Any new Hobie designs in the future?

Can anyone talk about any new upcoming Hobie designs. I still vote for a larger Getaway boat.

Big,

Let's throw this up as a serious question, and others chime in here as well.

What do want to see in a new design?

Rotomolded? Fiberglass? Recreational use only? Occasionaly Race? How old are you? What do want to spend? One up/two up? One, two or three sails?

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I'll go

Here's my vote for "new" design and it's a Hobie Cat Europe product.

http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/site/ho ... ata_GB.pdf

I think they've hit the nail on the head with this one, and here's why.

A polyester/glass boat, lighter & faster than rotomolded. I'm a 50 y.o. rec sailor/weekend racer and you won't catch me on a "plastic" boat!

Has centerboards. Helps with pointing ability and more forgiving than daggerboards (easier for a novice crew to negotiate)

228 sq. ft. of main and jib, with modern, square top design. 10 more square feet than the 16, with 3 foot taller mast, 18" more water line, and more free board in the hulls. I wonder how much it weighs?

Roller furling jib, really liked that feature on the old 18 for easy depowering.

Roller furling gennaker. Always thought a third sail would be cool but the thought of snuffer and bag and getting all that right (plus possible damage in learning what's right) turns me off. Roller furling (Hooter style) may be easier, would seem easier to set up and deploy. It's inherent that this sail would be great fun on the recreational reaches.

Double trapeze and a target max. crew weight of 528 pounds means I can load up two on the trapeze, with me on the tramp driving, and reach across the lake trying to set a new speed record! Isn't that what Hobies are all about?

It looks modern, sorry, but the Bravo, Wave, Getaway do absolutely nothing for me in the way of looks.

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I second that! It looks like too much boat for single handing except on quite days. I think the price would be its biggest impediment. I always liked the appearance of the 16 but your right even though I own a getaway it isn't in my opinion a nice looking boat.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

Yes, Hobie US could benefit from their European cousin. Hobie Europe has several models which would be great for the US market. So why don't they import them. My wife has a Bravo, but wants to move up. The Wave isn't enough of a performance improvement to warrent the switch and the FX is too much boat for her. I'd love to get her a hobie 15.

I'll toss in a note. though i don't know how many "light boat" adventure Sailors there are like me who are looking.

But i like to do treks on the boat. two to three day sails. I always liked the idea of a hobie because of the pure speed they can provide. That combined with the lack of listing makes for a less stressfull trip IMHO.

The Getaway was the current boat of choice for such a trip due to the weight capacity. BUT the getaway did not provide much in the way of storage. When packing for a three day trip, with food, shelter, and Saftey equipment. Storage is a big topic.

The getaway also did not have a boom which would be used to support a tent and other camping gear while at anchor for the night.

I looked at many Trimarans. The Windrider 17 was at the top of my list. http://www.windrider.com/17.shtml . But i had never seen one in person and i hadnt gotten out to the lake in PA to demo sail one before i saw my 21SC on ebay. The WR17 has a spot you can sleep in the central hull. lots of deck space for storage. Is very easy to steer via foot peddles and all the lines come to the driver rather than the other way around. It is also near impossible to flip and does not pitch pole.

I thought hobie was on the right track for me when they brought out the adventure Island tri. But it was still too small for long distance runs.

What i would like to see is a Hobie Expedition Trimaran. A central 21 foot hull. two 16-18ft side ama's. small motormount. lots of storage like the 21SC had. and a boom is helpfull for camping. furling everything is a great touch too. Trailer able is also a must to get to remote waters.

I am 25 and would like to spend around 12-15K for the boat, though i know it would be more round 20K. Plastic vs. fiber i don't much mind. the plastic does hold up better to impacts and beaching i'm told so that might be a good thing.

J. Eaton-You asked some great questions.
We've had our Hobie 16 for 28 years. I'm 65; my wife is 62.
Recreational sailing. Race about once every two years.
What am I looking for in a new boat??? Fiberglass; Main, jib & spinnaker. I don't want to sacrifice too much speed.
A Beachcat-no centerboards or daggerboards. I don't care about pointing higher.
Something smaller & lighter than our H 16 that's easier to right after capsizing.
I don't rake my mast back because it lowers the boom & makes it more difficult to get under it when we come about or jibe.
It should be easy enough to sail singlehanded, but beefy enough to carry two adults with a combined weight of 280 lbs.
A HOBIE DRAGOON ( Europpean boat) looks good. It's a 14 ft. boat. Perhaps a 15 ft. version of the DRAGOON would support more weight. We have grandchildren 4-8 yrs. old.
What do you think J. Eaton???
Richard

Not to hijack the thread, but have you checked out the newCorsair 750 folding, trailerable trimaran?

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

The Getaway is way too heavy to be moved on the beach by one person.
I wish Hobie would make a 240 lbs boat, that could be used 1-up with the main sail, or 2-up with main and jib. Spinnaker would be nice as well.

I like the Pearl - especially if it has an option for a forward tramp and wings so it could be converted to a family boat when my wife wants to come along. She's afraid of the 20, so I end up going main only when I take her. I may go to a furling jib for that reason.

The tough part about a one-person moveable boat is that it will be spendy. I think the Getaway fills a great niche and there always seem to be 21SCs available for those who want more. There's an old 21SE that's very neglected at the Red Rock, IA marina. If I had more time I'd make an offer and turn it into a family boat.

Overall Hobie has a great line and Corsairs and other larger boats take over when you want more space and have more money. I do hope there's a US option for the Pearl, though!

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Bill
H20 #433
Southeast Iowa

yup, looked at the Corsair line heavliy as well. Got quoted 62K for the 750 i wanted and over 100K i think for the larger version, just a bit out of the budget. There are also the Renolds r33's . http://www.r33.com/en/rs33/design.asp . And the Adventure trimaran. http://www.adventuretrimaran.com/ .

I might end up with an R33 if i ever start getting paid more than a Secretary at work

I really like the F16 class of boats. They are light, single or double. Have main, jib and spin. Flat beams and flat hulls. I find as I get older the H18 is getting heavier. I'm more hesitant to go out solo and crew is harder to come by. Something that I could rig and sail alone or take a crew along with me. It must be fast and challenging!

Here goes my opinion


Man, how many of us share that same sentiment? Read…Getaway won’t do the trick

No one cared about pointing higher on a Hobie 16 until someone decided to start racing them. The 16 was designed to reach up and down the beach, not point. Another important thing to consider, sail any boat with boards once and you’ll appreciate how they are a pivot point for tacks and make tacking easier. I’ve heard rumors the Getaway is like tacking a H16? Again, pivoting centerboards (in lieu of up/down daggerboards) seem like the best of both worlds, especially for the beach.

In reading the description (may have lost something on the French translation) “This is unique occasion to share with your friends the authentical emotions of long distance courses and adventure in 18 foot cat.â€

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Man, how many of us share that same sentiment? Unfortunately I think we’d have to leave Hobie to get an F16, don’t see them stepping in to that market and I don’t see them making a “dumbed downâ€

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Bill,

What a fine racing machine the 20 is, err was. Alas, not enough market to keep it in production.

HCE (Hobie Cat Europe) offers three different wing configurations. The SX style make great backrests, are great for cruising and effectively increase the usable trampoline area, just look at the Getaway, or 18 Magnum, or 18SX, they work. Regarding a forward tramp, there’s that neoprene antiskid up on the foredecks in the rendering, although the spin pole may be in the way if a fore-tramp was added. Here again, we can't have every thing in one boat, there has to be some compromise.

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