Prindle 16 or Hobie16??

What are the upsides and downsides of a Hobie 16 and a Prindle 16? Which is faster?

Since this is a Hobie website I am saying that everyone will say the Hobie 16 is better.

You can't beat the support that Hobie offers for their products and there are thousands of experts that sail the Hobie 16 and have perfected the tuning of it so I would say it is faster. Also it is a very good looking boat while the prindle is....ugly.... As far as I have ever heard the only thing the Prindle is better at is carrying weight.

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

I sailed in mixed fleets in the 80's of these 2 boats. In my experience, they are dead even in speed. Having grown up sailing hobies amd having done an occasional spin/ race on a prindle, I can say that having the jib leads in on the tramp on the prindle makes it 1. very hard to determine proper sheeting angles and 2 is tough on the knees when you crawl on them. Add to that customer support and the huge availability of advice on hobies from the 100,000 + owners, I'd stick with the hobie, but like the rest, I am admittedly biased. PLus, Prindles ARE ugly

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Raced extensively as a kid (against Matt Bounds!!), just bought a 20 year old 16 and am refurbishing it.

Sail # 21888

OK,
The two boats are very different. The Hobie 16 is an older design, heavier, more sail area, less rudder.

The Prindle 16 was designed by a very small guy to sail with his small wife. Bigger bow, and less sail made the boat less prone to driving the bow under, but the bigger bow stayed under once there. Crossbars mounted to the hull made the boat stiffer.

The Hobie 16 should be faster in all but the really big blow. The Prindle 16 feels more sensitive because of the big rudders and light weight, but also feels under powered. The Hobie 16 sails out through the surf better and plastic rudders allow you to hit rocks without destroying your blades. Current optional rudders give you the stiffness you need for the boat to perform on the race course.

The Prindle is no longer made, but some parts are still around because the bigger Prindles used the same rudder castings, traveler, and other parts.

The weak area on the Prindle, rudder lock down, lack of any class racing for years now, no major replacement parts like hulls. By the way, there were two hull designs on the Prindle 16. The newer hull has hatches at the shrouds and a rounded lip on the inside of the bow to give more laminating area to strenghten the hull. The sailing shape should be the same though.

The Hobie 16 is still made, all parts are still in production with slight upgrades, and there is class racing and support. The only real drawback is the jib battens hanging up on the mast in light wind, but the benefit is a clear tramp and a longer lasting sail.

All the boats are fun, but I have owned and sailed both. I would pick the Hobie 16 over the Prindle 16 without delay.

My old boss... who got me into a cat grew up on a prindle and he said the prindle tacks better and he said it had a better rudder setup... but I think he had an 18...so thats a bit different.

I love my hobie!

Virtually all of the replacement parts are still available for the Prindles. Check with your local Nacra dealer. I thought the prindle was a good trainer. Less likely to pitchpole and I preferred the flush deck to the H16s tramp on Pylons. The cleats on the tramp will tend to chew on your crew. The Hobie 16 is a bit faster, but the Prindle is a killer in very light wind if you get the weight forward and the rudders out of the water. Most people do find them aesthetically challenged, but you can't see much of the boat when you're sitting on it

Dude! The Prindle is by far the bes....

Oh, Dang! Is this the Hobie Forum...Sorry, too many forums! I got confused. Delete post!

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So how many Prindles do you sell there at Surf City Catamarans Jeremy?

Can't keep them in stock... Can you???

Oh wait.. Thats because they aren't made anymore!