“Now, I don’t recommend teaching your wife to sail when she’s in the boat and you’re in the water in the middle of the lake and the wind comes up and carries her a couple hundred yards away,” Jim Hansen told us recently. The good news is, “The SailCat is so easy to sail, she figured it out right away.”

Jim Hansen had canoed a bit when he was a Boy Scout. And when he and his wife, Gail, got married, they sailed a little on their honeymoon in a sail-rigged catamaran. Those brief but happy experiences led the Salt Lake City area couple to purchase a Sea Eagle SailCat, Sea Eagle’s new sail-rigged, twin-hulled, inflatable catamaran.

Jim and Gail learned how EASY it is to operate the SailCat…and they learned it more QUICKLY than they anticipated.

Instant sailing lesson

Jim takes the helm on a beautiful day in their Sea Eagle SailCat

“We took our 14’ SailCat down to Sand Hollow Reservoir in southern Utah,” says Jim. “As we were sailing around, I saw what would make a great picture: our SailCat with beautiful red rock cliffs in the background. With my life jacket on, I got in the water with our waterproof camera. Just then the wind kicked up and off sailed my wife and dog, Abby, our miniature schnauzer.”

“While Gail was still within shouting distance,” Jim told us, “I gave her sailing instructions and she was able to come about. In just three passes, she was able to pick me up. We were laughing too hard to remember to get the picture I originally went in after so these will have to do.”

Doesn’t take up any space

The Hansens work in the healthcare industry. They live in a condo and own a small motorhome “the size of an airport shuttlebus,” says Jim. “We really enjoy it and have taken it all over the state. We put a luggage rack in the receiver hitch to carry our SailCat. That way it doesn’t take up any space inside the motorhome.” Between trips, “the boat folds up and goes in a closet with the golf clubs,” says Jim.

Jim and Gail have taken their Sea Eagle SailCat to nearby Bear Lake and have sailed in the very salty Great Salt Lake. Future motoring-and-boating trips may include a trip to Puerto Penasco, Mexico, often called Rocky Point, south of Phoenix.

Easy to transport, easy to sail

Like so many folks these days, Jim shopped online and chose an inflatable Sea Eagle for convenience. “There’s no trailering,” he says, “and no hassle with launching. I put it together right on the beach and launch it easily.”

“We’d sailed a catamaran on our honeymoon,” Jim said, “so we knew a catamaran is a good, stable sailing platform. We got the SailCat Comfort Package with two seats. We love the SailCat’s size. It’s large enough that it commands respect from other boaters. It’s good and stable when power boats are zooming by and throwing wakes.

“If a friend was interested in a SailCat, I’d tell them to do it, says Jim. “In fact my brother’s looking into getting one right now.” Thanks for your story and photos, Jim. See you on the water!

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