Your thoughts H18 vs Getaway

Hello everyone. Went on a sailboat (Hobie wave) for the first time about a week ago. Was having the time of my life after about 5 minutes on the water. Decided I was buying a Catamaran about a minute or so after that. Sailed the boat by myself for the next two hours grinning from ear to ear.

I've heard a few alcoholics say they became an alcoholic after their first sip of booze, and I think I can definitely draw a paralleled between that and my sailing experience.

And so now the hunt begins to find a Cat before spring. Just wondering if you guys had any thoughts on the differences between the Hobie Getaway and the H18. I know the H18 is faster and the Getaway has more seating, but any thoughts on some of the things a new sailor wouldn't think to ask?

Thanks guys.

Could you include a little more information on how you plan to use the boat, e.g., # of people on boat (solo, 2 or more), where you plan to sail, general wind conditions, plan to race, that type of stuff. Also, I would suggest getting a boat with wings, they are sweet.

The biggest difference is that the Hobie 18 is a fiberglass hull construction vs. the rotomolded polyethylene construction of the Getaway. Fiberglass construction is lighter (for a given size, these boats are not the same size) and stiffer. This means the 18 will have a higher top speed and a racier feel. Rotomolded construction is virtually indestructible and maintenance free, but lower performance.

The rigging of the 18 is geared more towards someone who has sailing experience and is interested in "tweaking" the adjustments. The getaway is geard towards a more set it and forget it style with simplified rigging to get you on the water sooner - no boom, no daggerboards, minimal extra controls. The Getaway also has less sail area.

Both boats have roller furling jibs. Both boats can be fitted with wings. The 18 has an active racing class, the Getaway has no racing. The Getaway is currently in production by Hobie. The 18 is no longer in production, so you only option is a used boat.

sm

I've owned both 18's and a Getaway, plus a couple Waves...currently sail an 18. You could spend a few hours talking about the strong points of each...here are just a few. I am biased toward the H18.

A new Getaway is a lot less $$ than a new (18' fiberglass cat).

The average used H18 is the same $$ (or less) as the average Getaway, and in some cases much easier to find.

The Hobie 18 wings are much more comfortable than Getaway wings (had both).

The 18 is still "fun" (not disapointing) on lighter wind days than the Getaway (has a wider wind range) and the 18 "feels" better in heavier air (more ways to depower, plus the [furled] jib on the 18 reduces a greater percentage of sail area).

The Getaway rigs a few minutes faster.

The 18 hulls are repairable in the event of a mishap

The 18 "points" a LOT better...can make a difference if you sail on a lake where you have to beat to windward to return to your launch, etc.

The extra couple feet of 18 hulls helps for a smoother feel (less hobby horsing) in choppy water.

The Getaway carries more people more comfortably (6 versus 4)

Hope this helps...good luck!

Scratch my questions srm and centralmichigansailor covered the bases. Good Luck

Getaway = minivan (capacity, adequate sailing, easy and friendly)

H18 = cadillac (V-8 faster, more style, more bells/whistles for sail trim) best with 2 people, but 1 or 2 more is fine.

Newer maybe Hobie Tiger or Nacra I20 or Javlin = BMW M5s, etc.

You just can't, in good concience, drive a trashcan with sails! Sorry but its just the way it is, roto-molded or extruded, plastic is plastic. You just can not glorify riding a plastic boat. There is no comparison between those that makes since.

The H18 is a performance machine produced by a company that was pushing the limits at the time. The Getaway is a boat that was designed as a secondary line to further utilize the roto application of a company focused on kayaks. The Hobie USA of today just doesn't have the opportunities to push beach cat technology, the market has changed, competitors are numerous. Hobie Europe, however, does have a market for high tech, fast boats and it really shows in the boats they offer ie: Tiger, Wildcat, FX 1, Fox. Sure they sell roto boats as well, but the focus is on performance glass sandwich race boats and the development of several F classes.

go hang on a catamaran beach, and get folks to take you for rides and see which you like.

Huh?

I'd wager that Hobie USA's ability to survive during the past 15 years is largely a result of the introduction of the Wave and the subsequent rotomolded boats they've developed (and the Wave came out well before Hobie was heavily involved with kayaks, IIRC). So in spite of the fact that YOU would never sail one of these boats, it's obvious that lots of folks do.

Rotomolded boats aren't for everyone, but to suggest that someone can't sail one AND have a good time is utter stupidity. Case in point, the original poster sailed for the first time on a WAVE and had a great time. Polyethylene boats have their place and in some ways are probably a lot BETTER than fiberglass boats for the average weekend warrior. Almost zero maintanence, simplified rigging, virtually indestructible, and still faster than any monohull in their price range.

By the way, your Hobie 18 is a "plastic boat"...what do you think polyester resin is?

sm

Excellent. Thank you everybody,There's nothing that can compare to the combined knowledge of a bunch of people who've been doing this for a while....

Thanks to your input, I'm now on the hunt for a H18. The deciding factor mostly being I know I'll want more control options once I get the hang of sailing.

Thanks again everyone!

Where are you located. A friend of mine is selling an 18.
eastern Long Is. NY. if you went sailing last week you aren't
near here, although we did go iceboating last three days.
also there are different 18s, with or without wings, magnum wings,
SX: larger rig.. I sail a Getaway and like it, because mostly I single
hand it, where as an 18 might be tougher for me to do that.
depends on local wind conditions

I live upstate, on the Hudson across from Poughkeepsie. Not too far from you. I'm looking into an 18 right now, but I'm interested in seeing what your friend has. BTW, That's not where I was sailing- I was in Jamaica, where, sadly, I do not live. hehehe...

SRM,
the yaks came before the wave, yaks are what keeps Hobie USA alive, not roto sailboats. I didn't say you couldn't have fun sailing a plastic boat, you can have fun on a sunfish if the conditions are right. I have had an 18 on the beach for 25 years and a roto boat in the sun for that length of time will not last. Wear the keels out and how good is it? The effects of UV on polyethylene is devastating. Ever see a sunburned trashcan? Brittle and fragile at best.
And it is no surprise that he rode on one of them at a resort location, resort rentals are the main purchase for roto boats, rent them for several years and you can throw it away because its paid for several times over. Most recreational sailors don't rent their boats.
I stand by my post, its a trashcan with sails. To compare polyester/vinylester foam sandwich construction to polyethylene doesn't work.

You're making it sound like the OP didn't ask a legitimate question. It's one thing for you not to like polyethylene boats, but to suggest that they are disposable junk, or that they can't be sailed, is just silly. I'm sure there are plenty of 15 year old Waves out there that are still going strong and with completely satisfied owners.

Both the 18 and the Getaway have their place. For someone just gettting started on cats, the Getaway could be an excellent choice - certainly more than just a trash can with sails.

sm

Sailing cats can be frightening for newcomers. I remember when recreation hotels used to rent Hobie 16--a racing cat. Hobie succeded in doing away with some of this fear with the new line of rotomolds. Lots of people have plain fun with them, I even sail a getaway with a friend sometimes.

That said though once you move up to a fiberglass, I feel there is no going back, certainly not for me.