New to This, Looking at a Hobie Cat 14, from 82

Abby - The Hobie 14 is a fun boat for most people, but not everyone. You need to provide us with more information. How much are you paying for the boat & trailer? Is the trailer in good condition? These boats are weight sensitive, so we need to know your weight and that of the person who will be crewing for you the most. The mast should be straight with no bends nor major dings. The hulls should have no large soft spots nor deep cracks. Both you and your knowledgable father might have to do some minor repair work, but if there are any major defects then pass on this boat & trailer. Where do you live? [Can you sail it year round or is your sailing season coming to an end soon?] You'll need life jackets and maybe a wet suit & breeze breaker. Is there a Hobie Dealer nearby? You might have to replace the shrouds and forestay. We all want you to get a sailboat that you'll use often and enjoy, and not have any regrets. I wish you and your dad all the best!

Keep in mind that Hobie 14s really sail best with only one person on board. You can sail with two people, but once the total crew weight gets above about 250 lbs, the handling and performance will really suffer. If the boat is a standard 14 (no "turbo" jib), then you will have a little bit of a learning curve as far as tacking goes as these are among the most difficult boats to tack.

By far the most important thing to check for is soft spots on the sides of the hulls and the decks. Press on the hulls all around, if the surface deflects easily, it means the fiberglass structure has delaminated and the boat should not be sailed. Small soft areas (about a foot in diameter) can be repaired with epoxy, but if the soft areas are much larger, you should probably pass on the boat. The most common area for soft spots is on the deck, directly in front of the front crossbar.

Otherwise, check everything over really well, focusing on the mast, boom, trampoline, and sails. These are the expensive parts to replace. I recommend bringing a copy of the Hobie catalogue with you when you look at the boat so you will easily know the replacement cost for any missing or broken parts.

Otherwise, good luck with the boat and welcome to the sport.

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