Wave vs Hobie 14

I am going to look at a 2008 Wave tomorrow for sale by a local community center..used for sailing lessons and rental. I have a Hobie 14 that I have owned for thirty-five years. OMG, not that long!!!

Any advice on making the change from a H 14 to a Wave (pro or con) in my senior years? I love my H 14 but it needs work and I could put a lot of money into it and then end up not being able to sail it as I get older.

My initial reaction to the Wave was yuck, but I am hearing a lot of good things about them. Like I could take my grandchildren out on it more comfortably, it is lighter, easier to manage, etc.

Also, which model is best for a Granny sailor who could still turtle and right her H 14 last year without help but doesn't want to do it again.

And finally, can I trailer a Wave on my H 14 trailer?

Thanks,
Betsy

Hi Betsy,

I once had a 14. Loved i, but did not like the lack of bouyancy. Not as much a family boat either.

I think you would love a Wave. It may be slower than the 14, but not by a huge amount. The lack of boom and huge trampoline real estate make it very user friendly, especially with kids aboard. Weight is about the same as a 14. Mast is the same except being 2' shorter. A little smaller sail (95 sqft vs 118 for the 14).

It is much easier to right than a 14, and the mast bob (if present, make sure it has one, or purchase one) will prevent it from going turtle. On thing that may be more difficult, is climbing back aboard once you get it righted. The 14 hulls sit lower in the water, making climbing on easier. The Wave has much more buoyancy, so floats somewhat higher. Others on this forum have devised little ladder like things and tricks to assist with re boarding. That being said, the Wave is very stable, and you have to really push it it tip it. In other words, if you don't want it to go over, it probably won't unless you go out in 25mph winds.

As for the model, I assume you mean club vs SE/classic, if you can get a club, the trampoline is tighter, set up and laced similar to the 14, but otherwise pretty much the same. With current models, really the only difference is the tramp design, the club being more like your 14, and SE bieng deigned to take apart easily.

If it were me, I would replace the shrouds (as with any used boat with unknown history) with all club versions, maybe use the SE bridle as it has snap clips for easy trailering. You should be able to utilize your 14 trailer very easily, maybe with some slight adjustments. The width may be only differnce.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

_________________
Jim

2007 Hobie Wave

OK, what your going to LOVE about the Wave is how many people you can take out. Hobie says 800 pounds max load. Plenty of room on the tramp for all those people too. Does not have the pitchpole tendancy of the 14/16. There is no such thing as too much wind for the Wave - I solo sail 25 mph gusting 30 alone with little concern. Really easy to sail too.

The downfall will be the loss of some performance. You can fly a hull on the Wave, however you need a decent breeze for that. It wont quite as fast as the 14. Dead downwind is kind of slow.

Not sure about the trailer. Take your measuring tape.

I am a 14 guy (as some of you know) and I raced a Wave for the first time last weekend at MidWinters East.
In 15-18 mph winds, with 1.5 foot seas, here is what I learned:

1. The Wave stalls on the starting line WAAAY better than a 14 so starting is more easily controlled (more similar to what my 20 did)

2. Other than not being able to actually trap out (with my fat ass happens fairly infrequently) the upwind perfomance of the boat was not remarkably different than the 14. You just gotta use the straps and hang your butt over the side. Its slower, I am sure, but when you're racing, you only seem to care about that guy in front or behind you, so you don't really get a feel for fast vs slow (like going from a 16 to a 20)

3. On a reach its not as fast as a 14, but whatta 'ya want?

4. Dead arse down wind is similar, with the exception of less hull in front of the mast, it can plow the front crossbar if you're not watching closely.

5. Mark roundings are very similar to the 14

6. The extra hull volume is great for someone heavier than 150lbs, and I liked it alot.

There you go, I told you what I know. Check out the pics for MWE when they show up and see the boats on the water. I really enjoyed the boat, and royaly got my ass kicked by that guy from Florida, Stan Woodruff.

Chris you forgot to talk about the similarities when the mast falls on the starting line

_________________
Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
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Oh yea, when the forestay breaks the first 5 seconds of the first race, the Mast Bob is very handy at keeping the mast afloat when you toss the mast out in the middle of the bay in anger. Once you calm down, you can easily find it again, as opposed to the 14 mast that sinks and is pretty much unrecoverable.

Well, I looked at the Wave and sat on it and watched one go out. Interesting. On the way home I accidentally went by the Hobie dealer and drove in. They have a 2008 for $4500ish. I do not want a rental
boat, it looked worse than my 30 year old H 14.

Still undecided here. I love my old one and I want the new one..........

Betsy

Just do it.

Hold on a minute

Betsy, the "MSRP" of a 2009 Wave is $4,799.
$4,500 for a well used (trashed?) '08 seems way out of line.

Keep looking or buy new.

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

I think the 2008 the dealer has may be new, leftover, at least that is what I read into it. I think she is saying she does not want the old one the community center is selling, due to hard use and delapitated appearance.

If that is true, $4500 is not bad, even considering it is a leftover. When I was shopping, I found a 3 yr old leftover still boxed, it was only discounted about $200. They just dont change much at all from year to year, maybe colors of sails, thus retain thier value.

_________________
Jim

2007 Hobie Wave

Yea, that's the way I took what she was saying too, that the 2008 was new/near new and that she did NOT want some old rental boat.

I think you might be able to find a demo boat a dealer has for a bit less that is still new. Honestly I can't imagine a dealer has any boxed waves left, #1 selling boat last year for us and everyone else we've talked to.

_________________
Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

Thank you all for your advice and input. I bought the new 2008 Wave today. It was a demo I guess but looked brand new. I certainly did not want to build one from a box. They cane down $100 on the boat and $100 on the the trailer and gave me $400 for my boat and trailer and away I went. I can not wait for tomorrow to go sailing.

I shed a few tears on my way home after I traded in Old Blue. She was a good friend for many years and we had a lot of fun together.

This one is more what I need now. This is a Grand MaMa boat to take my grandchildren out safely but still it has all the stuff to take out alone and have fun. It is so much easier to set up and it will fit in my garage at home so I will be able to sail a lot more often with this one.

We christened her Alexa Sky before I drove her out of the lot.

Betsy

Congrats Betsy! You will love it!

_________________
Jim

2007 Hobie Wave

Congratulations!!!!
I think its the perfect boat for you.