Hello all, I am getting into cat racing up in the mid west. I have an older Nacra 5.8. But I cant keep up with the newer cats. I am considering a new cat. But what version? I am a bigger guy, and I solo most of the time. But do want to have a crew on occasion. What are the suggestions.

I'll sell ya a Viper.

New Nacra 5.8 is heaps lighter & faster than your boat just the ackermans on the rudders improve things a lot, others F18, Nacra 17 with curved boards, F16, how much wind? if lighter when you solo find Rick's old Taipan 5.7 from his training video, awesome boat

Are you going to race with the new boat? If you are going to race, and you'll be solo a lot, you'd need to go with a class that allows you to race solo, the F16 is one. But if you are not going to race much, you could get a F18, sail it solo when not racing, but you'll need to find crew to race.

The F16 is the only class that allows you to race solo or with crew. It's also quite a bit lighter than the F18 (230 lbs. vs. 395) so it's a bit easier to move about on the beach when you are solo.

There is zero cat racing in Minnesota for anything other than a H16, and then you basically need to know someone on that lake.

The Lake Waconia Catamaran Club lost their spot this year unfortunately.

Hobie Fleet 444 will let anyone sail with them, but aren't a racing fleet. Based out of Lake City. www.fleet444.com

If you want to race Wisconsin is the closest for non-Hobie only racing. www.crawsailing.org Mostly F16/18's.

We've got a shitton of water, but no racing in Minnesota currently.

Hey, the water's getting hard and hockey season is about to start anyway! I saw it was 30 this morning in International Falls! Ouch! It'll be 92 down here today Carl, come on down!

Dude I froze my proverbial butt off in SF last week and it was 65F with a freezing breeze.

Can't imagine sailing/living up north.

They make good money selling sweatshirts in town there...

40° this morning, a bit chilly....

Are those "sweatshirts" the things with the long sleeves but don't list their SPF value? Hmmm... have to keep an eye out for them...

Well Karl, come on down! It's 85 out back right now, air and water temp about the same. I just came in from spending an hour out blasting around on my little lake, but there's a big line of thunderstorms coming from the east in a few minutes, it was fun while it lasted.

I am planning to race the boat. I know I'll have to travel to WI for the action. I am stuck on the up sides of the F16 vs F17 vs F18. I know I'll need crew with the F18. but cost point is better than the F 16.

thx

We race Nacra's, ARC22's and Supercats every week on White Bear. Come on over.

Tom G

Tom, how can I get a hold of you?

PM sent

Dave I might have a 09 Viper available that is really reasonably priced. It's not mine, but a customers. Andy called me today looking for a used one, I'm assuming it was for you.

I've got one for sale in the classifieds

The F16 cost is cheaper than crew.

Define "bigger guy"? At a certain point you can carry weights and race a H16 solo. The real question is spin or no spin.

FYI Dave in Minnesota: The F16 is a nice boat, even considering one myself right now, but me and about 9 other guys in Southern MN/Northern Iowa/Eastern SD have Hobie 17s and its a single hander but you can put the wife on there for bombing around and we race about once a month within 3 hours of you mostly. PLUS, we have tried (albeit not as successfully this year) to ensure ourselve on the very coridial Wisconsin guys at Madison once a year. Price point will be a bit (**** ton as Karlos says) lower on the Hobie 17 and we have a one design fleet in place, close by.