New to Hobies!

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum and new to Hobie Cats. I have sailed before but have very little knowledge on Hobies. I have been looking locally for a Hobie 16. I recently went to look at one (1978) for sale that had been sitting in the water (fresh water) for about 3 years with little to no use. The seller had it on a trailer when I went to look at it. I know to look for soft spots, flexing, and stress cracks. The 16 had a few stress cracks about 3 inches in length just beside the 4 mounts where the trapeze frame mounts to the hull. I thought the flex was quite good and the only soft spot I could find was about midway through on the starboard side on the top of the hull. Also the sails were in great shape and I figured the trapeze could last at least another season.

Unfortunately the seller knows nothing about Hobies. He bought it from a neighbor with plans to sail it but never did. He thinks everything is intact and nothing is missing. I know the lines need to be replaced as they are rotted. What else should I look for when looking to buy a Hobie? Does this one sound like a good boat to get for a beginner or does it sound like a money pit?

Thank you for your time and any response will be appreciated!

Depends what kind of sailing your trying to do. High winds=need for a more structurally sound boat.



Also, check the shrouds for frays in the wires. As This happened to me with my 1st Hobie 16, my shrouds were okay for light wind, but when I took it out in higher wind one snapped and my mast and sail crashed to the water.

Had 2 others since and have made sure that didn't happen again.

_________________
Matt Baden


http://www.thehobielife.blogspot.com



AFTCO, Kanan Lures, Astral Buoyancy and Alltackle.com Pro Staff
2012 Yellow Pro Angler 12 and 2014 Pro Angler 12

Not knowing the full history of the boat I would go ahead and replace all standing rigging. Nylon jacketed cables can look fine but can hide terrible cancer inside.

There are others who would be able to supplement my thoughts, but I'd recommend you make sure everything is there - the little parts add up quickly...to the price of some used boats. Speaking of price, you didn't mention what you're paying, making it tough to judge.

As for the soft spot, be ready to take care of it - you don't want to ignore those!

I also purchased a used Hobie about a year ago, and it took me the winter months and a bit of the spring to renovate the hulls back to a condition I'd be comfortable sailing. Mine had a soft spot too - and there are plenty of posts on this forum to help you with that. Mine also had LOTS of blisters - indication that it was kept in the water for long time. Each had to be ground out, refilled and sealed before repainting the entire hulls.

Go into the boat purchase with your eyes wide open. The result will be a fun boat, and realize there are lots of great knowledgeable people on this forum that can offer advise. Good Luck!

Personally, unless you are getting a great deal, I would walk away from a cat with soft hulls. It can be fixed, but you want your first time with it spent sailing, not doing fiberglass.

In my area (SE Michigan), there are so many for sale, that you can kind of pick and choose if you have a few months to decide. I think you can find a decnt one for $500-1200 that you can just jump on and sail.

If you plan to race or go in big wind, you will want to spend $3000-5000+ to get a really good, newer one.

Just for a reference, I got mine for $850 delivered an hour away without a trailer. It is older, but was well kept, out of the water and the hulls are solid. I was actually surprised to see that it was as complete as he said it would be. Everything was there and worked.

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Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

Thanks to everyone that responded! After thinking about it I think I will wait for a 16 that is ready to sail the day I buy it. I am pretty much just looking at Craigslist. Are there any other sites people sell Hobies on?

Thank you!

Keep an eye on the For Sale section of this forum.

It's where I found my 14 (although I drove 13 hrs each way to get it).

Also, if you haven't used [url]searchtempest.com[/url] yet, I would suggest it. It allows you to search all craigslists within a set geographic area. I found my 16 in Georgia and drove 9 hours each way to pick it up.

I would just be patient and find the right boat. Every once in a while a great boat pops up for cheap and if you act quickly you can get a great deal.

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Zach

Your passing on this boat is a good indication that your knowledge of Hobies has risen significantly! No way should you be buying a boat that was in the water for three years. They aren't built for that, and it probably weighs a ton.

There are several posters on here from your area. Ask one of them that seems knowledgeable to show you what they know and maybe help you evaluate before you purchase. Most sailors I know work cheap if you pay them with beer. Seriously, you'll learn much more quickly and be able to buy smarter with some experienced help.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

I think you are doing the right thing by waiting a bit. I would guess that after looking at a couple, you will know if the first one was any deal or not, and it will probably be sitting there. The only thing I caution you is to not wait TOO long when other priorities take away your focus on a Hobie! Once you have one, you will be hooked.

The other thing you need to look at is what you intend to do with it. If it is just a leisure weekend sail, strickly for relaxation and fun, then an older much cheaper one is fine. If you think there is a chance to want to race it, you may want to spend a little more and and get a newer, class legal Hobie (of course, once you have the bug, you can always move up later!)

I really love my Hobie, but it is 30 years old and probably won't win any races. I might try a couple just for the heck of it. Having the black composite mast top is a good safety feature if you trailer or sail anywhere near powerlines. It became standard after the early 80's, I think.

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Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

I purchased my first Hobie earlier this year. Besides Craigs list, forums, and classifieds, I reached out to all of the hobie dealers within a 350 mile radius (i.e. the distance that I was willing to travel). Although I did not purchase mine from a dealer, I believe that this is a good avenue to persue if you have some time. I suspect that you might pay a bit more, but in my opinion not one of them would sell you a bad boat or misrepresent a boat. I told them what I was looking for and my price range and three of them came back to me within a few months when they got something in that fit my needs.

Also check with any active Hobie Fleet that might be in your area.

Finally, if you are buying a boat with little knowedge about the boats, see if you can find a Hobie sailer to join you to look at it. I'm still surprised how everyone that I meet associated with this hobby, genuinely wants to help anyone interested in getting started.

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Russ

Hey Stack Knots! I'm in NC and just spent the early part of last summer hunting the state for a H16. I looked at a bunch of boats and there's a bunch junk advertised out there but nice Hobies do pop up. Charlotte is a great area for used Hobies, but there's not many advertised in the winter. Keep an eye on the NC and SC craigslist in the spring. There are a plenty of good boats in the Charlotte and Greenville SC area that haven't seen much salt water. It's harder to find a clean boat near the coast. Most of those have beach wear and corrosion.

Hey folks,
I am new to the hobie world but at the same time have had great fortune here in Michigan with the Used Hobie market.
Craigslist has treated me well this fall. 2 weeks ago I was able to trade an older Chainsaw for a 74 H16 w/no soft spots and a trailer.The sails are just about useable and the hulls are scratched here and there.
then this week I went sail shopping to find a 1980 H16 w/sails (curumba style)
that is sailable as she sits for 300.
All in all now all that is left is the transition from my youth sunfish days to being 40-something and a Cat!
I will most likely need a bit of riggin support this spring and hope to join up with some other Family Inspired Crews.
I have an 8 year old and a 5 year old both are ready to sail now and they
wouldn't understand Dad not knowin how to Fly a hull !
I have been reading the forum for about a year and have realy enjoyed all the
free knowledge
THANKS Rich

Rich, flying the hull is easy just use the mainsheet and course direction to control it. My kids are 6 and 9 and love my 16, they "waterski" off the back with an old surfboard and ride up on the bow when the wind is light. Just watch out not to scare them. It takes em a while to get used to the flying hull and also the speed but they soon get into it. But yes first time in a breeze with the little ones can be scary for em Oh and make sure that rig wont come down on their heads
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiHefKxV-iA[/youtube]

I bet rigging with those two is fun.

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Russ