After a brief 20 year hiatis, I've got the itch to sail and race another cat. The last was a Hobie 16, then 18. Any advice for 50% singlehanded sailing, kept mast-up, 5 year old boat or newer, budget $10k ... And OH YEAH to the spinnaker. Age 40, Weight 185. Thank you

Boy, if this isn't a re-occurring theme? Gas prices?

Single handing pretty much limits you to about 18' in length. Spinnaker equiped single handers; Nacra F17 (not to be confused with some formula classes) or an F16 (which is a true multi-manufacturer formula class). The F17 is a bit thin in the hulls to carry a lot of weight - but if the weight you are putting on board is small then it might fit the bill...there are a good number of them around too. F16 is probably a perfect match for what you are looking for. It's designed to be sailed uni (main and spinnaker only) or two-up with the jib. For a 16 footer, it handles weight pretty well. The F16 is light so it's easier to move around single handed as well. What I'm not certain of, however, is if you can find one used in the states - there are a few of them around but they don't change hands often. New ones aren't that much over $10k though...look up Vector Works Marine (the only US builder of F16)

Thank you for the info. What is your general consensus on a 2005 Nacra F18 (not the infusion) w/trailer and spinnaker for $11k (used 4 times)? PS Crew weight of choice is 125#.

You can check with the folks at Gulfport Yachtclub or the tampabaycatsailors.com... there are some folks there that sail Taipan F16... and can give you an idea of possible F16 that are soon to be on the market.

From catsailor classifieds I pulled the following:

Taipan 4.9 F16 -- Sailed very few times, excellent shape & won the F16 Nationals. Comes with two mains (one for sloop rig, one for unirig), spinnaker and Hooter, Excellent rudder system compared to stock, Lightweight Kevlar built, Carbon PowerRighter Pole, wing mast. No trailer. $9900. Rick 305-451-3287, rick@catsailor.com, check it out at http://www.ahpc.com.au/m_taipan.htm (florida)(xxx)

An of course you can contact Vectorworks Marine, http://www.vectorworkssail.com./f16.html to inquire about a new or demo Blade.

I went thru the same process you're going thru, so if you'd like to PM me I can give how I arrived at selecting the F16 class.

Nine lives. I personally think that F16 should be high on your listing with these wishes.

The budget and age of that you specify make it even more so.

With regard to second hand F16's. I still believe there is one on offer at Gulfport yachtclub which is very close to you. It belongs to Mike Crawford. Fred Metcalf was considering buying it but I never heard if he really did. Fred now sails Tiger F18 with Jennifer Lindsay so you can approach any of these and find out if it is still available.

Rick White boat is still on offer but I think that price needs some negociation. This one is in the classifieds

And otherwise, if you are up for a trip, there is a 4 year old Stealth F16 (carbon mast) on offer for 7000 USD in California. This one too is in the classified section.

I hope this helps.

Wouter

I sail a 2004 Nacra F18 and it is the best boat (for me) that I've ever owned. I do single hand it from time to time but in anything over 10 or 12 knots I am overpowered (I weigh 165) - downhaul maxed out and starting to travel down...but you may like that. ;-) At 396lbs, it's a little heavy to manuever around on land by myself - but it's doable if the hills aren't too steep. As a double hander it is a terrific platform.

Jake,

when you sail single hand the Nacra F18, do you sail with or without jib ?

Both - depends on how much wind I've got. Under 10, I sail with it, Over 10 I have been furling it.

Check in at GYC, they are close to you and have a good selection to "browse". Some boats may be for sale, but not really for sale...get my drift? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I sailed my old T a few times in the last year single. Once, after just I started, the (self-tacking) jib was sheeted in, the main was still relatively loose. Somehow I attached my trap incorrectly --> mean: fall and swimming…

My T sailed away - without me - really nicely, sometimes on one leg. Because of the jib-main situation it was not headed up.

Now, I a little bit afraid to sail single with jib, even if I'm not overpowered, and I have no idea how to avoid this situation.


Ps.: Sorry to ninelives, it is a bit off-topic.

A well set up cat rigged boat will sail off on you too. On my A cat I didn't have a main sheet cleat. When i needed too I could rest my tiller on my shoulder hold the main in one hand and adjust the spanner or cunningham with the other.

Rick White, chewed me a new one for sailing my F16 uni and having the mainsheet cleated. I was aproaching the B mark and I let go of the mainsheet. A big puff came and I was flying pretty darn high.

I had the priviledge, of getting yeld at by Rick himself instead of learning this the hard way.

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

"spanner"? I thought that was a wrench.