In the water again!
Our 1983 Hobie 16 (sail 70xxx) was back in the water again. As near as we can tell, the boat was last registered in 1991.
This has been an ongoing exercise for several months. The boat and trailer were donated to a local thrift store. This piqued my interest as I last sailed a Hobe in about 1984 when I crewed for a friend one summer in Oregon. It was a wonderful experience, but he found girls, and I moved away, so that was that,
The boat appeared intact, no dings in the rudders or scratches in the hulls. All of the sails and running rear was present excpt the main sheet system, and the tramp was solid.
There was no listed price, so I researched it all, and suggested that I could take it off of their hands for about $700. The Boss laughed and suggested $1500. Sailing in Kansas is tough at best, and rarely a Hobie is seen on the water. I said - "Thanks but NO Thanks, I'll be back". Eventually my co-investor in the boat (my Wife thought I was nuts, wanted NO part of this) and I bought this for $500 last May.
About $450 for ropes, used mainsheet system, and misc parts, plus $250 for harnesses and lifejackets, and we were ready to go Sunday.
Blustery day at Lake Perry near Lawrence, and we could not get any of our friends that had a real clue on sailing to help, so we went anyway. Too much wind for our skill level, so we struck the jib, and elected to stay in a cove rather than venture out to the main lake.
We sailed a little, floundered a bit, and eventually got stuck in the weeds and walked the boat out (upwind of course) and had a GREAT time.
Boat performed solidly. We did find a few more things that needed tending to, but nothing major. Hulls did not leak, sails did not tear, tramp did not disintegrate - All in All a testament to the robust construction and well thought out selection of components.
We have a teacher for next Sunday, and will try to look better!
Thanks to all who have offered their support without hesitating when asked, and to Hobie and others with great resources on-line for quick refreshing of the brain.
Best in Hobe
Mike and Greg
Leavenworth, KS
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