What Boat to Buy?

Need a little help figuring out what boat will best meet my needs. I live in Kansas and have access to two lakes of reasonable size. I have my bare boat cert and charter larger sail boats every couple of years, so have sailed for many years. I have been windsuring for the last few years, but have always wanted to own a Hobie cat.

So these are my goals. Teach my 9 year old to sail, have a boat that will keep my interest and finally, stay under $3000.

What boat would you recommend? Is a Hobie 18 too much boat for a lake in Kansas? Will a Hobie 16 be enough boat to keep my interest?

Thanks

Dave

_________________
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -- Mark Twain

Dave,

Either a 16 or 18 will do. No such thing as too much boat for a Kansas lake, we used to sail a 20.

I assume you windsurf out of the State Park at Clinton?

Please check our website/s

http://fleet297.org/prod/ (well...after our webmaster gets back from the 17, 18 & Tiger NAC's, the server is in his basement and seems to be down )

and Kansas Sailing Association http://www.kansassailing.com/facilities their facility is located on the West side of Clinton at Bloomington Access

Fleet 149 sails at Lake Perry.

We're a family oriented fleet and eager to help the newcomer!

Please send me an email

John Eaton

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

The 17 is an excellent choice. Especially for a father of a nine year old boy (personal experience speaking).

-The wings add comfort, dryness, , and a little adventure to the mix while trapping. Kid overboard is far less likely because of the wings, so there is an increased sense of security. (BTW you can get wings for the 18 too)
-The 17 rigs quite fast, a result of being a cat rig.
-It is lighter than the 18, meaning you and your boy can probably right it. (difficult with the 16 and an unlikely with the 18.)
-Being light, trailer launch and load are very quick and easy.
-kick up rudders and spring actuated center boards make beach landing effortless. The 18 has daggerboards which MUST be raised.
-Regarding the 17 cat rig: one-sail, one kid is a nice mental and physical work load - freeing yourself to focus on your son's enjoyment.
-As a single hand boat, you do not need to arrange crew. You will find going out solo, without your boy, to be exhilarating. I go every week to mentally re-charge my batteries - works like nothing else I've tried!
-Does not pitchpole and hobby-horse as easily as the 16 does.

H17 drawbacks:
-Tacking is an art form you must take time to master. But until then, recovering from a failed tack is simple - push the boom and the tiller handle in the direction you want the hulls to point - almost never fails.
-Low freeboard makes big chop a bit more challenging. The 18 has taller hulls.
-Low boom: getting two bodies under it during a tack requires a 'who goes first' understanding. Not a problem with the boomless "Sport"
-Just a hair slower than the 18.

H16 benefits: You can find a nice one for half the price of a 17, no center or daggerboards. There is always someone to race.

Overall, the H17 is a wonderful product.

Peace,

_________________
Dan Peake
2003 H17SE
2005 FX1

Thanks John,

I do sail out of Clinton and will be at the beach on Sat morning. Will you be sailing by chance?

Dave

_________________
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -- Mark Twain

Dave,

Unfortunately not, we're finishing up our move to Clinton this weekend and won't be on the water until two weeks from Sunday (going to 14 NAC's next week). Send me an email and we'll put you on the fleets email list.

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

If you go the 17 route, I would recommend that you consider the Sport (jib) package. If your son is like most 9 year olds, he's going to want to be an active member on the boat, so having the jib will give him something to do and keep him interested.

Otherwise a 16, 17 Sport, or 18 would all be good choices. I think I'd base the decision on the condition/age of what is available, the size/weight of yourself and son (and how big he will get), and whether racing is important to you. But any of these boats would probably be just fine.

sm