What to buy...H14, H16, Wave, Getaway...need help

I would like to get back into sailing, haven't done much in about 10+ years--sailed a lot in my teens and twenties.

I am 6' 210lbs. I will be sailing solo often and sometimes with the wife and/or a friend--mostly in the surf here in Corpus Christi, Tx where the wind is 15-20 mph on a average day--many days stronger.

I like the H16, but is this going to be too much boat to handle solo in the surf with strong winds? Can it be sailed w/o jib? The H14 is probably the better solo option here, but I don't want it too lame or crowded with the extra body(s), plus the H14's seem much harder to find around here. Are the Wave or Getaway viable options to a H14?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Sailing in Corpus Christi, TX

I'll put my $.02 in here. I have owned both a H14 and a Wave (current).

First of all, in the winds/crew composition you are talking about here, a 14 will be a single handed boat. Fast, fun, yes for sure. But bringing along passengers/crew will be invitation to swim.

Now maybe not as fast, the Wave is perfect for those wind conditions. It is so easy to setup, less $$ than a Get or new 16, and can handle 3 to 4 people with ease. Although it will slow down w/ 2, turns into a dog wih 3 to 4. But lots of fun alone.

Maybe the Getaway would be a good option. It can be singleahanded quite easily (from what I have read), and is a very comfortable boat. More forgiving and easier to handle than a 16. Again, from what I have read.

Do you know of any dealers who may be able to demo a couple options?

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Jim

2007 Hobie Wave

Funny thing. CC is a sailing/windsurfing hotspot--held many US Open Windsurfing Championships and many more National level sailing events--closest Hobie dealer is 3.5 hr drive in Houston or Austin area!

I would prefer the 16, but concerned about solo in the surf with 25 mph winds. Is the Wave gonna be a dog in those winds if I happen to have 3 aboard?

Sailed a Wave (no jib) in Cancun a few weeks back in calm waters, 10-15 mph winds, with 2 ppl---rather slow and felt impossible to fly a hull...

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CCSAILOR

Then consider a 17 and its replacement, the FX One. They're unirigs, but they won't do well with more than 2. The 17 can also be fitted with a jib, and the FX One can take a spinnaker. Racing doesn't sound like your thing and the racing for the boats isn't as strong as the 16/Tiger/20, but these are mostly 2 person boats.

Don't be afraid to contact a Hobie dealer since they may also have a line on used boats which may not come on the open market. They may also hook you up with events where you can see the boat you're interested in and maybe get a chance to take one out.

I'm a newbie too but researched this a lot (I bought a H16 but don't plan on going out solo). Since you are sailing inconsiderable wind the Wave may be a good option. But in slower winds, especially with 3 adults. You are going to go pretty slow. Don't plan on flying hull unless maybe alone.

The H14 is really too small for more than one.

The H16 is a lot to handle for a solo newer sailor.

The Getaway may be an option for you.

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~ Ron

CC,

Get a 16. I'm about your size and if your feel like you still have athletic bones in your body it's the right choice. It will be alot of fun solo. Above 20 kts. there aren't many boats that are fun. I've sailed down in Brownsville and I'm so jealous of that wind steady 14-17 all the time. You can right the boat yourself. It's not a fun boat to sail w/o the jib. You need a jib for the boat to sail right(like tack) My experiance was similiar to yours and I've never looked back and have never learned more and I'm creeping up on the big 50. Be a stud, life is short.

I'd go the H16 route for the support and universality alone. I sail mostly solo and have no problems. Just about any cat is going to be a chore above 20kts. I sailed a Wave on a cruise in Mexico and compared to my 16 it was very slow, but also easy and comfortable, so you will just have to decide what you want. I think that the 16 is a great boat to learn on and it can take you a long way in the sport. The Wave may be great to learn on, but will eventually be limiting.

Think I'd go for the 16 if I were your size! I sail my 16 without the jib to depower all the time! At your weight, the 14 will be a slug, and hard to tack (I own both a 16 and 14t). I've sailed a Wave a few times, and it feels kind of sluggish next to the 14, but very controllable and definitely easier! Think I'd go for the 16 over a getaway, too ( maybe just a little prejudice there! ) Dave

Here's my experience. I grew up on the beachfront in South Africa, a surf-rat, but had done some dingy sailing with a friend in the navy. Now living here in the mid-west I thought I would try sailing again and wanted speed, so I opted for catamarans. Bought a H14T but quickly found that to be too small, good experience though, had to teach myself how to rig and how to sail and the H14T was very forgiving but the need for speed was upon me. 49 years young, 6' tall and 200 lbs, I opted for the H16 and picked one up in amazing condition. Quickly realized I would need to do something about the mast, it's a whole lot heavier, so I rigged my own solo mast-step system, ( check out this link :- http://www.thebeachcats.com/index.php?m ... emId=53380) I also rigged my H16 with a roller-furling jib as I sail solo most of the time and might need to depower quickly. I've never looked back, the H16 is easy to handle by myself, last Friday went sailing in steady 15 mph winds up at Mark Twain Lake here in MO and was trapped out solo for over 35 min on a long reach, totally wicked. I'm working on a solo righting system this winter as this is the big problem, tip the cat over and she's not coming back up by yourself, I'm not keen on a righting bag so I'm going with a righting pole. Will post that setup on TheBeachcats.com. Sail On

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hobieblast
On-The-Edge-Of-No-Control

I own a 14 and a 16 and have sailed the wave (for only 1/2 hour).

The 14 is a really fun single person boat. I have no jib and it sets up easy and it also has a huge wind range. Lots of fun in high winds but its difficult to get the boat to turn when its windy. About 2/3 of the time, I blow the tack and end up having to do a pretty scary low speed jibe - but have never gone over doing this jibe yet, just seems like it every time. I cant hike the boat at just under 200 pounds. The lee bow will submarine before the hull lifts. If Im by myself, this is the boat I prefer - partly because its fast and low hassle to take out.

When I went to pick up the 16, I was pretty intimidated by the size of the mast and the boat setup. But its a real fun boat when I have my two sons sailing - or a friend. Single hands just fine but havent tried it in higher winds.

Ease of use and flexbility and simple to set up are high on my priority list so if I had to have just one cat, it would probably be the Wave. I could live with the little bit slower - seemed plenty fast to me when I sailed it with my two sons.

FYI - I also made a mast raising system for my H16. I almost always have to raise the mast myself and used a gin pole system with "baby stays" to keep the mast straight while raising. The gin pole is seated on a box which the previous owner made. I use an old camera tripot to suport the rear of the mast when its laid down. All parts of the mast raising system have easy connects and it makes owning and using the 16 a lot easier. So easy that Im thinking maybe I should have picked up an 18 instead as my "company" boat - still keeping the H14 for single hand sailing. Picture of the H16 mast raising in this album:
http://s359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33 ... 20raising/