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Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? #142506
05/08/08 11:29 AM
05/08/08 11:29 AM
Joined: May 2008
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dsteinke Offline OP
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dsteinke  Offline OP
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I am a parent looking at buying a used small catamaran for lake sailing or ocean bay sailing (1 foot max chop) for my kids. I need something that's light (hopefully 250 lbs max). There are Aqua Cat 12.5 and Aqua Cat 14 catamarans by American Sail, and a Hobie Cat wave for sale locally. Has anyone ever sailed these boats? How do they hold up? Tippy? Sailing in high/low winds?

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Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: dsteinke] #142507
05/08/08 12:41 PM
05/08/08 12:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 342
Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
IndyWave Offline
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IndyWave  Offline
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I can tell you the Hobie Waves are great boats; easy to sail, very stable, and virtually indestructible. They can easily take 2 adults and 3 or 4 kids at once. They like high winds, but are kind of slow in low winds. They tend to be pricey, even used; because people don't often re-sell them. You can get lots of info about them here and on the HobieCat.com forums.

I've never sailed an Aqua Cat, so someone else will have to tell you about those boats.

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: dsteinke] #142508
05/08/08 02:53 PM
05/08/08 02:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
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ccat Offline
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ccat  Offline
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Aqua Cat = floating lawn furniture. They actually don't sail too badly for what they are, probably lighter than a Wave

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: dsteinke] #142509
05/08/08 03:14 PM
05/08/08 03:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline
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Mary  Offline
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I think an Aqua Cat would be a great boat for kids.

Here are two links, one to American Sail, which manufactures the boat, and you can learn more there about both of the Aqua Cat models. And the other link is to a magazine article.

www.americansail.com/
http://www.sailingonline.com/fullby0201.html

Personally, I recommend the Hobie Wave, but you could have a lot of fun with the Aqua Cat, too. And it is probably lighter weight.

As with any cat, follow the advice that has been given on this forum to check for soft hulls and other problems. They started making Aqua Cats 48 years ago, so some of them are ancient. On the other hand, they are still making and selling them, so those could be relatively young boats.

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: Mary] #142510
05/08/08 06:37 PM
05/08/08 06:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 921
Alachua, FL
Mugrace72 Offline
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Alachua, FL
<<<<As with any cat, follow the advice that has been given on this forum to check for soft hulls and other problems. They started making Aqua Cats 48 years ago, so some of them are ancient. On the other hand, they are still making and selling them, so those could be relatively young boats>>>>>

We used to joke about Aqua Cats with their balls on the top. However, if they are still in business that says it all. They must be pretty good and certainly kid friendly.

Even Hobies have balls now!

Just don't pay too much!

Jack


Jack Woehrle
Hobie Wave #100, Tiger Shark III
HCA-NA 5022-1
USSailing 654799E
Alachua FL/Put-In-Bay
Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: Mugrace72] #142511
05/09/08 01:45 PM
05/09/08 01:45 PM
Joined: May 2008
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dsteinke Offline OP
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dsteinke  Offline OP
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Has anyone actually sailed an Aqua Cat? The Aqua Cat 12.5 has dagger boards and weighs 50 lbs less than the Hobie Wave. When I test drove the Wave, it seemed to get pushed sideways over the water by the wind. The hulls didn't seem to cut into the water very well.

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: dsteinke] #142512
05/09/08 01:59 PM
05/09/08 01:59 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 342
Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
IndyWave Offline
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If you get a Wave, add a tiller extension so you can sit farther forward. That will help it cut into the water better. With the new short tiller arms, you tend to sit too far back and the bows stick up, catching the wind. My performance improved significantly when I added the extension, allowing me to sit up on the front seat pads. Only move back enough to keep the lee bow from diving in high winds.


