New cat in my rental fleet in Santa Barbara CA.

Hope a plug for my new business is O.K., just got a Prindle 19 for the fleet, to join the 3 Nacra 5.2s, a Hobie 16 and a Wave. Might be getting back my old Nacra 6.0 from the guy I sold it to soon also. So far I'm mirroring the international scene, probably 60% of my rentals are Europeans. Another big segment is dads who want to show their kids what all their stories of when they used to own a cat back when are all about. Kinda heartwarming to see...my son just turned four,getting old enough to appreciate sailing, took him out on a perfect flat water fast day, he made my day when he smiled at me and said "this is better than the roller coasters at Disneyland! Look at the water shooting up, it's like a fountain." Having high hopes for the next generation of cat sailors out there....

Well I for one am glad that you mentioned it. Finding cat rentals in So. Ca that is on an ocean beach has been like trying to find ice in desert.

If you have not already been assaulted by the people on this forum who have nothing better to do than threaten people who don't buy advertising space here, well cosider yourself lucky.

I can tell you that buying advertising here is very inexpensive and would at least make you look like you're not trying to abuse the posting privelege.

Do you have a web page that shows your rental rates? What are your typical hours of operation, what months?

One more thing fellow, I have never seen your name mentioned in your profile or on any of your posts. Using a name, your real name should lend some credibility; particularly of anyone here knows who you are.

GARY

Well, my name is Matt Ridge, not trying to be secretive but just haven't gotten around to fattening up my profile I've been so busy. Got a website in development at sbcats.com and email at sbcats@hotmail.com, and I'm usually there on the beach at about noon to six, Wednesday through Sunday, but I'll come out on monday and Tuesday if somebody calls. The Hobies go for $40/hr or $65 for 2 hrs, the others a little more (rates subjuct to change after I see how business goes ) Don't know how long into the winter I'll go, I can keep the boat there as long as I want....anybody wants to reach me directly it's 805-708-1724 (even if your just complaining about me plugging myself...)

ouch!

No Name,
No credibilty,
no spam either

I'm glad to hear someone is starting a cat rental business. I'm amazed I don't see more of it. I recently got back from a trip down the southern coast of CA and I didn't see a single cat rental (true, wasn't looking very hard... but still) Similarly, in Miami last year, I saw a grand total of ONE rental spot. Compare this to the coasts of France, where every dinky beach town has a catamaran and windsurf rental... it blows my mind.

What are the barriers to creating a cat rental business in America? Lack of interest? Cost of operation? Liability? Or is it simple lack of access to public/private beachfront?

I'm very curious to know...

-Aaron

All of the above....

Do you personally have to "own" the beachfront on which you operate? Or do you need to buy an easement from the town?

Not that I am planning on setting up a cat rental shop anytime soon - although I admit that would be pretty close to a dream job. I'm just wondering what sort of logistic problems (aside from money and public interest) are involved.

As for public interest in catamarans, I really think it's really a question of access and perception. Sailboats are astoundingly rare on local lakes/reservoirs, but every time I've taken my boat out (even my old Sunfish), I've received admiring glances from powerboaters. My guess is that recreational boating in the USA is skewed towards powerboats because they are marketed, sold and readily available - not because the public inherently dislikes sailing or is too scared to try it.

Maybe the trick is to develop more awareness of sailing as an everyday recreational sport - not something restricted to expert racers, people with 20 years rigging experience, and uber-yuppie beachfront mansion owners. Particularly since used catamarans can be had so cheaply (compared to a used speedboat) it astounds me that they aren't more mainstream, both for rental and owned units.

I have a consession with the city with a yearly fee, took about a year of getting bounced between departments to get them at the same meeting and moving ahead. With the popularity thing, I think it's a combination of ease of use, for the same 18' boat, with a powerboat you can easily fit 2 adults and 3 kids and not listen to any whining about why there's no wind, and the look at me factor, which is a lot higher with a loud boat, even if the looks are disapproving for being obnoxious, they're still looking....

How do you quickly determine the capability of your prospective renter? Your insurance (if required) must be exorbitant.

I have a written test that they have to take, and I've been teaching sailing for almost ten years full time, so I can usually tell the bluffers. but still, it can be pretty nerve-racking watching them go out when its windy...

