Congrats on your new boat!

Posted By: Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas
Date: 12/17/09 2:44p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: new to catboats (sjaffess)

The first thing I learned about our Horizon Cat was if the boat is complaining it's something I'm doing wrong. Too much weather helm, for example - there's three sources. It's time to reef, the centerboard needs to be raised slightly, or the rudder has kicked up. Speaking of the centerboard, don't jibe with the centerboard down because the boat may try to sort of trip over it's own keel. I once filled our Picnic Cat up to the seat tops with green water coming over the coaming in a clumsy jibe. But that was centerboard full down. These days when I jibe the Picnic Cat the way she wants to jibe it's oddly gentle, less drama than coming about even reefed and in good wind. Others with Sun Cat experience will have better advice, but just push the envelope in stages. Sail at first in moderate wind and reef early. Give yourself a few trips out and you'll quickly have the feel of the boat.