small cats comparison

[saltyanchor]

What is the Hobie 14 like compared to the Hobie 14 turbo, compared to a condor 16. And what is a unicorn 1060. And a wooden shearwater sounds like a lot of work, yes? (i.e. maintenance-wise, not sailing-wise)
It will be my first cat (I've cruised and dinghy raced monohulls). It will be a cheap second hand cat.
Thanks for any knowledge

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[ex-Gladys]

Sailed small cats for 10 yrs...

These cats are all very different. Hobie 14 and turbo are the same hulls etc but the turbo has a jib. The 14 is really too small with very limited hull buoyancy, and they do capsize over the lee bow easily. Plus is that the Hobies are built like a brick outside WC

Condor was designed by Mazzoti in about 1968 along with the Unicorn. Condor (later known after being re-rigged as the Hurricane 4.9) is a proper 2 man cat. There used to be one at Minnis Bay sailed by two guys who totalled over 40 stone. It's a proper two man boat, not really sailable as a single hander

Unicorn is an 18' A class single hander. Designed in 67, bit old in the tooth, funny rig (bendy mast, short battens) definitely a singlehander

Wooden Shearwater is a labour of love.

It depends what you want to do with it. If you want to blast it around with a crew on a regular basis go for a 2 man. Cats really don't like sailing above "design" weight, so a singlehander with a friend on board is AWFUL.

There are some others to look at that you may find cheap...

1. Dart 18
2. Dart 16
3. Hobie 16
4. Hobie 17
5. Prindle 15 or 16.

PM me for a fuller description of most of these. My last was a twin wire Tornado, which is a real Rolls Royce of a cat, H17 is also very refined. Darts and H16 can really bite you if you are not aware of cat sailing - and mono dinghy sailing is only partial preparation



<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[Aja]

Ah the Shearwater. Raced onne for a season in 1974 at Ardrishaig.

Yes. A labour of love as these were from the sixties and seventies. Used to be very popular at Largs - quite a big fleet. All gone now. Shame as they were great fun. Remember well at first going for a walk round the foredeck(s) when first introduced to the vagaries of a trapeze.

Regards

Donald

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[saltyanchor]

thanks pm sent

pm sent

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