Downsizing

I'm a 71 YO Hobie 16 sailor but its getting tougher and tougher to single hand sail it as the years go by. Im thinking of downsizing to a 14 and wonder what H14 sailors think of the idea?

The 14 is easier to rig, right, and move around than the 16. But it’s also less stable - more prone to pitchpoling or rolling over backwards in stronger winds. So it really depends on where you sail and what conditions you plan to go out in. From a performance standpoint, it isn’t as fast as a 16, but still gives a thrilling and satisfying ride when there’s some breeze. I also wouldn’t really consider a 14 if you plan to sail with a companion. Adding a second person really reduces the performance.

The Wave would also be worth considering. Similar performance to a 14 (although somewhat reduced), but even easier to handle and sail.

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Having both, I agree with everything SRM said. I’ll add that the H14 (at least the one I have) isn’t that much lighter than my H16 so the effort getting to the water seems about the same. But the H14 is quite a bit easier to rig and bit easier to manage to sail solo.

The downside of the H14 is that it can be tippy with two adults (depending on the size of the adults) but I’ve been able to take out three small kids plus myself and managed Ok. The H16 is significantly more forgiving in carrying extra people.

That all said, the H14 is a great solo boat for the reasons SRM said.

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H16 2002 "Islands" Sail No. 107432

Thanks for the input. It sounds like I should hang onto the 16 and wait for my grandchildren to get a little bigger

Thanks for the input. It sounds like I should hang onto the 16 and wait for my grandchildren to get a little bigger

The Wave is a blast and will be a great boat for the grandkids when they're ready to sail. Keep your eyes open. Occasionally, (although not very often), they show up for cheap. Act fast if you see one, they usually don't stay on the market for long.

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Bill P
'00 Wave
Webster NH

What would be a "can't turn it down" price?

I bought my Wave (including trailer) for $900. For me, that was definitely a "can't turn it down" price.

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Bill P
'00 Wave
Webster NH