Don't know if it is a true F14, but here is the new NACRA 430 in Australia. Don't know how to post images so here's the link.

http://www.catsailor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000218.html

Here you go

Nice looking boat but why aim it at fun sailors with no boom and centre boards??

It is a boat for anyone, spinnaker if you want it, no boom to knock you out, No boards to worry about......
Now with a jib !!!!

You have any "head on shots" of the hull?

The 14ft cat scene in Australia is dominated by "simple" off the beach cats. Mostly Maricats, Windrush and Paper Tigers. There are some Arrows plus the occasional old Hobie 14. The top boats are all pretty similar in performance and racing is usually close and hectic. Probably the main 14ft regatta is the Mannering Park 14ft Regatta in October and I'm sure we will be keen to see the 430 in action.

The paper tiger is the most complex simple boat ever!

quick vid

Engineer,
Can you tell me if this boat conforms to the F14 rules?
If you have not read the rules would you mind publishing
the specs for the N430 so I can check?


Regards,
Phill

I do like this boat, its seems to be blend of simple beach cat and performance orientated boat.

but because nacra Australia is the designer... you will not get a min weight. further to that you can et that every year they will be made differently so that no two are the same.

obviously this boat could never match a true f14, it will be too heavy and no dagger boards.

Dazz,
It would be good to find out if it fits inside the rules or not.

Doesn't seem that the manufacture is making any claims about the boat being an F14, Whether or not it is the next generation 14 footer, that all depends upon your criteria. When viewed against the Hobie 14 yes, when viewed against the A&O... they wish...If what they are aiming for is a more modern design replacement for the void that the Hobie 14 left, then fine...nothing wrong with that. More like an updated Mystere 430...

If it was at, or near minimum F 14 weight you can bet it would be splashed all over their advertising. The conspicuous absence of the boats specifications in their release leads one to believe that its a new hull design constructed in standard 1970's/1980'S technology.

The NACRA 430 is a welcome addition to the small cat arena, whether it is a credible F14 which can race head to head with Darrel's A&O remains to be seen.. it will have to prove itself on the water...first impression is the Nacra 430 and the A&O are two very different animals with different markets targeted.

I have no Idea what the F14 specs are, but this subforum seemed to be the only place it fits. It is a fun boat, I highly doubt that it would even come close to an F14 on a race course, but it is aimed at a broader market, seeming it has storage compartments and a massive tramp. I will be going up against an Inter 17 this weekend which should give a good comparision.

I wasn't inferring that the N430 should be compared to Darryl's AO14. The AO 14 is cutting edge racing the N430 wouldn't be in that league.
I was just wondering if you had an F14 race could it be included without it violating any of the F14 rules. That was all I was thinking.

Where does one find the F14 rulebook?
I'd like to know that one myself.....

http://www.catsailor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000010.html

I don't think the f14 class ever got off the ground. mores the pity.

Darryl should be able to provide more information though.

Where does one find the specs for the Nacra 430?

I need to buy a tape measure and some scales.........
I don't think the specs are even done. I can tell you it's about 7'6"wide, wouldn't have a clue on sail plan, and I have no idea what they weigh.

The F14 box rules are pretty broad...it would be surprising if it fell outside of them.
Here are the rules cut and pasted form the F14 Site: Hope you don't mind Darrel...it would be nice if Rick could put the rules permanently at the top of the F14 forum.




The “Box rule” governing an F14 catamaran is

The craft must be a catamaran, having two identical hulls of equal volume, with the rudders attached at/to the transom/s.



1. Length Over All.

L.O.A. of the hulls (excluding only foils, rudders, all rudder fittings, and spinnaker pole with fittings)

14’ 1 1/4” 4.3 metres

2. Maximum Beam (Overall)

8’ 0” 2.438 metres

3. Mast Height

Mast height is unrestricted, although the mast can only form a percentage of the mainsail area of no more than 15%, albeit that the circumference of the mast shall not exceed 400mm, i.e. no “solid” wing mast/sail (articulated or not).

The sail(s) shall be of a single “laminate” fabric.

4. Maximum Sail Area

The sail(s), including half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail without having any wrinkles or folds, shall not exceed

300.00 sq feet. 27.87 sqm

Albeit that the maximum allowable area of a spinnaker/reacher shall be no more than

150.00 sq feet 13.93 sqm

and the combined “working sail(s)” including half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail shall not exceed

150.00 sq feet 13.93 sqm

The maximum total area includes the combination of the areas of ALL sails plus half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail. The measurements of all the sails shall be by the calculation of the “actual” sail/mast area.

5. Construction

Materials are unrestricted

6. Minimum Weight

All up minimum sailing weight, excluding only the crew.

165.35 lb (imp) 75Kg

7. Foils

Any/all foils used for the stablelization of pitch, and for the “lifting” of the hull (s) in/out of the water are allowed.

8. Built in buoyancy

Closed cell foam (poly styrene or similar), is required to be fixed internally in the hulls, sufficient to maintain the vessel, and its crew, in the upright position, with the hulls at, or above the surface of the water, when one or both hulls are completely full of water. (Safety rule)

9. Centre/Dagger boards, Rudders and Hulls.

Any centre/dagger boards and/or rudders shall not be included within the maximum beam/length as described within the “box rule”.

10. Number and weight of crew

Weight and number of crew is unrestricted, (with reference to “Crew and Crew Weight” in the preceding section of the class rules)

11. Spinnaker pole

Any spinnaker pole and/or fittings shall not protrude further forward of the forward most point of the bows (measured at 90 degrees from the centre of a line connecting the two most forward parts of the bows of each hull), by more than one metre.

12. From time to time

By an agreed vote by the executive of the F14 catamaran association, those catamarans that do not fit within the preceding “box rule” definitions (from item no 1. through to item 11. inclusive) may be allowed inclusion to sail/compete with and against all those catamarans that comply to the afore mentioned items, 1. through to and including item 11, by being afforded an appropriate handicap/rating, designed to keep all racing results fair and equitable between the different “classes” of catamarans so competing.

I think it fits, wont come near Mr Barretts F14, but it's in the box.