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.

Wow, it really sounds like you've done your homework, thats great. In general bigger wheels are better, they are a little easier on the bearings just like you think. One more thing that I would suggest, is start an insurance line on the boat right before you pick it up. Geicko, or West Marine will set you up pretty quick and painlessly.

Thanks, Josh.

Insurance on my boat. Hmm... I think the chances of me damaging it or somebody elses boat substantially isn't very high. The premium plus deductible are probably more than what it's worth for me. Unlike a car, I doubt I could total the cat. Or mortally wound somebody with it. And I don't sail it around thousand of (other?)idiots hundreds of days a year. What are your policy parameters like?

Did some more checking on 8" vs bigger wheels. Really hard to find data on speed limits, etc for small tires. I passed a tow truck on the freeway today. He was going 60 carrying a mini van on a dolly with really small tires. Didn't see what company, but called a local towing company. Said they don't haul them very far.

U-Haul said not a bad idea getting bigger tires, but 8" would probably be okay. A regional tire company said pretty much the same thing. They mentioned, as you pointed out, that it's the bearings that are the problem. Bigger tires slows the rotation down. Going from 8 to 12 would slow it 50%. So I could go 120 instead of 60! It's a no brainer!

I think Walmart has a 12" wheel/tire combo for $40.

Cheers,
Danno

Danno,

Get the insurance - at the very least liability. It's not very expensive, all regattas require that you have it, and it's priceless if you ever need it. You can do a lot of damage with a catamaran - I just went through an $8000 ordeal with mine and fortunately the other catamaran sailor had liability insurance.

Okay, I'll look into it. I can ignore 1 smart person, but not 2 :-)

So what's your coverages and premium?

Danno

Definitely switch to 12" tires -- they are readily accessible, as you found out, at KMart, Walmart, Pep Boys, etc. and easier on the bearing. Buddy bearings are very important as well.

On insurance, I once used Boat US and another I can't remember, and then I ran into All State Ins and they are really inexpensive -- Like $150 a year for damage and liability.
Be sure to tell them it is a beach cat.., like a small Hobie. Otherwise they don't know what you are talking about.
Good luck with the new toy,
Rick

Thanks, Rick.

I just picked up 2 12" 4.8 tire/wheel combos at Walmart for $40 each. Picking up a spare at another Walmart store down the road on my trip south. 2 was all either store carries.

Cheers,
Danno