Nacra 500 or 5.2?

I am looking to upgrade fron my Hobie 14. I want to be able to sail singlehanded or sail with 1 or 2 friends. Which would be the better choice? Is one easier to sail or in case of capsize to right than the other? What about performance?

I think both are great boats and will be an upgrade from the H14, especially for bringing others a long. I think the first question you may want to ask is do you want daggerboards or not.

Also a 500 is the equivalent of a 5.0 if you are looking for boats in the mid 80s (5.2 stopped production then).

The nacra 5.0/500 is a huge upgrade over the hobie 14--I've had both. The nacra 5.2 is more complex and less convenient (mostly because of the dagger boards and boom), but is slightly faster.

There are very few used Nacra 5.0 or 500's for sale, but there are a some 5.2's. Since I haven't used daggerboards, I don't know what to expect. I realize the benefits of them, but are they difficult to use when sailing singlehanded? How do they effect tacking? I don't plan on any racing except maybe a few local regattas with area clubs for the fun and friendship.

I singlehand my 5.2 all the time and the daggerboards are not a big deal. If you sail around a lot of shoals you might not want them, but if you know the waters you sail in, they are nice for pointing ability and tacking.

-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2

The 500 would be easier to right as it is lighter. However you'll still need to bring along a righting bag. The 5.2 is an old boat since it has been out of production since the 1980's. The 500 is still in production and probably won't be discontinued anytime soon as it’s still considered a proven “modern hull shape” with regards to board less cat hull designs where we’ve seen very little development over the last 20 years. Maybe with the development of the F12 this will begin change. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

At 185 lbs, I was able to right my 5.0 solo if there was more than 8 knots of wind. But I really had to have the technique just right.

I sail dagger and no dagger boats all of the time. No dagger boats are just a lazier more carefree thing. Sometimes I want to just bang about and other times I want to apply myself and sail better. The boards will mess with your mind for a while but once you get your systems right you will love them. Fact is if you sail into shore with your boards down your an idiot.

I have not had my 5.2 very long but I am in love with the boat. It is a great single handed boat, and a pretty good 2 up boat. I am working on speeding mine up a bit with a spin and some other things.

Like the guy before said, boards are not a problem just remember them!

Gree,
Be sure to send some pics of any spinnaker setup you do.

-Rob V.

I am trying to find a used spinnaker, I don't want a brand new one because I will be learning how to sail with one with what ever one I use.

I finally found a pole that will work. I have been trying to figure out everything that I need to rig it up. I am sure in the next few weeks I will be asking for some help.

But there will be pictures taken!

Guys:

I don.t know if this is a 5.2 or 5.5 BUT he kicked our BUTTS <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> in High Portsmouth at Texas Catamaran Championships. Gree I too will be learning <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> spinnaker this year on the Mystere 4.3. It should be fun. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Duog

It isn't a 5.2, or at least I don't think it is but it might be.

Doug, your 17 is a hot boat! The picture of it that you post all the time is what made me start looking at a larger boat. I wanted a 17 for a long itme but ended up with my 5.2.

Gree:

Yea 17 is fun solo boat. A hoot at 15 mph and up and it does REAL good in high Portsmouth. You can find them cheap like I did, believe it are not mine is a 86. Cleaned up TEAL good <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> This is project for next season to learn spinnaker on, along with rebuilding sunfish for Wed nights here' http://www.clearlakeracing.com/ They are fun.

It's a 5.5 I believe.

I know the 5.2 isn't the newest boat out there and isn't the fastest but it is alot of fun and a few add on's will make it a killer.

I really don't race much, except for a group of about 6 of us that go out and do 5 or 6 mile races around the lake just for fun. I have finally learned the boat well enough that I can out run most of the other guys who are almost all on 16's. They keep up fine on the reachs and downwind legs but anything upwind I can smoke'em.

Funny that you are fixing up a sunfish, I just got a Laser that was sitting in a yard. It appears that everything is there, and the boat is solid. I haven't even put it together yet but it was free so....I had to take it. The guy was actually about to burn it wil a pile of junk because he was tired of it taking up space.

I think it is a 70's model sunfish. I got it for free. Hull, trailer and mast spars I will use. Everything else is toast or missing. I will have it race rigged with North racing sail and hottest race stuff but KO Sailing. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
We have few Laser in Wed night. You should fix it up. Dingies are fun and tipsy? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> (LOL)

Doug

That is my plan, I want to kinda turbo it and see what I can make it do.
I love my Nacra but on those days when I don't get out of class until 3 it is hard to get much sailing in because of the set up time. I think the Laser would be much faster for setup and should be fun.
Like I said, everything is there, the sails have been under his bed for about five years. He doesn't think the boat has been on the water more than 10 times. But it looks ugly because it has gotten leaves and stuff all over it.
Also, I have a few people that want to learn to sail, the Nacra is great but when you are letting someone take control of a boat for the first time....she might be a bit much. I think that the Laser would work well.
I am getting worried about this addiction. It started with one boat and has grown to many.

I have three and will to more in 2008. An A cat. This one maybe as it is for heavy guys (200-220 lbs) like me. http://www.a-cat.org/id102.htm And a corsair 28R or Sprint 750 for family and too race with si=on-in-law.

Doug

I have a Hobie 14T that the fiance has basically claimed as her solo boat, My Nacra 5.2, the Laser, and a collection of half boats and trash boats, ranging from a Sol Cat 18 to two ancient Aqua-cats. The scrap boats are sitting at my grandfathers under a huge open sided barn.

Most of the trash boats are junk, but the sol cat is in good shape. Once the Nacra is fully fixed up and the new laser is in the water....I might look at the sol cat as a beater.

That A cat looks nice, I am jealous of you older people with money. For now I do everything on a college budget. I make alot of stuff and fortunatly have to tools and machines needed.

what's a beater?

An 'ol jallopie, POS, etc...something that's "beat up". I'm not sure how you guys would say it down there in upside down land. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Gree:

Look at this site you want to make a LOT of money. If girlfriend or ? could help you float for 8 months, you could make $60,00-75,000 first year. www.oceancorp.com the NDT programs is what I am finishing up on March 18. Getting $18 per hour to start , BUT you work a lot of 7-12's so you get a LOT of overtime.

Doug

I am actually going to pharmacy school right now. But thanks for the idea.
I am looking forward to getting out of pharmacy school.... I already have a contract with CVS pharmacy, they are paying for my school and then when I get out I owe them a year for each year they pay for. But during those years I will be making over 100K per year.

I am a little poor right now, but as soon as I get out... I will have what ever boat I want.

Gree:

You are set, but if you know anyone who is not college wise. This is GREAT career path. Check it out.

Doug

Yeah, I am lucky that I figured out that path and had the brains to do it.

Be careful about jobs you can't quit!!!!!!!! But then again, my organization has to screw people or otherwise no one would work for them.

It will only be four years, and they are a pretty good company. I already work for them and have for 2 years as a tech. I also have made friends with alot of people that have made the same deal that I have and they are all very happy.

aren't you getting close to the end of that thing?

We might say banger.

Don't work, sail.

that's Jim Casto's 5.5uni, and yes, he's really fast on it, and yes, he loves a good blow, like we had on Sunday. He was 3rd at nationals in 2001.

5 more months!!! can't hardly wait. If I could get out tomorrow I would.