which cat model to buy(beginner)

hi there fellas
how are ya
happy new year to you all

im new here,from s.e melb,vic

i have had sailing experience sailing a Sabre mono hull,been on grandpas
18ft quik cat.
but no real exp on cats

any way,seems alot of diff model cats out there to choose from??
so for 2-3 people which cat do i buy please,

1/ paper tiger,
2/hobbie 14/16 ,
3/ mosquito
4/quik cat ??

or may be some thing else ??

im after perf/speed though,some thing i can grow into

will be sailing this inland lakes,i.e lysterfield,blue rock,lake glenmaggie lakes

now,availblity/prices/spares of these boats mentioned ??

can you pls explain diff between each model mentioned
cheers
thanks
glen

The requirement to carry 2 or 3 people counts out the Paper Tiger. Hobie 16 will do it but may be a bit too exciting! Quickcats were ok in the 1950's but they are a bit long in the tooth now.
What you have to decide is what your going to do with this boat. Seriously race then it will be a cat with centre boards and hopefully the same class as what the clubs in the areas you mentioned race. Nacras, Hydra 16's or even an old Tornado.
Not so serious sailing then an off the beach/surf cat may do. These cats are generally stronger construction and will handle some abuse. Usually don't have centreboards. Windrush 14, Maricat 14, Hobie 16 and Prindle 16.
I had a Prindle 16, one of the first batch that were imported to Australia from the USA. Foam glass hull and far superior build quality compared to Hobie 16s. I only bought it to race for a season after sailing OKs and Finns for 35 years. It was surprisingly good to sail and certainly fast enough.
Best bet is to visit cat clubs and hang about the rigging area and chat. That way you will find out what classes to avoid!

Forget sailing 3 up on anything under 20ft. As a beginner forget sailing anything over 16ft. Best option?, check out sailing clubs in your area. Or, 3 sailors - 2, 14/16 footers.

My advise would be a Nacra 5.0, they are much more bouyant that H16's.
Heaps of cheap ones around, plus can carry an adult and two kids.
No boom to worry about to start with when learning, but can get moving as you become confident.
The most 2nd hand 5.0's can be found in Qld.
Try contacting Brisbane Catamaran Centre.

i just had a lookat nacra site,nice,no boom,but has front sail(spinacar) is that what it is called ??
seems alot of boats have spinacar,i guess this being pain in bum when learning ??

can you not use/not fit spincar while learning ??

does spincar help with speed though ??

the tornado they mention is one of the fastest boats around ,topspeed 33 knots,whats that in km/mph ??
sorry for all the questions,=NEWBIE,lol
cheers
glen

Ok....
Centre boards/ dagger boards are great for being able to point higher in racing, but can be a pain if sailing in shallow water. i.e. lakes.

Tornados - great boat, but from what I read from you, probably not the right cat for you. (no offence intended).

The Nacra 5.0 can be sailed with just a main and a jib. This is the way you will find most 2nd hand boats.

Mosquito's are great, but may struggle a little with multiple people.
Not sure what your budget is, but to find a boat, try the catamaran forums.

Good luck

hi guys
budget is only 5-7 grand unfortunetely!!!
prob couldnt get a nacra for that??
so do you need to sail with jib when starting off ??
thanks
glen

hi mate
yeah cool,i will give them a call
cheers
glen

if u want solo sailing the h17 is an easy boat to rig up on your own and has kick up centre boards if u find yourself in shallow water unexpectedly, great performance when tuned correctly, ive sailed nacras before but i still cant go past my 17. the boats are good for beginers but still have the technical level for advanced sailors.
check em out!!!!!

For a begginer I'd be inclined to go for a Hobie 14 or 16. They're a bit tougher that a Nacra and don't forget that while a centreboard sticks down maybe 60/90cm a mast will stick down 4-5 metres when a boat is upside down. And that is going to happen. Nacra's are a great boat and heaps of fun but probably a bit much for begginers. Learn on a H14, hand it down to your son and upgrade to a 5.? Nacra. Also join a club.

I would say that the Hobie 16 is the ideal choice. Durable, good in the surf as well as in flat water and with a shallow draft if you are going to sail in lakes. And you should find what you want for your budget. Basic sailing tips including hints on rigging, tuning, tacking and righting the boat can be found on the Hobie Cat website at www.hobie.com/support/ Enjoy the ride!

Older Taipan 4.9 could be had for 5-7k, otherwise Mosquito is good fun and can be sailed one or two up.