I posted this in the hobie forums also. I'm a new cat sailor (sailed 3 rentals before, really loved it). I have lots of experience on a 1976 sunfish, which I want to replace mostly for extra speed and passenger capacity. I'm currently looking at 2 boats priced around $900, both in excellent condition. Should I get:

1991 prindle 16'
1985 hobie 16

Both come with trailers and 2 trapeze harnesses.
I am inclined to go for the Prindle, as I would like a lighter more responsive boat and could use those large hulls to carry 5 people.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Utahsailor,
Buy the Prindle!! You'll appreciate it for the extra capacity, as well as its resistance to pitchpoling (especially compared to the Hobie 16). Also, being a more recent model is a great advantage as well.

Kevin
Prindle 18

1985 versus 1991, same price? Buy the newer boat! The learning curve will be the same on each regardless. Be sure to take a good look at the sails before you buy. News sails aren't cheap.

Welcome to cat sailing!

Woohoo! That's my inclination too. I'll have to drive to Tennessee from Utah to get it, but for the perfect catamaran, who cares!

Typo in my first post. It's actually a 1982 hobie cat. The 91 prindle seems a steal.

Tennessee to Utah??! Man, my wife thought that across the state was too far to go for a catamaran...

Be sure to check the trailer's hubs and lube them, etc., before getting on the road (read the "Near Prindle 19 tradgedy" post).

Kevin

For sure! I'm always very careful about towing long distances - check the tire pressure every stop, etc. Of course, I've only towed a sunfish before. But the cat isn't much heavier (my sunfish is a real 70's clunker) and the trailer is supposedly brand new.

Anyone with a Prindle 16 (or a NACRA) for sale closer to Utah, let me know!

-Aaron

Either boat is a good purchase. Each has its pluses and minus. One thing that I saw in your original posting however struck me; The weight difference between a P-16 and a Hobie 16 is no issue so don't expect better performance based on that. The fuller volume of the Prindle will give you somewhat better handling in certain conditions however taking 5 adults out on a P-16 is going to be a bit much ion any event.

Sheldon
P-18

Thanks. 5 adults is an absolute worst-case scenario. 95% of the time, it will be 2 adults, and at most we'll have 4 adults and a small child going from beach to beach. I'm hoping to stay away from an 18' because I feel that would be a lot of catamaran for a newbie to handle. But a 16' that's as stable and buyoant as possible... that's what I really need.

Thats what I thought when I got my 17. But the first time I got out on the wire, I was ready for something bigger and faster :P

Does it take any longer to set up an 18 than a 16?

What cat sets up the fastest from trailer to water?

Ah, this is a tough question to answer. Both the P-16 and the P-18 can be rigged in similiar time but some of this depends upon how you get the mast up. The 16 can probably be muscled up alone but the 18 takes more work; I use a Mast Stepper which takes a bit of time. Jib and Main can be raised equally quick on both, really. Maybe an extra second or two for the rotator. Rudders the same, sheets, it's not significant overall.

Sheldon
P-18

Interesting. How long would you estimate it takes from trailer to water? I'm not expecting it to match the 15 minutes it takes for the sunfish

Anyone have any tips for where to find a cheap, good prindle 18?

What cat sets up the fastest from trailer to water?

Hobie 16, nacra 5.0, Prindle 16, A-cat, Hobie 14, Prindle 15.

Wouter

This symptom, "wanting a boat 1 foot longer", has been recently acknowledged by the Chief Medical Office and has been diagnosed as 'onefootitus'. Most sailors are affected by it and the only known cure is to surrender to the symptom until it goes away. In some cases the cure can be quite an excruciating and lengthy process.

I learned on a Hobie 18 about one year ago. The only time I have difficulties is when singlehanding. But I had no experience sailing before this. I bought it thinking it was kind of an adult optimist, and kind of just shoved off and sailed.
I don't think and 18 is too much boat to learn to sail on.

Raising the mast is a bit of a hassle though, if you have to set it up every time you want to go sailing. But with crew on board to handle the jib, and pull up the daggerboards when coming in, the boat is a blast!

>>This symptom, "wanting a boat 1 foot longer", has been recently acknowledged by the Chief Medical Office and has been diagnosed as 'onefootitus'. Most sailors are affected by it and the only known cure is to surrender to the symptom until it goes away. In some cases the cure can be quite an excruciating and lengthy process.


Just recent a more potent cure has been discovered and its long term effects are as of yet unknown. There is also a strong warning for severe side effects like longing to want one but not being able to pay for it.

The medicine is called Taipan 4.9 or Formula 16. Sailing one of these in 10 to 20 knots is a sure way to get right of the 'onefootitus' however nearly all takers of the medicine develop a strong addiction to every increasing doses of this medication to the point that many thousant US$ have to paid off by skimming on the lesser essentials like household money.

It is of yet undetermine wether the cure is worse than the illness.

Time will tell

Wouter

not to mention the fact that in some cases it can up your credit card bill by and extrordinary amount;-)

Yeah, I definitely want something that sets up as fast as possible, something I can rig myself. The 16 sounds like it would be just as good as the 18. Although I'm not scared to tackle a bigger boat. Not sure I'd want the 19', though. Price is an issue - I'd like something under $1500.

So how long would it take (rough estimate) to rig a prindle 16 and get it off the trailer, in the water?

How long depends upon what you leave on! (refer to thread: "Do you trailer with rudders on or off!").

I'm in mast up storage right at Ventura Harbor. I leave the rudders on so I only have to:

1) remove the cover (2 min)

2) put on the jib and furl (2-1/2 min)

3) take it across the street to the ramp and launch (10-12 min)

4) Raise the main and attach main blocks/sheets (5 min)

Prior to storing there, I trailered to the harbor with rudders off which adds a few minutes there. The mast raising was the longest, probably taking 15 minutes or more to rig the Stepper, get everything in place, etc. I think the best I ever did for the full setup solo was 45 minutes, not being in any hurry. Probably the same for the 16. Your mileage may vary.

Sheldon
P-18