I really like your video. I have never sailed and wanting to learn and maybe someday get a big sailboat. Would you recommend the bravo or wave for a beginner? I like the simplicity looks of the bravo.
The best choice for a beginner might be a mono-hull... like a Sunfish? I have been sailing for many years and there are things that cats do well, but that take a little finesse that is learned. Specifically, the Bravo makes a lot of lee-way. You can tack back and forth into the wind and still loose ground (relatively) because it is not actually going where you are pointing it. (Sliding down wind) The Hobie Bravo Design is elegant however... very simple and elemental. If you do the catamaran, the Bravo is the best choice. Less $ invested, and much easier set up! Plus you cannot hardly break it. Good Luck!
I have never sailed and haven't the first clue about the process, but we just bought a house with access to lakes. Can a noob sail a hobie cat with no prior knowledge or experience sailing (other than being a passenger) ? I really enjoy boating and and love catamarans :)
Hi Joe... Sure! The Bravo is easy and has very few parts to the rig to worry about. See my note below. While you are learning, keep that PFD snug and be prepared to walk it back from the lee side of the lake. Also, note that it takes a lot of effort to tip back upright, getting wet is part of the fun, but you have to be strong enough to lift your body weight straight up. (like climbing a rope) Once you have the hang of it you may decide to move on to a real cat for the thrilling performance... but for me it's easy to launch, indestructible and just fun with the wind and water... still with plenty of performance to sail circles around any mono-hulls ;-)
Can you stand up on it and paddle it like a paddle board? I am thinking of getting one, but I want to be able to stand up and fish on it and paddle it around a little. Love the video, looks like a lot of fun. You think it is a bit tricky to take up wind huh?
Hi Roman, It is very stable... but not much flat area other than in the cockpit. Up wind is not so bad because you are moving pretty fast. A little lee-way can be made up for by the added speed. Tacking up wind is a trick on any cat boat... means that you will be coming about into the wind. (as opposed to a jibe away from the wind) With this Bravo, when you throw the tiller over to turn, you will find that all forward motion is killed off and you get stuck. The trick I learned is to ease into the turn and get the bow swinging, moving the rudder into a more acute angle. Hey, once you get into sailing, you wont want to paddle any more! H
I really like your video. I have never sailed and wanting to learn and maybe someday get a big sailboat. Would you recommend the bravo or wave for a beginner? I like the simplicity looks of the bravo.
The best choice for a beginner might be a mono-hull... like a Sunfish? I have been sailing for many years and there are things that cats do well, but that take a little finesse that is learned. Specifically, the Bravo makes a lot of lee-way. You can tack back and forth into the wind and still loose ground (relatively) because it is not actually going where you are pointing it. (Sliding down wind)
The Hobie Bravo Design is elegant however... very simple and elemental. If you do the catamaran, the Bravo is the best choice. Less $ invested, and much easier set up! Plus you cannot hardly break it.
Good Luck!
I have never sailed and haven't the first clue about the process, but we just bought a house with access to lakes. Can a noob sail a hobie cat with no prior knowledge or experience sailing (other than being a passenger) ? I really enjoy boating and and love catamarans :)
Hi Joe...
Sure! The Bravo is easy and has very few parts to the rig to worry about. See my note below. While you are learning, keep that PFD snug and be prepared to walk it back from the lee side of the lake. Also, note that it takes a lot of effort to tip back upright, getting wet is part of the fun, but you have to be strong enough to lift your body weight straight up. (like climbing a rope)
Once you have the hang of it you may decide to move on to a real cat for the thrilling performance... but for me it's easy to launch, indestructible and just fun with the wind and water... still with plenty of performance to sail circles around any mono-hulls ;-)
Can you stand up on it and paddle it like a paddle board? I am thinking of getting one, but I want to be able to stand up and fish on it and paddle it around a little. Love the video, looks like a lot of fun. You think it is a bit tricky to take up wind huh?
Hi Roman,
It is very stable... but not much flat area other than in the cockpit.
Up wind is not so bad because you are moving pretty fast. A little lee-way can be made up for by the added speed. Tacking up wind is a trick on any cat boat... means that you will be coming about into the wind. (as opposed to a jibe away from the wind)
With this Bravo, when you throw the tiller over to turn, you will find that all forward motion is killed off and you get stuck. The trick I learned is to ease into the turn and get the bow swinging, moving the rudder into a more acute angle.
Hey, once you get into sailing, you wont want to paddle any more!
H