Which cat should an older, easy cruisn' dude get?

I think this part of forum may be just a bit biased towards H16. As a H17 owner I can give you more objective view, I think...



Easy and simple -- from more to less easy. Rigging time is also a consideration. I know someone bragging, he can get a Bravo from a trailer to water in 5 minutes. It takes me 40 min for my H17. H21 SE can take 1.5 h.
1. Bravo -- easy to rig handle and sail, easy on your back
2. Wave
3. Hobie 17 SE, Hobie 14 (one sail)
4. Gateway
5. Hobie 16 and H17 sport
6. Hobie 18
7. Hobie 20, 21, etc

Lightweight (easy on back). One consideration here is the actual weight, and another is mast length. Are you going to raise mast every time you go sailing?
1. Bravo
2. Wave
3. Hobie 14
4. Gateway
5. Hobie 16 and H17
6. Hobie 18
7. Hobie 20, 21, etc

Fast
1. Bravo
2. Wave
3. Hobie 14
4. Gateway
5. Hobie 16 and H17 SE
6. H17 Sport
6. Hobie 18
7. Hobie 20, 21, etc

Then is your budget:
$1000 - $2000 H14, H16 (1980s and older)
$2000 - $3000 H16 (1990s and older), H17 (1980s), H18 (early 1980s), Bravo
$3000 - $4000 H16 (2000s and older), H17 (1990s), H18 (late 1980s), older Wave
$4000 - $5000 H16 (2010s and older), H17 (2000s), H18 (1990s), near new Waves, near new TI
$5000 - $6000 H16 (near new), new Wave, near new Gateway, new TI
$6000 - $7000 H16 (practically new), new Gateway, TI + trailer
$7000 - $9000 H16 (practically new + nice trailer)
$10000 and up H16 new, FX-1, WildCat

Lastly your weight, as to ability to right your boat:
Less that 170 lb - Bravo, Wave, TI
171-200lb Bravo, Wave, H17, H16 (with skills)
250lb and up Bravo, Wave, H17, H16, H18 (with skills)
Basically, you will need 2 adults to right H18 and up. I saw H16 with 2 skinny adults not being able to right a H16.

There a pros and cons for H16

Pros
1. Lots of used H16 out there, some at very affordable price
2. Fiberglass, stronger, stiffer and more repairable than Wave, which is rotomolded plastic
3. Easy to get parts, lots of 3-th party vendors out there.
4. A good balance of simplicity and performance
5. Best value for a brand new cat. Basically you can't buy another brand new fiberglass cat for less money
6. Raised trampoline, a bit dryer than most standard cats.

Cons
1. Outdated design. H16 was designed in 1960s and survived up to now with very little modifications. Design deficiencies are: asymmetric hulls, low aspect ratio sail. Also, banana shape hull is advantage only if you planning to surf on the big waves. Pretty much other new cats have symmetric hulls with no rocker, and squarehead main sail by now.

2. Tendency to pitch-pole. Wave will pitch-pole too, H17 much less.

3. No wings. I personally would not buy a cat without wings, but this is just my opinion.

I hope I haven't got in troubles with H16 crowd posting the cons of H16

These are just objective facts of superiority of H17 over H16


Ok, now I am in troubles...

Have fun shopping for you Hobie and keep us posted on progress.

Jack

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H17

Does the boat and trailer need and/or have clean and clear titles. if your state requires them and the owner doesn't have them. a smokin hot deal can get expense real fast.

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Mono slugs of various sizes and shapes
H 14 About 15 years ago
H 16 1982

Making Wake on A No Wake Lake!!!!!!

Thanks Jack- an excellent analysis.
This is really helpful.

Thanks for the title input, Justforfun16-
will take under advisement.

-Drone

what did you mean with the rankings under "fast". Can't figure that one.

I think jackb forgot to invert the fast ranking numbers and he left off the #1 fastest Hobie boat...hmmm...I wonder what it could be?

Doesn't matter what boat you get...as long as your having fun.

One could argue that asymmetrical hulls are an advantage because it eliminates the need for center or dagger boards. They Have "survived" with this design for 50 years because of the balance of durability, simplicity, and performance.

