First Catamaran

Thanks a lot for the tips. I will definitely take pics and if I will be in doubt about something I will post it.

How can I post pics I don't see an upload button? I have a few of a hobie 16 I looked at.

Also the Hobie 16 has a broken mast step. One of the holes that holds the pin to raise the mast sheared off and is now in the shape of the letter c. From what I've read this isn't an easy fix and its also a $100 part. Shes asking $850 for the boat.

You can rig a strap to help keep the mast in place as you raise it. Will make it more difficult but not impossible

Figured out finally how to post pics and here is a few of them. Comes with two different sets of sails too. Has a new tramp but hasn't been sailed in 3-4 years, no visible cracks, hull seems solid but I only pushed on various spots with one hand. Let me know if I should pass on this or try to negotiate something.

Roblox84,

The mast step being broken is not a huge deal if you are going to keep it at a mast up storage, but if trailering only then get it fixed to make raising your mast much easier.

I think the bigger issue with that cat is the thin hull bottom(s) showed in the one picture. Having done a bottom job with limited facilities, I can tell you its no fun and will cost you more than the step.

Feeding my sailing addiction via tapatalk.

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

I pushed on the exposed hull parts and there was no flex, I also don't plan on beaching this boat so it might be alright but I'm no expert. If this one kid calls me back I'm going to go look at a Hobie 18 he has for $1600 and if its in better condition I'll definitely consider it over the 16. From the pictures it looks in nice condition, it also comes with two sails and he also says he has beach wheels for it so I'm hoping he took greater care of it unlike the people selling the 16 just pushing the boat around on sand and wearing the whole thing down.

I recently picked up a Hobie 18 that I was looking at. The seller took $1300 for it and threw in a lot of extras like beach wheels, extra sails, wings, trapeze, tongue with ball for hitch, brand new tramp made by the local Amish. It is in much better condition than the 16 I posted pictures of and also the trailer is in excellent condition.

Wow! The boat looks great and the price for an 18 with wings is a steal! Congrats and have fun!

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Thanks, it's going to be one heck of a learning experience. I'm more familiar with sail boats and I have sailed cats in the past but I've never rigged one in my life. There are so many parts and pieces that I'm getting anxious just thinking about it, lol.

There is a sailing club a few minutes away that teach lessons but they're mainly geared towards the sunfish so I'm thinking about giving them a call to see if anyone at the club sails a cat that can help me out. I've been trying to learn from book's but I can't understand instruction manuals for the life of me since I'm a very visual learner.

I hope after a couple of weeks you've gotten over the rigging woes. If not there are quite a few videos on youtube about how to setup an 18. We've doubled our divisions H18 racing fleet in the past two years. They're a lot of fun.

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Tom
Fleet 259, Central Coast CA
H18 ('81)
H18 ('85)
H20 ('97)
H18 ('78)

Ive been practicing, I didn't get the sail up yet though because it's been too windy. If it'll be nice out tomorrow I'll rig it up and try to take some pics so you guys can critique my rigging.

Ok I was able to get everything up today just before another storm rolled in. It's been storming hard just about everyday since I bought the boat.

I did have a few problems though , first the jib halyard loop got tangled in the forestay and was way to high to actually attach the jib to. The trapeze line shrouds seem to stick on one side of their shackle instead of being on both sides of the shackle, if that makes any sense. Although that may just be from me lifting the mast with the trapeze wires all on one side instead of spreading them out.

Also, I'm not sure how to tie the tack of the sail to the mast. There is some strange pulley system that was included that I think is used for this but I am unsure of how to use this, the first picture shows how I think it goes but then there is another shackle on it that attaches somewhere. Also I don't know how to tie the mast rotator to the boom. There is also a single pulley under the trapeze which I don't know what is for. I will include pictures below.

There is also this rope with a ball and pulley attached to the boom which I'm guessing attaches to the mast rotator but there isn't enough room for it and the pulley hits the cleat.