advice - boat selection

It's about 3 miles across where I am, so I would probably be doing fairly long tacks most of the time.

Side note: I remember this lake near Manhatten, KS where you could fly the hull for like 11 miles. Can't remember the name of it, and maybe my imagination has stretched the distance...

But maybe I am premature wanting wings. Just seems to be a bit dryer and give a little more leverage for solo sailing.

So a 17 with wings might be a good boat for me, but not so good when I had crew... hmm.

95% of my sailing is expected to be solo.

You are way too big for the 17. You would not be happy.

18 or a Tiger is the way to go.

An 18 will be significantly less expensive (less than half) than a Tiger.

Sailing a catamaran with wings is about as comfortable as you can get.Today there are better catamaran than my 1989 Hobie 21SE,but the wings make my boat so enjoyable.Sitting on a wing keep you up and out of most spray.Your knees and back are not cramped up at all on a wing.My wings have two custom beverages holders per wing,large enough to hold a 25oz Fosters "oil can" or a pint bottle of Grolsch Beer...

Honestly,what else would you want?

Good day,Bill 404 21SE

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Bill 404 21SE

1990 would be a good year for an 18. This would be from the post-red glue era, so the hulls should be well built and designed to withstand the extra loads that an SX rig produces. Downside is it may be a bit on the heavy side, but should be tough as nails.

Your prices look like they're in the ball-park for OEM parts. You don't need EPO2s, but some form of composite rudder is definitely best since they are noticably better than plastic rudders (lexan, PCG). Occasionally you can find used EPO1s or Hobie "Racer Rudders" for sale.

sm

One more thing in favour of the Tiger, unlike the H18 or the H20, the tramp is very 'clean', as in there is no clutter on the tramp. In many models, the jib is self-tacking, so no jib sheets. Then, the spin set up is very slick, and there is rooooom on the tramp.

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Thanks for all the great advice.

I plan to swing by the boat which needs sail/tramp/rudders later in the week. It seems that the cost of the parts required to make the boat "right" should strongly influence the purchase price.

In other words, what would be the value of a refurbished '90 18SX?

If the repairs run $3k and the rerurbished boat is worth $4k then I shouldn't spend $2k on the hull.

Private messages are fine for this one, if that is preferred.

Thanks,
-Ted

Sounds like there are options other than stock/EPO2, but my quick search only revealed these. I remember that upgrading rudders was common in the racing circles back in the early 80s, and I figure it is still true now. As I recall the upgraded rudders had a cleaner shape resulting in less drag and vibration. What are some of the good current options?

Thanks,
-Ted

I think your estimates for replacements are a bit high.

You can certainly get a good mainsail for well under $1500. In fact buying a good used main may be the prudent way to go until you're convinced the boat is right for you.
$400+ dollars for an OEM tramp. Use the Hobie brand.
You also don't need to spend $500 for EPO's unless you plan to race to win.
Since the EPO1 rudders from my '88 H18 went busted, I have taken the plastic rudders, worked and polished them to as near perfect shape as I can. They work much better than out of the box, for a lot less.

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Chris
'88 H18SE Arís

New from Hobie, the only upgrade option is the EPO2. But if you can find a good used set of (white fiberglass) "racing rudders" or a set of the original EPOs, they would also be very good rudders.

sm

Me?

Wings on the my FXone only paid off when it was really heavy.

I did like them for pleasure sailing though.

You can't trap properly off of a wing, or at least its borderline impossible to get completely flat, and get out on the wire. When you're butt drops off the rail its tough when it doesn't hit anything.

I never found that to be the case, at least on the 17. If anything, I can trap lower since I'm an extra foot or so off the water, I don't have to worry about getting smacked by waves, even when I'm close to horizontal.

sm

I could never get out with out using a trap handle, which is wrong if you're driving. And I trap dead flat nowadays.

Not the Tiger if this is the plan. Take the boat's cost + @$200 per year maintenance expense and then divide by 5 for the number of years that the thing will last on the beach before major salt water problems.

Don't they say that the average radiator in a car lasts about three years on the Outer Banks? IIRC.

Is it just the cost of the Tiger that drives your statement, or is it more fragile (than the H18) in this regard? I plan to get some sort of cover for it, but the environment is what it is down there. Is 5 years the expected lifespan of a boat exposed to the elements?

Thanks.

It's the cost of upkeep that drives the statement, first. Also, Tiger costs more to purchase.

Maintenance costs and the time involved with maintenance are pleasure killers if not ready to manage them. Salt eats things. Recreational boats are less costly and less techy than racing boats like the Tiger, Wildcat, or FX.

Go to a dealer! and flash some $100 bills and test drive a few.

If you want a fun sail with durability and reasonable costs, test drive the Getaway.

But check out the boats shown here:
http://www.thebeachcats.com/classifieds ... arans.html