Hello!

Getting set to close the deal on the 2001 Nacra 450. I'll be picking it up this Saturday. A brief background on me is I don't have much of a background. Never sailed a cat before. Just a Force 5 several times this summer. Please see my other posts for more details.

So here's my plan and questions:

TRAILER

I've got a Subaru with a 1.25" receptor. The trailer is being worked on in Santa Cruz. Surf City Catamarans has replaced the forward part of the tongue and put on a 2" hitch. It has 4.8 x 8" tires on 4.5" bolt circle wheels w/ 5 lugs. I'm considering getting 10" or 12" wheels, assuming there's enough fender clearance. It's almost 1000 miles towed. With larger tires I thought I might be able to go faster, safer. What do you think?

I'll have a spare and emergency bearing kit; have asked Surf City to take a hammer and hit all the steel members, check the welds, bolt, and bearings. Will follow suggestions from earlier about rear mast support.

CAT INSPECTION

I've taken notes from www.SailingProShop.com about inspection; will contact them about particulars to the 450. Also have emailed a few times to Performance Cat around LA. The closest dealer to me is Vancouver, BC only an hour away, but in the wrong direction. There's a dealer in Sacramento, which isn't much out of the way. Don't know if I'll have time to stop there.

Let me know what you think.

Take care,
Danno

PS: If there are any cat sailors in my neck of the woods, Bellingham, WA, I'd appreciate hearing from them.