Hobie 16 for my first Hobie catamaran?

My wife has given me permission to buy a Hobie catamaran, and I'm wondering if the Hobie 16 is a good bet. I used to sail a lot when I was younger with experience on a Sunfish, Laser, and Penguin. I would mostly sail alone, but my wife might accompany me occasionally.

We live on the water and have a small beach. I guess I would use a Cat Trax to launch the catamaran. Other than that, looking for advice. Is there another model I should be looking at? Is the Hobie 16 easy to sail alone? What are some of the things I should look for if I end up buying used?

The Hobie 16 is very powerful to sail; single-handed. You would want to sail only in lighter wind conditions when alone. It sails best with two and a combined weight of 285 LBS (Racing minimum weight). Double trapeze use is typical for best performance in good breezes. How windy is your area?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

We're off the Tred Avon River on the eastern shore of Maryland. But I'd take it out in the Choptank where it can get windy (currently 14 knots). Is there a better choice for a solo sailboat?

So I agree with Matt that the 16 is a powerful boat to sail alone.

I was out solo in my 16 today with gusts around 20 mph and steady at 13 mph. I wouldn't have minded a bit more wind. I've been sailing my 16 now for twelve years. I was looking for something more challenging and the 16 fits the bill.

There's a lot of us that sail a 16 solo. Is it a good idea? Probably not. Is it a blast? You betcha!!!

By the way, I'm 69, still put the mast up myself, and still haven't failed to get it back up (although sometimes with outside assistance).

Jim Clark-Dawe

Wow, I'm impressed that you're still out there sailing at 69. Good for you! I'm 63, so ready to follow in your footsteps.

I would just take it out in light wind conditions until I become very familiar with the boat. And my son would help me a lot in the beginning too.

When you say get it back up, does that mean after capsize? Is capsizing something that happens easily on the Hobie 16? Also what's the minimum wind you're willing to sail in?

Help can be an interesting thing on a sailboat (any sailboat). If weight is in the wrong place, a capsize is very easy. Nothing worse than crew who don't know where to sit. My son, who has no interest at all in sailing, would be a problem on any sailboat. He'd be in the wrong place at the wrong time. (He has a lot of other good points.)

A 16, like any catamaran, is a very stable boat. Until it isn't. And when it isn't, it's going to happen very fast. Second time I was out, I capsized. Now I'd practice righting it before the sail, but I was young then. Joe Bennett has several videos on "what went wrong" just before someone capsizes their 16. I find few of my capsizes solo can be blamed on too much wind, and much more on a lapse of attention. (I limit wind to gusts of 30 mph in summer, less in spring and fall, but a forecast 30 mph gust can easily hit 40 mph.) But you don't need much of a lapse to go swimming.

There's two separate aspects of a capsize. The first is the actual capsize, the second is getting the mast back in the air afterwards. That's why I used the term "get it back up" as the part I was describing was righting the boat after the capsize.

Ignoring current, you can keep a 16 moving over the ground in very little wind. It will sort of ghost along, maybe doing a 0.5 mph in wind that isn't even rippling the water. Not exactly the most fun I've ever had sailing, but the only time I needed a tow back to my house was when one of my stays let go.

I'd really look for other 16 sailors near where you live. I was lucky and my local boatyard had a guy who knew a lot about 16s. But I'd try one and see whether it works for you. I like the rush and challenge. Get the boat blasting along and it's a lot of fun.

Jim Clark-Dawe

I love my H16, a great boat, and we love going out in strong winds.

However, for a first timer, I may suggest the Hobie Wave?
They are much more forgiving, you can sail with 1, 2, or more.
Sure, they will never have the same thrill of performance that H16 sailors enjoy, but they are a lot more forgiving, and easier to right.

If you do end up buying a H16, do a search on this Forum and find out how to 'seal your mast'.
Ask Matt Bounds what happened at the H17 Nationals in San Francisco many years ago.
If that mast fills with water, you'll need a big-engine power boat to raise the H16, don't ask how I know.

