Which cat to get?

Hi.

Me and my dad are looking for a cat - just for the sheer hell of it. We are quite experienced sailors and have sailed Hobie 15's a lot on Sunsail holidays, but that's the only cat we've sailed. We are looking to buy a cat mainly for having fun in - not really for racing. We thought the Hobie 15 was rather good when we sailed it but obviously can't compare it with any other cats, so we don't know what to get. We like new cats such as the Topper 16CX and Dart 16X, but they are expensive and don't have a 2nd hand market yet. We were thinking of fairly new Hobie 16. Does anyone have any suggestions to help us out?

Thanks.

Oli Roberts.

All Dart 18's have a single trapeze as the standard rig.

Dart 15's may or may not have trapezes dependiong on the rig they are using

hurricane 5.9's have two trapeze's.

Towing the boats is no worse than towing a caravan, in same ways better as there is a whole lot less side windage.

If you asked me I would say get a hurricane 5.9, excellent boats, won't break and I just happen to have one for sale

Except a Hurricane !

You say "me and dad".

How old are you ?

If you are 7-14 age I would suggest a Dart 18 with the option for you to crew now, and then helm later (I was helming a dart 18 with some sucess at 12).

If you are 14+ I would suggest a Hurricane as you'll grow into it.  Also, it does depend on how physical your are (and want to be).  The Hurricane is a far more "grunty" boat to make it go fast.  If you are not planning to race, and have the time to grow into a boat and you are willing to learn I would still suggest the Hurricane over the Dart.

I owned and sailed a dart from 12 untill I left uni, and then moved up to a Hurricane. 

The hurricane is Faster (by a long way), but heavier and more gruny to sail.  But by far a better boat.  I would take a Hurricane 5.9 out in far more wind than a Hobie 16 or a Dart.