Boat Suggestions

I’m looking for a 20 foot Cat to sail in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. I have a number of years of recreational sailing experience with smaller boats but never a catamaran. I want a 20 footer to handle the larger lakes and for crew capacity (I want to get my kids into sailing).

Any suggestions? A H-20 or N-20 seems to be a popular choice. Would these boats be too much to handle?

Anyone got one for sail in southern Ontario?

Any feed back is much appreciated.


Jim

Plenty of active Dart 18's in Southern Ontario, with good local events. It is not 20ft, but can easily be sailed single handed or with crew.
check out www.dartcatamaran.ca
cheers

I would get an Inter 20. Seems to be a very stable boat. Local sailors here love it.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
Soon to be Mystere 4.3www.tcdyc.com

Check out Hobie 18's, 20's, and 21's as well to see if any of these would interest you.

An 18' boat with wings can handle 4 adults.

The Nacra 20 has spinnaker and generous sail area, two things that are especially nice for the light air we have in the Great Lakes. Long term, you will be much happier with the N20, IMO.

Are you in Canada or the U.S.? If you are in Canada, you might want to consider a Mystere, since they are manufactured in your neck of the woods.

The Mystere 6.0 has more buoyancy and freeboard than any catamaran its size. And I think the Mystere 5.7 does not even have daggerboards, which is an extra easy factor.

(I think I'm right about the no-board thing on the 5.7, aren't I? If not, somebody correct me.)

If you are looking to just bang around the lake with your kids and their friends you want a Hobie 18. The capacity will be fine. The price on a used boat will be nice. Best of all the thing is bulletproof. This is key if you are going to let the kids take it out by themselves eventually. The N20 and the Hobie 20 are not exactly A cats but they are more fragile than what you want. You are not going to miss 2 feet.
A Dart 18 may also be a good option but I don't know much about those boats.
Don't even think about a Hobie 21. It's way too big for what you want to use it for.

These are the only two feet I have.

Hi Jim,
Check out
http://www.cat-alist.com/tobuysell/tobuysell.shtml for all the local Ontario Catamaran listings. There are a couple Mystere 6.0s which would also be a good boat. On that site there is also the local event schedule.
Dave
http://www.westlakesailingclub.com

Also, the Mystere 6.0 has a front tramp option which is good for kids..

If you are also interested in getting into the racing scene, then an F18 is the way to go.
Dave

I have heard a story that 20+ years old A-cat rescued and towed brand new dismasted Hobie 17 all way from Verezano Bridge to SHBCC in 2005 Statue Of liberty race.


Jim, key question: What is your budget?

Has more to do with rigging than boat. My 20 year old Hobie 17 is still going strong. Just check standing rigging every 2 years.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
Soon to be Mystere 4.3
www.tcdyc.com

Thanks for all the replies.

My budget would top out at about $12,000. I would really like something close to new and something I could use for racing down the road.

Thanks again,


Jim

You're getting close to H20 money.

I wouldn't exactly call the N20 fragile either. You have to understand that the H company builds their boats like battlecruisers, specifically the TheMightyHobie18.

While I wouldn't feel comofortable running any cat up onto a concrete ramp other than an TheMightyHobie18, that doesn't make the N20 fragile.

ARC 21. awesome light air boat, max freeboard, stable.

What?

Am I missing something? When did N20 fall into the category of fragile? Come one now.

The N20 is a solidly built boat, its the boat of choice for distance racing in the US.

If you want something to race for 12k, I'd look at a used F18. Tiger or Nacra F18. The new Infusions just came out and I bet teams will be selling the last generation F18 and getting into a new version. I bet good race ready, 2 year old, used, but still in good shape F18's will be available this spring.

You can get a older N6.0 for much less the $12k and a used N20 in good shape for $6k-$8k.


Bill

Yes you are but I think that could be an old Mystere S with no boards or maybe you were thinking of the Nacra 5.7 Mary. Jim does this matter if you are spending Can. or US. currency? On Catalist website there are many boats for sale as was already pointed out,that newer Mystere 6.0XL with the tilt trailer sure looks sweet also if you are kind of not used to cat sailing and wanted a 20' boat the wider versions I believe are a lot more forgiving in a puff. Mystere 6.0 has got to be in the runing for the title of 4x4 of catsailing with the remote centreboard adjustments,shear volume, racks, wings,front tramp and carrying capacity. Good luck Bob G.

From what you said I would say that the Formula 18 is the boat you are looking for. You can sail it without a spinnaker if you like for daysailing. It has a self tacking jib so you can take relative neofites out. When you are ready for a race you will have a boat that has an extremely competitive fleet that is growing all the time.

There are a number of places to look for used Formula 18s (Hobie, Nacra, Mystere). Take a look at Catsailors Ads or look on the NAF18.com site for a couple. You can get a really nice used one for about 11,000 to 12,000 complete.

Later,
Dan

Jim
There are 5 division 16 regattas within 5 hours of Toronto.
If you are looking to race in the future you should at least be aware of these events and that they are Hobie Class events. This means they are Hobie only. There are some open events at Etobicoke YC in Toronto. The Tiger can race at any of the events.
Regatta Schedule: Schedule

I think the following boat would be perfect for you.

2000 Inter 20 -- Self tacker, Snuffer, 2 spinnakers. $7950. (St. Louis, MO) Mike, mhill2@swbell.net, 314-963-1777. Ready to race. http://stlouiscats.com//img/tybee500Boat-2.jpg. More pictures at www.stlouiscats.com (missouri)(June)

http://www.catsailor.com/cs_classifieds.html

And yes I paid for a classified ad!!!

Mike Hill