Hey.
Im looking for a small sail boat for me and the missus.
Probably keen for a catamaran cos they are a bit faster than monohulls. Looking on the second hand listings and trying to work out what size is suitable for 2 people?
There was a paper tiger that looked good, but when I researched them, they are a single person boat. THere is a 4.7 Esprit that I am now looking at. Will this hold 2 ok? I am about 95kg, the wife is about 50kg.
Any suggestions welcome
Cheers
My choice for two people would be a Taipan 4.9 for the following reasons, it can be sailed either one or two up by either fitting or omitting the jib plus by adding a spinnaker you can sail it in the F16 class. They are reasonably priced and go like the clappers and are light enough to be able to be both carried and rigged by two people.
www.taipan.asn.au/home.php
While it may seem to be an expensive boat to buy initially this is tempered by them retaining excellent resale value.
If I had to pick a downside to this boat it would be that it has dagger boards and non kick up rudders, but that's the price you pay for owning a high performance boat.
Harry
OK Cheers.
We are after something cheap (about a grand). We have some experience sailing, just want something to play round on, and are not looking to get into racing or anything.
The most common yachts for sale up this way seem to be: Hobie cats, paper tigers, p classes, optimists, windrushes, and maybe some sunburst-style looking things.
I am pretty much wondering what sized cat would float 2 people without nosediving!
We may end up getting a sunburst style thing, just for simplicity (cos thats what we have sailed) but am wanting a bit more info about what sized cat floats 2 noobs on a fairly calm day (15 knots or less).
Cheers
PS: Those taipans look pretty sick, but I wouldn't know what the f**k to do with them!
Caper Cat 14, you can even sleep on them and cook on them.
They have been sailed from Brisbane to the Whitsundays.
One of them got sold via this forum for $20 recently.
See here:- www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Hulls-free/
My choice would be a Hobie 16! would carry 2 crew and you are heavy enough to handle it and even recover it from a capside, I would keep the jib on even in a single handle as they can be quite hard to tack on the main only.
140 - 150 kg (all geared up) would be a bit much on a Hobie 14 IMO!
Had a 14 and an 18 I used to sail the 18 alone but was borderline crazy some time!
if you were cashed up you should go for a Hobie 17 with outriggers!
OK, given the constraints of the budget putting a Taipan out of the picture then yes, maybe a Hobie 16 or even either a Maricat 4.3 or Windrush 14 if they are available in NZ and to be had for the kind of money you are thinking about.
Of the three mentioned above in order of preference I would list Maricat, Windrush and then Hobie 16. I list the Hobie last due to it's weight and I don't consider it a boat for a beginner.
Harry
