Hobie 16=$675

I am completely new to Hobie/sailing. I want to get something inexpensive for my first boat. The boat I saw is a 1976 that is in good condition and he said it is ready to sail. The tramp is in good condition(not original). The sail is a from a 1984 boat. The hull has one spot repaired(2" x2").I have a friend that has 3 Hobie's that is going to look at the boat with me to check everything over. Is $675 a good price our should I keep looking.$1500 is the max I want to spend. I wish I could of got a 1995 Hobie 17 with wings for $1200 that sold locally. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks
mike

I forgot to mention it comes with a trailer that is very good condition.
mike

Prices for a used Hobies can be all over the place- depends on where you are and where the boat was used, how the boat was maintained and stored, how the boat is outfitted, and the condition of the boat. Even if well maintained, I think most people here will advise you to replace all the standing rigging anyway.

What do you plan to do with it, sail if for pleasure and racing? If you want to race and it is not currently rigged for racing, you can easily triple your investment on rehab and upgrades. Get a Hobie catalog and see what stuff costs before you buy it, if it needs a lot of work and parts. Will you work on it yourself or have a shop work on it- $$$, etc., etc.

If the mast, boom, rudders, frame, and hulls are truly sound and the sails and tramp are in good condition, $675 is reasonable. Replacing any one of those things can instantly drive the price up quite a bit even buying used parts. I have seen used, 30 year old, sails sell on Ebay for $400 to $1000 for ones in good-excellent condition with a popular color pattern like 'Cat Fever' and 'Tequila Sunrise'. A new set of sails will cost well over $1000.

Really check the hulls and especially the decking forward of the forward pylons for soft spots and delams.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

Thanks for the pointers. I do not plane of racing and I do realize that parts are expensive. I plane of using it locally here in Florida at Indian River Lagoon. It is mostly shallow and was advised by my friend not to get the Hobie 18 because it has dagger boats that can hit the bottom. I think I will question him about the hulls more before I make the drive. I forgot what colors he said the sails where but it might be one you mentioned. Any repairs that need to be done will be by me.
mike

I've got you beat on buying a 16.....bought one off my friend for $1.00. Yep, a great price, but then again he's going thru his 3rd divorce. I'll most likely sell it back to him for $2.00 (gotta make a profit) + the reg fees I had to pay.

I will give you $3.00 so you can make a even bigger profit! Anyways looks like you have a win win situation.
mike