The Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 vs Nacra Sailing Nacra 500 Sport Sport 1998 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 is rated for up to 5 people. Passenger data for the Nacra Sailing Nacra 500 Sport Sport 1998 wasn't available.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 306 lbs for the Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 and 328 lbs for the Nacra Sailing Nacra 500 Sport Sport 1998. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
The Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 uses fractional_rig_sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 uses a 2 tillers versus a 1 tiller on the Nacra Sailing Nacra 500 Sport Sport 1998. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones.
Both the Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 and Nacra Sailing Nacra 500 Sport Sport 1998 are listed as trailerable, which opens up the freedom to explore different sailing grounds without paying for a permanent berth.
Bottom line: The Nacra Sailing Nacra 17 Foiling 2017 and Nacra Sailing Nacra 500 Sport Sport 1998 are closely matched on paper. A sea trial on both in representative conditions is the only reliable way to find which one suits your sailing style, home port, and intended cruising ground.