$200 hobie 16

Hi, my neighbor will sell me a Hobie 16 on a trailer for $200, the boat has everything needed to sail except the ropes have rotted, I haven't seen the sail but he says its in good shape and he is a good friend of my dads so I doubt he would lie. The hull has some scratches from being dragged on the beach. I have never sailed before so is this a good boat to learn on? also, do I need to buy any type of particular rope and if so, how much would it be? I have also heard that these cats maneuver and tack poorly, is that true?

Goodness! Perhaps you're not kidding. If you have never sailed anything before you should not be worrying about how well the boat tacks. Cats don't tack like monohulled dinghies, but they get around just fine if you know what your doing. Don't know where you live or what kind of wind you get, but you would want to learn how to sail on a Hobie 16 in about 5 mph breeze. If you start out in much over 10 mph you might be swimming soon. I have done lots of sailing and there is no more fun than racing across the water in a cat. Start reading on the web and books. You can do it! You can get all the "ropes" (halyards and sheets) for very little money. Go to Hobie.com, locate a dealer near you and they will tell you what you need and how much it will cost. Best, rip

If the hulls are solid, it's a good deal. If they have soft spots, it's another story.

But I guess you can always recoup your 200$ by selling the trailer alone. I just paid 400$ for a trailer.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

For $200 you can hardly go wrong if it's only the lines that have rotted away.
Check out the H16 catalog at http://www.hobiecat.com/sailboats/hobie-16/ and look at the DVD "Catamaran Sailing, a step by step guide"
Halyards, mainsheet and jib sheet won't cost too much. I would ask the seller to rig the boat on the trailer with you before you buy it, so see how "complete" it really is, and determine what's needed and where to get what you need.

The H-16 maneuvers really well with an experienced skipper.
Tacks are easy if you keep the jib sheeted through tack until the backwinded jib brings the bows entirely around. Uncleating the main traveler and/or main sheet as the bows head to wind will also allow the bows to come around quicker, then you can bring the main back in as you uncleat the jib and haul in the jib sheet on the new leeward side.

Yes, you can learn to sail on the Hobie 16.

pyroboy08 - Which ropes are rotted? The lacing for the tramp? the main and Jib sheets[ropes]? The ropes attached to the trapeze? Bungies?
It sounds like you're getting a GREAT DEAL on a Hobie 16 and trailer, but you really should post your location so that others can advise you where the nearest Hobie Fleet and dealer are.
Someone with more knowledge and experience than you have should go over your boat and trailer and advise you what you need to replace in order to SAFELY trailer and sail your boat. You should do this BEFORE you learn to sail it.
You're not going to enjoy your boat if it's not safe to trailer and to sail.
Again, it sounds like you're getting a GREAT DEAL, but please have someone who is knowledgable go over the boat and trailer either before or soon after you buy it.
Richard

Remember it is not how much it cost to get it home. It how much does it cost to get on the water. Good luck

Where in the country do you live? I HIGHLY recommend forming a relation ship with you local dealer if you have one http://www.hobiecat.com/support/dealers/search/

Or find a local fleet http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/

And as always this forum is top notch when it comes to advice and the factory guys chime in all the time too!

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Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

For what it's worth pyro, I haven't sailed in since I was around 10 years old, and that was basically watching my Dad and his friends sail a 24' Trailer Sailor.

I bought a 16 last week and am learning it all right now.

Necessity is the best teacher.

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'97 Hobie 16.

Skype: rob_arnolda

Thanks everyone. I live in Fort Myers FL. Although I have never sailed I have done tons of research about the subject. I also found out that the trampoline and the little ropes that hold it are fine. All of the rigging ropes (no clue what they are called) are rotting, well they are still intact but they are not trustworthy. Also, the hulls are good and solid with no soft spots. Based on what you guysnsre telling me, I think I will buy it. If I dont like it I can always sell it for a profit. The only thing I worry about is the consistency of the wind in my area.

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'73 Hobie 16
1970's styrofoam snark

If you are really going to learn to sail it, DEFINITELY BUY IT !!!!!!!
You will have to check every single part on it, one by one, and that will definitely teach you what the parts are named, what are for, and how to use them, all you have to do is either read, or ask us.
I bought mine three months ago, and believe me, all I knew about it was that it`s called a Hobie 16, and that it had sails !!!!! ( I was a power boater ). And believe it or not, we sailed away succesfully the first time, by myself , only with my girl friend who has never been on one, or any boat either. We learned A WHOLE LOT, I repeat, A WHOLE LOT........... watching videos on Y tube and watching other Hobies sail in the local circuit.
Now, if you are not going to sail it, you may make some cash from it, you may be able to sell it forward for about $1k easily on the web.
The best thing you can do, BUY IT, learn it, and teach your kids how to ride it, they will be much happier and smarter than we are !!!!!!!

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.

Thanks Johnny, I am also a power boater. I have a 12 ft jon boat with a 3.5 merc. According to what I have heard this hobie will outrun it with even a 10 mph breeze. I called my neighbor and sealed the deal but he is on vacation until the 21st so I have to wait I have been doing all the research I can. I even made my own sail out of painters olastic and sailed with my rollerblades although I had limited success with all the houses and trees blocking the wind in mt neighborhood. I am 16 by the way, and I will have to trailer the boat to a boat slip near the beach which presents a problem because my car can't tow so I will have to track down my dads van. Does anyone know if it is difficult to launch from and sail onto a trailer? Thanks again for all the replys.

A 16 with trailer is light, if you can find a trailer hitch for your car, it can tow it, unless you have some type of under powered sub compact car. The boat and trailer is under 500 lbs, that's no worse than having 2 football players in the backseat of your car.

For example, I towed stuff heavier than a 16 with a Honda Civic, the Civic is not rated for towing.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.

Go for it! And check out this video, "Learn how to sail a Hobie":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFliNR3wW_w

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David

This is an excellent video that saillips is referring to. It makes a lot of fundamental points for a newby. However, know that nothing beats time on the water. Don't get impatient. There will be more failures than successes in your learning process. All the books and videos can't compete with time on the water. You'll understand what has been said in a video only AFTER you've been on the water. I know . . back asswards, huh ??? But that's the way it goes !!! Bottom line . . . . it's all worth it !!!

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Happy Sailing,

David