Buying a 16 need advice

I Posted this in the 18 forum because I Found a good deal on a hobie 18 but I have also been offered a 16 that is in great shape for a good price so I'm also posting it here just to see which boat I should Buy

I currently sail a Hobie 14T but I'm 6'1" and 185lbs. Single handed I have fun on my 14 but am rather limited

I found a 1992 Hobie 18 for a really good price sails are in good shape and no soft spots in hulls

also found an 80's hobie 16 in good shape I'm guessing 80's cause of the Yellow hulls

My question is I want to be able to go sailing by myself when no one else is availible but I also also want to be able to put one additional person about my size on it when they want to go, possibly even have a third passenger on rare occasions. On the 14 just the 1 extra person is rough, especially since he doesn't know anything about sailing and is just learning, so twice now he has shifted his weight leeward in moderate winds and the boat flips

will the 16 serve my purpose or should I go with the 18?
can I single hand?

Thanks in advance for any advice

H16 !!!!

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Happy Sailing,

David

Now I haven't had it on the water yet but I just did the exact upgrade you mention because while I loved my h14t, playing the balance game for a big guy takes alot out of IMO. I have another 40 lbs on you so I should be able to right it solo, but you are right there that I would get a righting bag. Good luck.

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'95 H16 sail #101148
'89 H18 SX/ sail #1053 w/ Yellow hulls

If you are going to go sailing solo, I would go with the 16. It is fairly easy to manage by yourself, and you can add 1 or 2 people fairly easily. The most I have had on my boat at once was 5, but that was a little tough. I say stick with the 16

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http://www.GetWetSailing.com It's A Great Day To Sail!

H 16 all the way

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1985 Prindle 16

I sailed a H16 solo for many years, you should like it, though I would not go back to it from my current boat, H17Sport.

But you better check with MBounds first, he has ALL the right answers and even quotes Lincoln.

A yellow boat is not necessarily an '80s boat - yellow boats were made well into the late 90s. Check the serial number on the transoms (last two digits will be the model year).

An 18 weighs 80 lbs more than a 16. Something to consider when you're trying to muscle it around the beach by yourself. 400 lbs is a lot of boat.

In either case, you will not be able to right the boat by yourself, so you'll need shroud extenders or a righting bag.

And fastcat's just sore because he's been busted for giving incorrect advice twice today.

Don't think I'm going to get this one but going to keep looking one of the hulls had issues, I'm gonna make a new post to see what everyone thinks about the repairs that need to happen but thank you all for the help