Keeping it simple worked well at the rental spots in France. I sailed a Hobie 14, Hobie 16, and Prindle 16 as rentals in difference places on the Atlantic coast and english channel. Their strategy was to keep sailors close to shore and make sure no one sailed alone when it was windy unless they knew what they were doing. Also, they encouraged crews of 2-4 on the cats, and went over basics of weight distribution. Other than that, it was largely "figure it out yourself." Then, of course, there was an emergency zodiac in case of trouble.

This thread is slightly tied to an earlier thread I think Mary started entitled (paraphrasing) "What would you do to increase the popularity of Cat sailing?"
Some creative ideas were tossed about. I tend to think that for Joe-nobody they look at a Cat (or any sailboat)and see nothing but a bunch of ropes going every which way. It is intimidating to them and they immediately rule it out as even possible. I also think most folks are searching for a "Hop in -Turn the key- GO!" experience rather than taking the time it takes to set up a sailboat. My own son hates setting up and taking down but loves the actual sailing.
Whenever we are sailing it is amazing how many people follow along or come over to see what we are doing close-up. I try to take as many new people (especially kids) as I can. Just to show them they CAN do this. It's not hard and it is fun. It's better than fun, but I don't know what the word is........

Thanks for giving other people a chance to sail.
Greg

I'll admit that one of the major barriers to my purchasing a catamaran was the time and complexity of rigging. Again, one of the main reasons why renting is so important. The cat is rigged and ready to go; maybe you have to attach the mainsail but that's about it.

Am I being cheap or is that a little expensive? They rent H16s here for $20 a day... of course that is a military price (everyone in the military has insurance). You have to take the sailing class or go out on a "check out" sail in order to rent one. The check out sail is pretty basic... take the instructor out, get him back to shore semi-dry twice and you can rent one. The navy bases require you to get the skipper-B license which is much more detailed training.

-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2

I think your price is quite low. I remember renting out Hobie 16's for $35-40 a day over 20 years ago on Clearwater Beach (FL).

Agreed - $40 a day is a bit on the low side. In France 5 years ago, $25 an hour seemed to be a pretty normal price. I usually rented for 2 or 3 hours, not the entire day.

I rented a Hobie 16 in Gulfshores AL, about 3 years ago......... $75 per hour . about two months later I bought a used TheMightyHobie18

Todd Hubbell
Thibodaux LA

Todd,

I pretty much did the same thing only about 20 years ago now... BTW did you ever locate some beach wheels?

Clayton

Yeah, I think the price is pretty fair, can't compare with the military base price, but that's heavily subsidised,and so far a fair number of people have been so happy they gave me extra money. Just took out three Russian guys, they were so pumped to be on the water and charging around, we hove to and did a round of photos, said it was the highlight of their travels so far. The next venture in the works is hosting photos of the people they can download for a small fee so they don't have to risk their camera....

I guess that is a pretty good deal. I think I've been a little spoiled over the past few years. I remember thinking $20 a day was an incredible price the first time I saw it. I guess my threshold has been adjusted. Showing the Russians some good sailing sounds really cool.

-Rob V.

Yeah, it was great conditions too, dead inshore to where they're looking at me funny for wearing a spray top, then we hit the wind line and it was whitecapping, let them drive while I sheeted from the trap, they were getting romped. And of course, how had they heard of Santa Barbara? From the soap opera, its still playing in reruns over there I guess...

Matt,

Do you know who the solo sailor is on the Prindle 18 that has multi colored sails and sports number 862 on the sail?

GARY

Same day. Santa Cruz Island (Channel Islands National Park) in the background.
GARY

Nice pics, Gary. We went out last Tuesday in about 18 knots (fun but scarey for me). We only stayed out for about 15 minutes because my son was wet and shivering (yes, I'm in Florida). He said he didn't want to go in but it was getting crazy. Just as we "hit" the beach on a barely controllable broad run, a carfull of kite sailors pulls up. They told us that they don't even think about coming out until the wind hits about 20 mph. He was wearing a BMX looking helmet. I thought it was silly until I saw him launch off the face of the heavy chop. He got about 5 feet of air off of a 1 foot face by doing a pull-up looking maneuver. Very impressive... I see why they wear helmets now.

-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2

kite surfers are the 21st century's answer for social darwinism.

I see him out there a lot, but just in passing...Do you know Lee Wickland? He just sailed his boat up for Labor Day(Hobie 21), and is going to do a wedding with me where we provide rides at the beach party....

I do know Lee. His is the the first Hobie 21 SE that I Solo~Righted.

GARY