I'm returning to cat sailing after a 25 year or so hiatus. I learned to sail on cats in the late 70s at Jax Beach in Fl - and owned and kept a Prindle 16 there for a couple of years. I lost the storage location, and was forced to sell.

Skip forward about 25 years!

I've only rented Hobies a couple of times in the intervening years. My life situation has changed a bit, and I'm determinted to get back to spending some quality time at the beach sailing - only to find that there are a very few (and constantly shrinking) places that still rent cats.

At this point, I really just want a recreational boat that I can trailer to the water relatively easily; something fairly durable. I've been looking for another Prindle, but they seem few and far between (I'm in Central Virginia, but willing to travel as far as DE/GA to pick up a boat).

I've done a little reading on other newbie/beginner boat threads here, and probably ought to list the following as 'requirements' or information:

- I weigh 165#, but would generally be sailing with a crew, for a combined weight of approximately 270#.

- I had no trouble righting a P18 w/ a righting line at 130#.

- I'd like something durable - particularly up for beach landings

- speed's not too important

- I'm landlocked, and would need to trailer to every location - ease of setup is desireable.

- I'd like something relatively inexpensive, in case this turns out to be a hobby I just don't have time for.

I've found a Hobie 18 in South Carolina that I'm interested in - for my target price of $2500, but perhaps it's worth it to wait and try to find a Prindle 18-2 or another used P16?

Did you check the classifieds on this web site? (See bar at top of page.) Just a quick perusal shows a Prindle 18, a Hobie 18, and a Mystere 4.3, all of which seem to be in your ball park pricewise and in terms of simplicity of rigging.

I sure did...and there are a couple which seem worth pursuing. Most are further away than I wish to travel.

And, actually, just found an '87 prindle 18 in NJ, which is not too far for me, on ebay.

I'm not familiar with the Mystere at all - they look like they've got the newer style 'wave piercing' hulls - I had the impression from some threads that these are more 'delicate' hulls?

I guess my question should be restated a little better: I don't have any significant experience sailing anything other than the Prindle, and all of my experience is very dated at this point.

To some degree, I expect this is like riding a bike, but I'm wondering if anyone would strongly urge me to avoid or go for any particular boat.

Thanks!

Okay, based upon your posts, since you don't care about speed, I would recommend a Hobie Wave. Simple, very durable boat that you can have a lot of fun with. It can carry a lot of people, or you can sail it by yourself in heavy air and have a blast. It comes with just the mainsail, but you can always add a jib and or a Hooter later to spice it up if you want.

Problem is that used ones are hard to find -- and when they become available, they are immediately snapped up by the people in the Wave fleets, because there is a great demand for them.

Ok, I'll add that to the list...if I see one.

I just put together that you are the (a?) host of this site - thanks for taking the time to answer my previous request for information.

After giving it some thought, I'm going to pursue an '87 Prindle 18 and, if that doesn't work out, a Hobie 18 I found on thebeachcats. I read a bit more, and while the wave looks like a very rugged boat, the Portsmouth Yardstick also makes it appear that it's very pokey. I said wasn't worried about speed too much, but I would like something that does do a little better :-)

Although I'm looking at boats that are "ready to sail", I'm sure I'll be needing stuff, and I'll hit the store here.

Thanks - this forum is a great resource.

I'm sorry, I missed that part where you said you would be sailing with crew most of the time. The Hobie 18 is my favorite boat, and I highly recommend it. Rick and I raced one for at least 12 years. The Prindle 18 is also a great, durable boat, but it is more pitchpole-prone than the Hobie 18.

Well, I bought the Prindle 18 last night - I'm really just incredibly psyched to have a boat again! The sails are marginal, and I'll need to replace a number of lines, but the hulls are solid and I should be able to do a little maintenance and have her in the water next month! I couldn't be more excited!