What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"
Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: IndyWave] #142513
05/09/08 03:21 PM
05/09/08 03:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Mary  Offline
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Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Quote
If you get a Wave, add a tiller extension so you can sit farther forward. That will help it cut into the water better. With the new short tiller arms, you tend to sit too far back and the bows stick up, catching the wind. My performance improved significantly when I added the extension, allowing me to sit up on the front seat pads. Only move back enough to keep the lee bow from diving in high winds.


How do you know your performance improved significantly?

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: Mary] #142514
05/09/08 04:11 PM
05/09/08 04:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 342
Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
IndyWave Offline
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Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
Well, I've been reading "Catamaran Racing for the 90's" and it says so. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I can feel the boat accelerate as I move up and get the sterns out of the water (and the gurgling stops). Also, it does point better with the bow tips digging in more, helping the skegs make it go straighter upwind.

Granted, this is light to medium winds, and I weigh a shade over 200; so in heavier winds or with lighter cargo, the difference may not be as noticeable.


What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"
Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: IndyWave] #142515
05/09/08 04:17 PM
05/09/08 04:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Mary  Offline
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Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Well, you can find out if you are racing this weekend in the Wave MidWest Championships in Indianapolis.

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: Mary] #142516
05/09/08 04:31 PM
05/09/08 04:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 342
Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
IndyWave Offline
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IndyWave  Offline
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Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
I registered several weeks ago, and I can't wait! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But it's not till next weekend, and tiller extensions aren't allowed, per class rules. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'm helping Skip set up his charter boats next week for the out-of-towners.

This weekend I'm hosting a picnic for my club's Portsmouth Fleet, and I'll have my Wave there for folks to try. Maybe I can get more converts! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill


What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"
Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: IndyWave] #142517
05/09/08 05:46 PM
05/09/08 05:46 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Mary  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Sorry, I was thinking ahead, because that weekend (May 17) is when I will be arriving at Put-in-Bay.

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: Mary] #142518
05/09/08 07:31 PM
05/09/08 07:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 342
Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
IndyWave Offline
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IndyWave  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 342
Indianapolis, IN - Midwest USA...
I hear there will be several folks here from Put-in-Bay for the regatta. I'm hoping to travel up there in August.


What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"
Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: dsteinke] #142519
05/12/08 10:56 PM
05/12/08 10:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 74
Maryland, USA
PRagen Offline
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PRagen  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 74
Maryland, USA
Quote
Has anyone actually sailed an Aqua Cat?


Yes, but I was under 5 years old!

[Linked Image]

Attached Files
145400-aquacat2.jpg (13 downloads)
Last edited by PRagen; 05/12/08 10:57 PM.

Patrick Ragen
Taipan 4.9 USA 274
Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: IndyWave] #142520
05/13/08 08:23 AM
05/13/08 08:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
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Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Quote
and tiller extensions aren't allowed, per class rules.


For our Div 7 youth regatta we use Waves. I think the kids are wrapping the main sheet around the tiller and using that to stear from the front of the boat.

Re: Aqua Cat 12.5 and 14 - any good? [Re: dsteinke] #260315
06/12/13 05:44 PM
06/12/13 05:44 PM

J
jon
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jon
Unregistered
J



Originally Posted by dsteinke
There are Aqua Cat 12.5. Has anyone ever sailed these boats? How do they hold up? Tippy? Sailing in high/low winds?

yes, i can say i have sailed one as an adult. it was given to me by the original owner and was my first cat. i have now owned 7 different cats, mostly performance cats in the 15-20' range.

the aquacat is a very inefficient design, not very buoyant, and not necessarily safer or reassuring in high winds. the sail shape is interrupted & deformed by the supporting 'A-frame' so it doesn't work very well. it is hard to tack because it rides so low in the water with the hulls almost submerged. it can't handle much weight either.

i sold mine within 2 months and moved on. in my opinion, because it is still being sold is not a reason for it being a good boat. it should be retired as it pre-dates the first Hobie from the 60' and has not improved or kept up with advancements in cats.

i would agree with the description of it being 'floating lawn furniture'.

youtube of aquacat capsize

Last edited by jon; 06/12/13 05:55 PM.

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