HOBIE 16 OUTDATED DESIGN?
MONA LISA JUST A OLD PICTURE?
THE HOBIE CAT 16 WILL SAIL WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY

Yeah, the greater rank the faster cat. Sorry if this was confusing.




That's would be Wild Cat, but not far from a Tiger. I've not mentioned both Wild Cat and FX1, because seems like a quite away from what Drone is looking for.

Then, at a price tag $25K+, a few of us can afford a WC.

Jack

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H17

The fact is, there are may newly designed cats with symmetrical hulls without center or dagger boards: Hobie Wave, Gateway, Nacra 500. In fact, H16 could be the only exception of a cat with asymmetrical hulls, still in production. H16 is still a fun cat, and I would not dismiss it from considering solely base on this criteria. It is a factor to consider nevertheless.

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H17

Hey, Drone, you surely getting a good diversity of opinions!

But wait H16 banana shape, in fact, resembles a bit a smile. One could say a Mona Lisa smile! Then, hobieandy may have a point after all.

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H17

Hi Drone,
I'm 55 and still going strong ...I've been sailing Hobies since 1974 or so...had some Nacra's 5.8 and 5.2 then we got a F-27 and raced it for 11 years, even winning nationals a few times...then I Got TIRED of SETTING up boats........From what I gathered, I sail a lot more when it is real EASY to set up the boats...as in less than 10 minutes....

We have a Bravo and a Wave that we drag behind our 42' jeanneau DS, that we sail around the Pensacola area....I LOVE the WAVE....I got them for my daughters, but I sail them more :D.....Its just so easy and the Hulls are so buoyant that two can go easily on it...I mean I like Ripping it up just as much as the next guy, but man, I've had those days.....its nice just go out in a simple boat, fly some hulls...pack it up in 10 minutes and you don't have to worry about Cracking the fiberglass :D.......Just try a Wave also during you search.....There is no perfect boat...that's why I had to get Five!! ....each one has its purpose.....Good Luck.

Mark M.
Lafayette, La.
Bravo, Wave, Alerion Catboat, 42 Jeanneau DS, 23' Carribiana skiff,
and Every Hobie Mirage drive Kayak...

I'm reading everything and listening to everyone!!
Yes, Thanks Mark, this is kind of where I'm at too.

Thanks JackB- I did expect some mild flames after
your post- thanks for being brave- very good info!!

Thanks to All
(I'll be listening)

Drone

jackb...

As said before...it doesn't matter what boat you get as long as you're having fun. Fun can be ease of set up or going fast or flying hulls...whatever floats your boat. Drone will figure it out and make the right decision for his situation. I'm 58 (started sailing Hobies in 1976) and now race a Wildcat...definitely pegs the fun 'o' meter for me. The only downside...long set up times...but man...WHAT A RIDE. Good boat by boat analysis though

John

This is very true! I'm working my way up to a bigger boat, but I have a Bravo now. The ability to get on and off the water in 5 minutes is HEAVEN when you've got an hour to sail. Fun comes in a lot of forms, but for me, I'm not looking to get a Tiger. A nice Wave or Getaway will be my next boat. Simple to sail, simple to rig. Plenty of performance for me.

Fun truly is relative!

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Drone - I think your on the right path. Get clear on what you really want, then go for it.

Here is my story.

I purchased my first sail boat last year at age 52, a Hobie 16. I have 3 teen age kids that I wanted to expose to sailing and to spend some time with before they are gone. Generally we prefer fast and exciting. I wanted something that I thought that any two of them could handle without me, and it had to be relatively easy/quick to get on and off the water as our schedules are very busy.

Securing a mast up dry mooring spot at the local lake was the only way this was going to work for me. I was on the wait list. Surprisingly, my number came-up, I paid for the season, then I went looking for a boat.

It worked perfect for us. We can sail on week days after work, We only go if we think we can fly a hull, one of the kids will likely be a lifelong sailor, another likes it a lot, the third, not so much.

Unexpected benefit...we've meet some really nice people.

As mentioned by someone, check out your states titling/registrations requirements for both the boat, and trailer. It is almost impossible to get a used trailer legal in the state of PA. In other states, it can be the boat.

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Russ