I just picked up this catamaran. Its my 1st sailboat and I cant find what brand it is. I thought it was a Windrush because the only lettering on it is a "W" on the main sail and each rudder bracket. I found it sitting in a farmer cow pasture ith no trailer. The hulls ar 15'-2" long not including the rudders, The beam is 7'-6". Anybody have any ideas? It sails great!!
Paddlerbob

http://www.thebeachcats.com/modules...mp;file=index&include=view_album.php

Congratulations on your first cat!

I'm not sure either but it looks a bit like a Nacra Prindle 15. The ruddercasting might not be original though, maybe someone else can elaborate further.

Nope, not a P15.

I'm fairly certain that it's a Trac 16- nice find those are good boats.

Although that wouldn't explain the W on the sail, would it? I know the Trac-14 was the Windrush 14, but I'm not aware of there also being a Windrush 16 (Aussies help me out here).

In any event, the Windrush logo is shown here:

http://windrushyachts.com.au/

(just the W I believe, not the other part of the graphic that is superimposed.)

So you should be able to figure out if that's what you have. And details of the Trac cats can be found here:

http://www.geocities.com/cctexan99/trac/page3.html

Let us know what you conclusion you come to!

Mark.

even though I'm just looking at the picture on my treo, I can say without a doubt that the cat that you have there is called a windspeed 15. Those knife hulls are unmistakable. I learned to sail cats on that boat. Those boardless hulls tack like a sherman tank.

Yep, I'll back that up. That is def. a windspeed 15. We used to have one here at NC State.
Trey
N20 314
Layline Rigging
www.velocitysailing.com

Ok, I heard that name on the net somehere but I cant find a darn thing about the boat. I need some ne rudders ans sails. Almost ready to put some Hobie parts on it. I had to laugh because I had it out today in some strong winds and I thought I would break the tiller linkage off trying to tack. Once the hull got some pressure on it the cat as headed in a straight line, no turning. I suspect,although I'm a rookie, if the hull had soom rocker it would tack better. Learned that from whitewater kayaking. Cant make them go in a straight line. Any history on the Windspeed 15 would appreciated.

I can tell you that I couldn't tack the thing to save my life. Tacking on my H17 was a breeze after learning to sail on the windspeed. The club might have an old windspeed sail unless they gave it a viking funeral. Puting hobie parts on it would probably be a good idea, from what I can remember, the Windspeed 15 was a kit boat, meaning most of the parts were "handmade".

Be sure that you move your weight as far aft as possible just before tacking. The boat is sluggish on the tacks because the hulls are so deep and narrow ... meaning that they have to push a lot of water out of the way to move the bows sideways through the turn. Moving your weight aft helps to lift the bows and keeps them from trying to move quite so much water.

The cross bars (if thats what they are called) are 7' sections of mast. The front is beaded and the stern is laced with a piece of rope as the bead. Its solid for sitting in the field so long. If I buy a Hobie sail, should I try to stay as close to the original size as I can? I would also assume that I will have to buy a complete rudder assy. and not just the blades.