Newbie trying to buy a cat, but in need for advice

Hi there

I am a newbie and this Saturday I am going to see one with the idea of buying it, but I am not sure of what I should be looking for/at, or what would be a fair price for a 5y/o cat if in good condition.
So:
What should I ask for?
What are the key points to check in the boat?
What is the deprecition rate of a cat?

Thank all for your help

Regards
Andres

Andres - There are so many models of Hobie Cats: large, smaller, plastic, fiberglass, daggerboards, assymetrical hulls.....
Before anyone can help you, you need to provide us with some information:
Your age?
Weight?
will you be sailing primarilary single handed?
If with crew-how much does he or she weigh?
Do you have kids - ages?
do you plan on racing or strictly recreational?
Where do you live? Where do you plan on doing most of your sailing?
Do you have any sailing experience? Is there someone close by to help you?

The more information you can provide us, the more help you'll get on this forum.

Good luck!

Hobie 14 Turbo $750 on a trailer. St. Helena Ca.

Brett 707-363-6289

_________________
Corkguy H18, Tiger, Wildcat

is it something you are selling ? do you have pictures ?
email me if you want.

Hi guys

thanks for the quick reply.
Yeah, my post was a bit vague

I live in Hong Kong, so I would be saling the south china sea. Mostly sailing with the wife, although single handed sometimes.
The boat is a 5 y/o Hobie Cat 16.
Initially we will be sailing recreationally,but in the future we would like to do some racing, the club from where we are planning on buying it from does organize races, and apparently this cat has a good reputation for beeing fast.

I dont have hobie experience, trying to find someone to help around here too, but I dont like to find myself in the spot by not knowing anything, mainly for the negotiation part of the deal.

Regards
Andres

Andres -

It sounds like you picked the right model Hobie Cat - Hobie 16.

Hong Kong... South China Sea.....Negotiating part of the deal....SORRY!
Different part of the world. Different monitary system.
5 yrs. old H16....It's probably in pretty good shape. Still, check for soft spots on the hulls. Thump & press all over, particullary around the pylons. Check the condition of the sails and cables. If there's a trailer, check it for rust.
Have them include rigging and sailing lesson. Make certain there's a righting line and learn how to use it - just in case.
Good luck! Sounds exciting!
Richard

Funny but you can go here and get a ballpark price.

Also, you can't buy the perfect boat...

But you can buy the near-perfect boat!

At least you ask the five best questions: 1) race or recreational? 2) primary sailing location? 3) weight of boat you want to wrestle with? (...did you ask that one?) 4) How many people on the boat? 5) What kind of wind do you want to sail in?

One consideration is whether the wife will still like you and/or the boat if she gets dumped in the water when capsized. Some don't.

Another consideration for boat selection:

If you are unsure whether your wife will like this sport, get the best boat you can possibly afford and leave her at home!

Andres,

If you are looking at David's boat, I've seen him taking care of it.
New sails and new sumbrella cover are a plus. If you are thinking on racing a 5 year old sails might not be the best.

Hope the deal goes well and see you on the beach.

All the best,
Lluis Tarrida

11/7/10 I (age 62)am a novice to sailing (now trying to read Sailing for Dumbmies) but want to learn on a boat I can use with my wife (age 61) and two grand children, ages 4 and 6 (4 passengers, able to use it with 4 adults or 2 children and 2 adults)? Both my wife and I are in good health. I have extensive small, power boat experience (up to a 24'). I would dock the sail boat purchased on the shore in a protected harbor in Silver Lake on Ocracoke Island North Carolina (salt water environment). Sailing would be done on the back side of the Island in the channels (say 6' to 20') and some skinner/shoaly water. There are no near term plans to race or use the boat in the Ocean. I need assistance in determining the best fit, first boat to purchase, source for good used boat etc.?

Lucky Duck - My wife and I are slightly older (64 & 67). We take the grandkids out, so I sometimes have three adults and 2-4 young kids on our Hobie 16. With young kids it's probably safer to have more weight on the boat. The Hobie 16 has NO daggerboards, so it's better for sailing in shallow water. I often sail with 1 or 2 other adults on our boat.
We love trapping out and sailing fast. We're both light weight and very fit, so the Hobie 16 is perfect for us.
I think you should visit a Hobie dealer and go to a boat show before deciding on which boat is best for you and your family.
Good luck!

I have been drug through the dirt looking at Hobies, in Texas.

I always ask if the owner has a clear Title in hand for the boat.
Then I ask right away if there are any soft spots, ask the seller if they have actually run there hands all over both hulls looking for soft spots. Top of the hulls and the sides. Look for cracks.
Just this alone will save you a lot of time and headache.

If you see the boat in person focus right away on the hulls. get under the boat and look for beach rash on the bottom of the hulls.
Then start at the front and begin running a open hand palm down across every inch of the hulls. gently pushing. listen for cracking sounds and feel for soft spots.

1985 and older Hobies will almost always have a soft spot.
be sure to check for soft spots especially if the owner says there are no soft spots.
Finding a soft spot is not a deal breaker but a sure fire way to get them down on the price.

Checkout the mast for dents. look at the little pulley at the top see that it turns freely and is not damaged.
The hulls were always my main concern. anything else on the boat that is missing or damaged can be purchased.

The trailer for a hobie should not be a selling point for the seller. If they go into detail about the trailer, they are probably hiding something about the boat. the trailers for these hobie are very simple and parts are very very available for the trailers..

Forget the trailer
Hulls, Mast and sails should be the focal point.

I have looked at probably 15 boats and have traveled around 1000 miles looking at hobies.