Advice for Newbie

Japplesin

New Member
I am considering buying a new Capri after looking at Hunter 14, JY15 and Trinka 12. I have not sailed a Capri yet but I think it has more appealing features than the rest.
Any advice out there?
Thanks.
 
I love my Capri 14.2, but I have been sailing for 20 years on many types and sizes of boats. I consider the Capri 14.2 to be a "sport boat", meaning it is a lot of fun to sail but is tender. By tender I mean it is fairly easy to capsize, and will often turtle once it is capsized. I have sailed my 14.2 nearly 50 times and have yet to capsize it, but I have come very close, and it is just a matter of time before I end up in the water. I always wear my lifejacket and if I have crew, they wear theirs as well. I would be concerned about taking chrildren aboard the 14.2. Make sure you and your crew realize they may end up in the water. I have sailed my boat with three adults and found it to have enough room with that many aboard, but think that is max. You might also consider looking for a used boat, I have just over $2100 in my 1987 model and it is a very nice boat that now needs nothing. I would also like to see you find someone to take you out on their Capri before you buy one, I live in Southern California or I would take you out myself. I always return to the dock once the wind tops 10 knots, better safe than sorry!!! I have never sailed on a lake but understand the winds can change direction at almost any time, whereas when I am sailing in the harbor and near to shore in the open ocean the wind always comes from the same direction, so all I need to worry about is the wind speed. At 62 years old, I plan on keeping my 14.2 for a long time, but may change my mind once I end up in the water the first time. This is my two cents worth, others may disagree.
 
Appreciate your input. Just a little query - I have seen boats that has a little floating thingy (shaped like a blimp) on their mast. The idea is that the mast stays afloat after a capsize and prevent it from turning turtle. Are you aware of it and does it work on the Capri?
 
That's called a Hobie Baby Bob and I have one on my boat. I have not tested it and really don't want to, but it should keep the boat from turtling. They cost about $120,00 and is well worth the insurance. The sailing school in my harbor, Ventura Harbor, uses Capri 14.2 and they use a orange lifevest tied to the masthead to keep the boats from turtling, looks like heck but works. I have watched them capsize their boats and it keeps it from turtling. Again, the 14.2 is a ton of fun, just be aware that it is tender. I would in fact buy my boat again, I like it that much.
 
Options

You could check out the American Sail 14.6 it is a bit more stable than the Capri 14.2 as it has a little weight at bottom of centerboard. I tried one at Nova's Tigertail Lake and it was pretty good sailer though not as fast as the Capri 14. It does go on plane but it takes a bit more wind (like 16 mph+) and leaves quite a big wake and a lil rooster tail behind.

Appreciate your input. Just a little query - I have seen boats that has a little floating thingy (shaped like a blimp) on their mast. The idea is that the mast stays afloat after a capsize and prevent it from turning turtle. Are you aware of it and does it work on the Capri?

BTW: The AS14.6 is still in production. It also takes a bit more wind than 15 mph to get it to lean far. I sailed it a couple o times in winds gusting to 28 mph and it seemed like you really have to try to get it to go over a bit. She just straightes right up and keeps going.
 
I am considering buying a new Capri after looking at Hunter 14, JY15 and Trinka 12. I have not sailed a Capri yet but I think it has more appealing features than the rest.
Any advice out there?
Thanks.

What kind of water will you be sailing on? Is it just you or will you be sailing with someone else?

Is this the plastic Hunter 146. If its that apc plastic, pass. Hunter is not known for quality.

JY15 is another abs plastic boat. The foam core is great but foam cores can get heavy if there is water intrusion. Pass.

Trinka 12 looks kinda cool if you sail by yourself. Is it self rescuing? If not, pass. Lido 14 is a good boat that sails well in a wide number of conditions.

Holder 14 is a good stable boat with a hard chined hull.

I still love C14.2s .
 
turning turtle

The guy that owned my Capri 14.2 before me filled the mast with expandable foam (like comes in a can). He said that will keep the boat from turning turtle. He confirmed that the mast will float in his pool, but I do not know if he ever had a chance to confirm that it works under real conditions. I have only had the boat out twice and did not have enough wind to knock it over if I had wanted to.

Dave Turnbaugh
(another newbie)
 
The foam in the mast did not work for me. Put three cans in, during the summer after I put it in once the mast got warm the foam melted and ran down the mast onto my deck.

This summer I turtled twice in the same race, with foam in the mast. Second time, one of the shrouds broke and the mast fell. But the foam did not help keep the boat from turtling.

Once the boat goes over, unless you get the bow turned into the wind, if the hull gets broadside to the wind, the wind is going to push you over.

Now keep in mind, I was racing in a multi-class race, mainly against cruisers, cannot get the other day sailors to race, the wind was blowing 10-12 gusting to 19, and I was solo. Normally no problem. At the third mark the wind had picked up to 15-20, and I got hit with a gust the the boat near me registered at 28.

Kent
 
> Just a little query - I have seen boats that has a little floating thingy (shaped like a blimp)
> on their mast. The idea is that the mast stays afloat after a capsize and prevent it
> from turning turtle. Are you aware of it and does it work on the Capri?

I know from personal experience that the Baby Bob works. I sail on a breezy lake with frequent wind changes and occasional small whirlwinds.
 
Just got my Capri 14.2 last Summer. Am a novice sailor. We (wife) use ours on lakes where the wind in very shifty. It is a lot of fun. We are careful and if we feel we are going "over" I just let loose the mail sail and the boat stops. Unless you are racing and push her to the limits, I believe the boat is very stable.
 

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