Upgrading from a Hobie 14 to 16

Hi everybody, I wanted some advice on whether I should keep my Hobie 14 or move up to a 16. My 14 right now has only the mainsail but by next week or so I am getting a Jib and while installing that I am also putting on trapeze wires. But there is someone who is selling a 16 at the beach that I sail at and I am wondering whether I should upgrade to a 16 or keep my 14 that I am putting on a Jib for.

Depends on what you are looking for...

The 16 is traditionally a 2 person boat (skipper and crew) where as the 14 is really a 1 man ordeal. The 16 can be run solo, but its a little more difficult to keep track of everything... especially if the wind really starts to pick up. The 16 has enough more sail area that you will definitely want the extra weight of a second person to help keep it upright in higher winds. If you do flip, the 16 is tough (if not impossible) to right solo without the help of a righting pole or bag or something like that.

The 16 is a little less "tippy" of a boat too.. you can push it a little harder than the 14 without the fear of a pitchpole.

All that being said.. I have never sailed the 14 as a turbo rig, so I don't know how that compares. I do think the 16 is a much more fun boat to sail. It will offer more performance and more speed

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Ben Wells - Hobie 16