Wow, thanks for all the great feedback gang!!!

I was leaning towards the Nacra for obvious financial reasons, but wasn’t sure if the Nacra would have been too much of a step up from the H17. It sounds like I should be able to handle the transition and the weight carrying capability and performance clinched it.

Having heard the feedback, I’m sold on the Nacra. Although I confess, I feel the same way MauganH17 felt about the TheMightyHobie18 – its tough to see the Homecoming Queen getting dated…

Now an update: Based on the feedback I went with the Nacra 6.0 – but an older one ( 9 years older). It has updated race-ready sails. Unlike the new one, it has a roller furling jib, spare jib, hooter with carbon pole, new trailer, and has been garaged kept. It’s supposed to be in excellent condition. All for $2,000 less – which makes this $1,500 less than the H18sx I was looking at.

The only thing that would have been nice to have been the wing seats and CatTrax that the TheMightyHobie18 had. Any thoughts on installing wings for recreational sailing? The owner thinks I’m nuts - like putting a trailer hitch on a Porche!

Thanks again for everyone’s help. Based on what I read here, the cat fraternity is active, strong and helpful. I’m looking forward to joining the ranks!

After a spin on a N6.0 in 20 knots of wind you will forget there was a homecoming queen.

There's a homecoming queen?

Hi Don,
I have a few more questions about your ARC 22 if that is OK. If you can run 20 miles at 22-23 knots,(thats about 10 kts faster than my little old cat) then what is the highest speeds you have recorded? What sort of upwind speeds can you get when trapped out? Do you know if anyone has tried to use a tilt trailor for the ARC 22 or would it simply be too high and unstabe in crosswinds? And finally, have you ever gone hard enough to put those famous eliptical hulls under and pitch (or nearly pitch) her?

regards

Simon

Jake,

I've never weighed either of my boats, but the ARC22 is definitely lighter than the 6.0 --- at least that's my take from just moving them around, and that's not to say that the 10 year old 6.0 has maybe gained a little weight over the years.

Simon,

We've done 14 knots upwind on the knotmeter before, not sure what the best we've done, and we have hit 24 knots, verified on the GPS just cruising back from a race. Yes, we have buried the huls up to the front crossbeam in the gulf going windward. The boat stopped, floated to the top and took off again with both of us still in the trap. (good thing we were holding onto the sheets when we buried the bows) We have also pitch-poled going downwind. It was blowing hard, so we decided it was a good idea to take the chute down, the crew had just stuffed it away, I no sooner told him to get back and we stuck both hulls in. That one was our fault. I might also add that with the righting system the boat has, it was easier to right than the 6.0.

One more thing -- about the trailer, I'm not too sure about a tilt trailer for a boat with a 12 foot beam. I know the Tornados do it and I've seen an 18 Sqare with one, but neither has a beam like this one. I think 12 feet would be asking for trouble on a tilt trailer.

Hope this answers some of your questions.