Ah, another new user checking in. Haven't touched a Hobie 16 since 1976. I've never lost the memories of my days sailing around San Diego, in Baja and the Lake Martinez area. I moved to Maine in 1976. It was always a fantasy to fly a hull through the local harbor and all the lobster boats but there was always a good reason not to get back into Hobies. Well, a couple of days ago I was checking out Craigslist and noticed an ad for a "free" H16. My eyes glazed over and my mind said no......no.........no....... arg, send the email! I was the first of many to respond and the next day my friend and I went and picked it up.
Turns out she is an early boat, hull NO. 2451, exactly the same vintage as the boat I sailed so many years ago. The mast was ruined when a tree fell on it, so I'm on the hunt for a new mast. Tramp will need to be replaced and certainly all the running rigging. The hulls are in pretty good shape, well weathered but solid with minimal wear along the bottoms. Not sure how carried away I'll get cleaning them up. Original sails are dingy but will work for now. The trailer under it had dissolved but we hauled it away as part of the bargain. Luckily, the boat came apart easily to come home in pieces. Would love to talk with anyone in Maine (I'm near Rockland)(not holding my breath!) or receiving any leads on a replacement mast. Dennis Hansen, Spruce Head, Maine. hhpayson(at)midcoast(dot)com
