H16 versus 14T weight difference and other stuff

Can anyone tell me what is the weight difference between fully rigged H16 and the H14 Turbo? I usually sail my H16 on weekends with crew but I recently picked up a 14T to single hand during the week when the beach is deserted. I can push the 16 down to the water no problem but I can't really get it back up the grade and onto the dune. I'm hoping the 14T will be light enough that I can horse it up the dune by myself.

Also, for any of you guys that have sailed both boats, what am I going to be doing different with respect to actually sailing/tacking/trapping a solo 14T versus a 16? What do I need to look out for? Righting will no longer be an issue.

Of course it depends on how heavy your 16 and 14 are, but generally, there's about 80 - 100 lbs difference between the two boats.


You'll be sitting quite a bit further back, especially in any breeze. The first thing you'll notice is that the 14 feels very small, with no "front end". Trap higher, since going in/out is a lot more disruptive than the 16. You'll want to hike until you're sure you can get out and stay out on the wire.

Tacking should not be an issue with the jib. If you really want to learn how to tack well, practice without the jib. Once you learn how to tack a straight 14 - especially in a breeze/waves - you'll be able to tack anything.


Pitchpoling. Even more prone than the 16.

The 14T is a lot more sensitive to your own weight. I weigh about 215 and quite often I felt like the 14T was going to flip backwards, particularly when trying to pass the tiller around while tacking in a good wind.

The 16 is a little more work than a 14T in terms of putting it on/off a trailer, etc. by yourself, but the 16's better stability on the water makes all the difference.

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Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL

I'm around 195 so I take it I'm not going to need a lot of mast rake? Also, I'm guessing that without jib battens there might not be much use in trying to backwind it during a tack? I'm hoping I can throw this boat around a bit more...sort of like a bigger windsurfer.

You don't need battens to back wind a Jib. I know this from sailing my Hobie 18.

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ALLEY CAT 1984 RED LINE HOBIE 18 MAGNUM
Sail # 10505 or 277

I can't get my 16 up the slipway on my own but my 14 was no problem. I had lots of fun on the 14, but have noticed how much easier it is to fly a hull on the 16. Tacking was a pain before I got the hang of it, definitely back-wind the jib (and let the main out so it doesn't try to power you up before you get round). I raked my mast back as far as possible - it was much less likely to pitch pole after that. Enjoy!