I never really felt comfortable with my ulus for a couple reasons. The first was my fault. I didn't built some of the systems light enough--the amas for example were 30# each for the trimaran versions. I got the specs from the HSCA guys--probably too much for anywhere outside of channel crossing guys. The other kicker for me was the open canoe that was only 18" deep. Like all multis it slices through most waves, and I'd get motorboat wakes slopping in reasonably requently. It sailed well, but I upped the sail area. In short, they are good rides, but need a bit of tuning that boats like the decked Holopuni has done. For me the death knell was the long setup time. Gary Dierking's most recent outrigger has overcome most of that list. It's faster to launch and has self bailing footwells. I guess it's kind of lke a modern Malibu outrigger in function, but stylistically a Fijian Va'. Sailing on the ama to windward tack it's like sailing a International canoe once the ama get up a bit--kinda challenging. If you can suit the sail are a for the conditions, and keep the ama planted that might be relaxing enough to cruise in. I'm presently more drawn to the tri or cat for beachcruising...or an outrigger that has a large volume ama, a safety ama, reefing rig, tramp, self bailing footwells, etc. Pretty much what Gary's put together for his Va'Motu really. I have my big Tamanu hulls still that I could use for either a Hobie 18/Tamanu mashup or use for outriggers or trimaran vakas. As a cat, it's a big volume beast, yet not much heavier than the TheMightyHobie18. As an outrigger it would be substantially lighter=nice for the solo tripper. As a tri, it would be back to geting a bit heavy again.

For my beachcruising, I like much of what has been posted above, thanks for the input. For a build from scratch boat, it's got to have comfortable seating, self bailing footwells, reefable rig, enought freeboard to be somewhat dry if I decided to dial it back a bit, fast enough to be fun, light enough to drag up the beach solo, and stable enough to not be super edgy to sail without being a dog on the other hand. That could be a boat based on a production cat, a build of my own, and that could be a cat, tri or outrigger.

Here at the catsailor board, I thought I might get some production cat suggestions that might fit a bit--and I have had a few suggestions in that vein. Keeping it to an older design or one that's more afordable is a bit of a challenge. Any other suggestions for something light andcheap.