What a boat!

I have had my 16' out four times now, I'm in love. On sunday I took my three kids and wife out. My kids are 6, 4, and 1. The wind was 25 kph (sorry canadian) and we flew a hull! My kids worked the jib sheet and got to feel like they were helping. We sailed for over four hours and my kids wanted more. Best fathers day for me yet.

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I wish winter was not so long in Sask. Canada. It's hard to sail on ice! 1984 16' hobie cat Sail# 84848

congrats on getting the entire family out on the water!

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Brad Stephens
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I have to be very honest here.

Very cool that you had an awesome weekend. I to had an incredible weekend. I did not get to take my children on the 16, but 2 of them did get to crew on one of the 18s that were at our fleet outing. In fact my 17 year old daughter actually flipped the boat while piloting. The third child did not get to go at all. I did get my wife out in similar winds and we had a great time until the boat went over. No body got hurt or turned off to sailing which was my greatest fear. It turns out that she rather enjoyed playing in the water while we righted the boat.

Now, the concerned father part of this post

YOU TOOK A 1 YEAR OLD OUT ON A 16??? Ok, so you had lots of help and are probably what we (my family) refers to as a water family, but GOD forbid something did happen? It just seems like a huge risk. You would have 5 people in the water with 2 adults trying to get 3 very young children to safty + getting the boat back with the pointy side up.

Sorry for the backhanded congratulations!!!!

Sam
Team Scratch-N-Sniff (Working on the graphics)

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Sail Like you Have a Pair
Bluish gray 73 - 83 H16
Super Nice Yellow 84 H18

unfortunately I agree taking a 1 year old out on a H16 isn't very smart

12 knts of wind maybe. No real "danger".

I too have taken my young children on lots of different boats from a very young age. Warm water, lifejackets and one adult ready to jump in if a kid falls in, one to drive the boat back for the pickup. We were conservative and I am sure you were too. I like you saw the risk as minimal compared to the family return.

Now my boys are 5 and 7 and are on the wire of a Hobie 20 all the time. My five year old can't really lower himself to where the ropelock hits so he hooks up, lowers, and lets go until the ropelock hits. I tell him he is going to miss one day and he just smiles and laughs. Still in life jackets and swimming strong so worse case, he will get wet and be more careful.

I bought a Hobie wave as a sailing trainer for the boys. Each takes the tiller but still doesn't quite understand the wind, but they can read and steer to tell tails so we are close.

Keep the kids on the boat, keep them in life jackets, and wetsuits, and have a great family time.

By the way, Hobie has some kid size harnesses for a good price. Ask your dealer to see if there are any more of the close out kids harness's. The harness's are great quality so buy them before they are gone.

My one year old nephew asked me the other day if he could take the 16 out solo if he was careful. You can call it tough love, but I had to say no.

I read that as knots not KPH. It is kilometers per hour, so about 15 MPH, I might think about taking the 6 and 4 year olds out (with crew that can handle the boat in case something happened to me). But not all 3 not even with experienced crew.

I do not know that I would take a 1 or 2 year old on a 16 in any condition they are just too busy. I have 4 kids so I know what a hand full they can be.

I have been knocked off my boat in winds less than 10 MPH so I know weird things happen. Ask your self, What would my crew do if I got knocked off the boat?

Again, enjoy the boat and do what you fell is safe.

Sam

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Sail Like you Have a Pair
Bluish gray 73 - 83 H16
Super Nice Yellow 84 H18