat singlehandedly and then you have no problem.

Single handed boats:
The following were design for it
H14, H17, Hobie FX-1,A Class, N 5.5u, 18SM, F17, P15.
sorry if I missed one. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
I saw an F17 over at Altantic Boats, pretty sharp.
Ted

Try to find a nice, used Dart. They have skegs are are nice to sail. Some of the boats others are pushing are more race orientated with daggerboards. You are on the right track.

Bob

It is somewhat more performance oriented but both the Taipan and Blade designs (Formula 16) have daggerboards that only extend 550 mm (= less then 22 inches) below the keel line. The daggerboards go therefor only slighty deeper then the rudderboards (about 18 inches).

You can sail a Taipan or Blade in waste deep water and be perfectly safe. (actual experience) Just don't dive the bows to deep ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm 190 lbs and sail a Taipan F16. I can right that boat solo using only a righting line and it suits my frame very well when singlehanding.

There are a few Taipans on offer in Florida. Maybe you are interested ?

Woutre

You're only 1-2 hours from Kerr Lake (on the NC/VA border). If you stop by on a CSC race weekend, I'm sure we can arrange a test ride on an Isotope. With it's kick-up centerboards and (newer models) rudders, it might fit your needs.

Regards,
Eric

You said you were thinking of a Nacra 5.7 and carrying two on occasion. My brother and I had a Nacra 5.7 for years on Chick's Beach (Virginia Beach) in the early 90s. There were sandbars all over the place. I thought it was a cool boat: big giant trampoline, not too many strings to pull, no boards, double trapeze, hard to pitch, and it seemed to go plenty fast. At 185lb I bet you could get it back over with a water bag.

H17 +1

My other recommandations

nacra 5.0 or nacra 500

Wouter

I would also recommend a Marstrom A-Class. Though they are a bit pricey, they are extremely fast, and extremely sensitive catamarans.

I have a Hobie 17 with a Pentex squaretop and Pentex reacher. I used the stock Sport jib setup and had a custom 190 sq ft reacher made. The hexarachet blocks are on 18" track that are mount with the track 18" from the rear crossbar. The boat FLYS with 1 or 2 in heavy air, and with approx. 650 lbs in medium air last weekend it wanted to lift a hull. They can be found cheap. Mystere 4.3 is a nice boat too. I am getting a 2002 for $3000. If money is not a object get a Nacra A2 or Blade.

Doug
Hobie 17 # 007
sunfish
Soon to be Myster 4.3

Walter,


Why do the daggerboards kick up like the rudderboards?

What happens if you hit some something shallow with the daggerboards?

What is the worst case scenario?

Thanks,

Actually, not much happens.

I just had my home-build Timber epoxy Taipan and I the rush to get through the surf I forget the lift the luff daggerboard. So I sailed right up the beach with it fully extended. Nothing happened, I need to look really hard to see which board was pulled across the sand for meters and meters. We did jump off as soon as well noticed something was wrong and the water was shallow enough. But that was really rather late. I think I only stepped of when the water was only 4 inches deep. The boat was actually standing on its board under on angle of about 15 degrees. Looked a bit funny, but even more stupid.

Of course I didn't hit the beach full speed but still I had some good velocity as I was trying to stay ahead of the breaking waves.

Kick-up daggerboards are more complex to make and are not really efficient in the way of performance. Also when well made the daggerboard can take some abuse. Therefor it is just simpler to not make them kick-up.

If you hit something with a daggerboard you either feel a thump go through the boat (jellyfish, plastic bag etc) or you slow down very rapidly and push your bows down. I haven't hit any rocks or 2x4 's yet so can't tell.

Wouter