In my mid 70's, I can't stay away from our weekly (beer can) races, with crew.
Now, if sailing solo, I cannot raise the H16 if sailing solo.
As the others have explained, part of capsizing is keeping the cat 'in trim', and part are those wind gusts.
That's when I use the travelers.

Joy Rider TV is your friend....

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

I was gonna say, if you did go H16 then consider reducing your solo workload with the self-tacking jib shown on jrTV.

Otherwise it may be more fun cruising on a H Wave wishing you were on a H16, than on the edge with a H16 wishing you were on a H Wave. Weather can spring surprises.

Caveat: my cat experience is limited to another Hobie model (and non-Hobie).

We've got sort of an old boys sailing group, 5 of us, 60s to 70s. 4 of us have H16s and I have a Getaway (but have extensive H17 and 16 experience). We usually sail all our boats solo, and we look for winds in the high teens (preferably with gusts below the high 20s).

17s are great solo or 2 medium people boats, especially for high wind. Hard to find them in good condition at a reasonable price.

14s are solo boats I hear. I hear they pitch pole pretty easily and are easily over powered and over weighted. I don't think I've ever seen one in real life.

Personally, I think the 16 is a fine solo boat. Get one with reefing points in the sail, or add reefing points, or get a H14 sail to use on high wind days. I reef my Getaway's sail (had reefing added) and it's fun in big wind.

Depending on your size, you may need a righting bucket.

There are also alternatives to Hobies: NACRA, Dart, Top Cat, that are designed for solo or 2 up sailing

(edit) 14s and 16s are sort of uniquely prone to pitching because of the banana shaped hulls. More modern designs have wave piercing hulls, and longer forward sections that minimize (not necessarily prevent) pitching.
The 16 is a fun boat, but it's sort of like an older rear engine Porsche, has some inherent stability characteristics.
Wings are a great addition, except 16s don't have them (there was a funky aftermarket design)...the 17s have them, the 18s can have them, the Getaway has them (although they are uncomfortable slabs of aluminum). Some of the other more modern designs have them too.
If a new boat, or more modern boat is within your budget, I think I'd look at the Top Cat or a NACRA with wings. There are other designs out there too.
Guess it depends on your age, fitness, level of excitement desired, budget, not to mention what your wife would like if you want her to sail with you. (Hint, she would prefer a boat with wings-they are game changers).
Auto analogies: My Getaway is like driving a Buick, the 16 is like an old 911, the Wave (a boat that excites me not at all, sorry Wave owners, is like driving a Chevy Trax

(2nd edit) Look at thebeachcats.com to see some other boats. Hobies are so ubiquitous that many people think they're the only cat out there. Lots of different ones made over the years. Supercats and Prindles are just a couple of others besides the ones I listed. Some of the new designs are pretty cool

_________________
Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

I have had a Hobie 16 for almost 40 years. I’m 69.

I started buying Hobie Waves about 10 years ago. After I bought one and all my family wanted to sail it and not the 16 I bought a second, then a third. When I have guests they all want to sail the Wave.

This year I did not even put the 16 in the water. This is kind of like you have an amazing 35 MM camera but take all your photos with your I phone. The Wave is so fast to set up, so much safer (no Boom)

The Wave is your first Hobie Cat. I bought my first 16 from someone who’s wife told him she was never going out on the 16 again. In a big wind you can really get hurt on a 16 in a variety of ways. On a Wave your risk of injury is much lower.


https://youtu.be/tOIBSmqiSCQ?si=o1gKjFkhG6v0SmyO

Check out these videos of Waves, obviously a big wind but no one was getting hurt. If sailing 16’s two people would struggle to hold them down.

If you want an easy answer as to what to buy do two internet searches, Hobie 16’s for Sale and Waves for sale, you can’t find Waves, everyone loves them.