Brand new 1982 Hobie 16

Hello all,
I just purchased (last thursday) a 1982 hobie 16. This is my first boat all together, let alone first sail boat. I have read through most of the FAQ here, watched some youtube videos, and read about 5 books on sailing. I'm looking to go on my first sailing endeavor this Sunday. I live in central Illinois and expect to have to sail solo most of the time. I am wondering, is there any extra information I really need to know about sailing solo and sailing in general. I am worried about righting it by myself (5'10" and 160 lbs) (it has a Hawaiian righting system) and I am wondering if I will even be able to sail solo starting out. I'm also wondering if I need to get one of those Bob deals that adds buoyancy to the top of the mast. My plan right now is to get a couple of life jackets, a dry bag and some mysterious things to put in that dry bag (all I know to put in there is duct tape and a bit of food and water). Then after that it is just going to be a day of figuring stuff out. I am thinking, if the pilgrims could figure it out, I certainly can. Any tips are appreciated.

jstanley2 - Best to go out with another person. Better if that other person knows how to sail.
You're my height and weight, so you should seriously consider getting a righting bag and learn how to use it.
Please don't go out in winds above 10 miles/hr. until you're more experienced.
Your main sheet blocks are adjustable. adjust the bottom block so that it can unsheet easily.
Life jacket-DEFINITELY!
Dress for the weather. You might need a wet suit.
Can the person who sold you the boat go with you; at least for the first time?
You control the boat with BOTH the tiller and the main - not just one or the other.
Once you become more comfortable and experienced with your boat, it'll be a Blast!
Have fun, but STAY SAFE!!!

First of all, as you'll recall from third grade, not all the pilgrims made it

You should be fine provided you don't cleat the main sheet. Engage the ratchet and hold it in your hands the whole time. You will need gloves, any gloves with a reinforced palm.

The mast will come up under its own buoyancy if it doesn't fill with water. Make sure there are no missing rivets or leaks. Sometimes the back of the rivet falls off and leaves a hole in the center so check carefully. I am about your size and have no problem getting the boat back up solo. With an additional person you can muscle it up w/out needing to know how. Make sure you read up on the information around here about righting. With your minimum weight, if it is blowing hard enough to go over it is blowing hard enough to go up.

Just don't get knocked down in a huge gust and get stuck by yourself out there until the boat turtles and the mast full of water gets stuck in the mud, finally dragged out by a motor boat and damaged. Mean while your rudders fall off because no pins are stuck in the bottom...

I returned safely from my first excursion on my 82 Hobie 16! The wind was very light so no danger of dumping the boat. I had a friend of mine go with who is rather adept at sailing and we found out a couple of things. I need some new shackles and pins. I am looking on the internet and I'm wondering: what size shackles should I get? I neglected to bring any of them back with me to measure. We used the carabiner looking thing that attaches the winch cable to the boat in place of the shackle that goes on the front of the jib. What size shackle should go there? I had to use a screwdriver to step the mast into place because there was no pin available. Does anyone know the diameter pin needed to go in the step hole? We found that the mast stays (I think that's what they're called) were not exactly tight. We had them tightened all the way down too. Is this normal? I didn't, at any point, think that the mast was about to pop out or anything but the stays did have a good amount of play. The main sail was missing a batten cleat. Where does one get this piece? I also need a new little plastic/teflon cup deal that the bottom of the mast goes into. The existing one is pretty shredded. Some of the little plastic pulleys have turned into little plastic axles. I would be nervous drilling out the rivets and I guess pop riveting new ones in place. Is this something just best left alone? That's about all the questions I have right now. It was my first time sailing. I had read how going into the wind is the fastest way to move, but I never really realized just how much faster you go. I guess books don't really do sailing justice. Also I apologize for the likely confusing terminology in this post. I really don't know what anything is called and my sailing friend had to teach himself to sail so he is about as lost as I when it comes to part identification.

Congrats on the new boat. The previous posters have offered some very good advice. I think it is especially advisable to sail with your friend and stay out of heavy winds until you get more comfortable with your boat which includes righting it.

There is a H16 parts guide on line at http://2010.archive.hobiecat.com/suppor ... _14-16.pdf

The easiest place to pick up miscellaneous hardware such as pins, shackles etc. is at a local Hobie dealer. If you don't have a dealer nearby there are quite a few dealers that have online stores. Several that I have dealt with are www/murrays.com, http://www.saltydog.com, http://www.backyardboats.com. I have gotten excellent service from all of them. I especially like Backyard Boats. They have Hobie parts guides on their site and Its easy to find parts on their site using the Hobie part number. I think everything you are looking for is available on line. You will find that much hardware is really generic to all sailboats but if you order through a Hobie dealer using a Hobie part number you don't have to figure out what size you need.

I would not hesitate on replacing any rivets that are loose or missing. You need to. Just make sure to use stainless steel rivets not aluminum ones.

And yeah. Knowing the right terminology will make things easier. You are more likely to get the right part the first time.

Good luck. The fun only gets better.

Dave W
Tampa, FL

Jstanley,
Congrats on the your 16, as far as parts, St. Louis Sailing Center near St. Charles has parts or can get what you need. If you're close to St. Louis, we should meet up and sail sometime, Jim.

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[color=#4000FF]1974 Hobie 16 (Keepin 4 my sons)

St. Louis is pretty far away for me, (I live between Bloomington and Peoria) however, this summer I do want to get down to Rend Lake or Lake Carlyle for a nice couple of days a sailing on a good sized lake. Tonight I went through the parts list and figured out the things I need for sure. I also found out something rather useful. A trailer with a boat on it is a pain in the neck to work on. I was trying to get the wheels off (tires are flat and off the rim) to no avail. But now, I have an excuse to get one of those nice dewalt impact wrenches.

-Justin

When you go to Carlyle, let me know, we'll meet up there, and there will be plenty of other cats out there! Also, send me a picture of your boat, I will put it on our Hobie Cat Sailing website, Jim.

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[color=#4000FF]1974 Hobie 16 (Keepin 4 my sons)