HELP! Foam Filled Hobie 16 hulls??

Of your most recent possibilities I think a prindle 18/16, Nacra 5.7 would all be good. I don't know much about the Nacra 18sq but it has boards which I don't recommend for a first cat, and it is probably the hardest to right. It sounds like you won't be moving it so the 11 foot beam is not an issue, spare used sails/tramp and other parts may be hard to find. Let location, condition and a little patience guide you and you'll end up in a good spot

bayoucat wrote: There is an Nacra 18 square up sale in the classifieds but that seems to be a bit too much for me at first glance. Thoughts? This would be something I sail day after day too if that makes a difference (in regards to transportation and set up/rigging)

The N18sqm is an absolute no go for a newbie, especially in rougher weather.
To wide, daggerboards, doesn't point high when you're not a skilled sailor, is
a handfull on beach wheels solo and so on.

Was suggesting a 18 footer because of the rough weather, more length means
better behavior in (steep) waves.

Prindle 16, 18. Nacra 5.2, 5.7 are my recommended cats.
AND the glorious Dart 18 as a number 1 !!!

Member Mn3 keeps saying they are "dogs" in light air, but thats not completely
true. They are different cats because of their small beam. so you have to move
around the boat quite active in light air compared to "standard" beach cats .
Consider it a challenge or a new approach.
There's seven or so Dart 18's at our club, and I have seen them passing P18-2
and even F18 (no spi) in light winds. New sails and skills helps a lot.
In heavy weather they are unbeatable, tough.

Grtz, André

There's seven or so Dart 18's at our club, and I have seen them passing P18-2
and even F18 (no spi) in light winds. New sails and skills helps a lot.
In heavy weather they are unbeatable, tough.

I mean no disrespect for the Dart. I like the boat, almost purchased one at one time.
I have been on a few, and well above 30knot wind - that is the right boat for heavy air

I have personally passed and done circles waiting for a friend on a dart 18 in light air (he is a very good sailor) when i owned a H18 (that was in pretty poor shape, old sails and i didn't really know how to sail it) - that is what i base my statements on

I don't know how to post a link, but there is a 1985 Hobie 16 on Craigslist in Wetumpka, Al for $1500.00. The ad states that the hulls have no soft spots, tramp is good except for a hiking strap. Trailer included has sailbox, winch, and new lights. There are 2 pictures in the ad, one is from beachcats, and the other is from Juana's Pagodas. So, there ya go.

Edited by martyr on Apr 26, 2017 - 01:05 AM.

I don't know how to post a link

highlight the url in the address bar at the top of the browser
right click and select copy (or control+c)
come to this forum/page
click the URL button below and 2 brackets will appear (url) (/url) (brackets changed to parenthesis so you can see the general idea)

and right click and select paste (or control+v) inside the brackets

alternatively you can paste the url here / and then highlight the url you just pasted / then hit the URL button below - either way works

I am using a phone so...yeah, it's difficult. Anyway, there is also a nice G Cat in Port St Joe, Fl for $799, has double tramps and beach wheels!!! Lots of inexpensive boats out there, there is a 1977 Nacra 5.2 for $1000.00 in Birmingham,Al (no picture), and a H16 in Pensacola, Fl for $1100.00.

Edited by martyr on Apr 25, 2017 - 11:31 AM.

martyr wrote: I don't know how to post a link, but there is a 1985 Hobie 16 on Craigslist in Wetumpka, Al for $1500.00. The ad states that the hulls have no spot spots, tramp is good except for a hiking strap. Trailer included has sailbox, winch, and new lights. There are 2 pictures in the ad, one is from beachcats, and the other is from Juana's Pagodas. So, there ya go.

Seems like a really good cat but I don't think a hobie 16 would best fit where I want to sail. I already called about that 5.2 and it was gone. No surprise haha

What do y'all think about a hobie 17? Found what looks to be a good one at price I could probably negotiate. Ideally I'd really like a 5.0, 5.2, or 5.7 but I feel that as it gets closer to summer less will be up for sale. Nacra's are hard to find too. Haven't seen too many prindle's but I think a 16 is what I need. Anything at 18 feet, unless I can get a steal of a deal, is a bit more than I'll really need.

I mean I guess I could always get a H16 and if I'd like something else in the future, sell it.

For an all-around boat that can be sailed single-handed with jib and main or main alone (well-balance either way), that can be righted easily and has simple, but effective controls and has one of the best designed rudder systems--the Dart 18!!! It moves well in light wind conditions, when sailed properly, and that is part of the learning curve, but it really gives you confidence and handles superbly in a blow. Finding one may be a problem, as not many were imported from England to the U.S., but it's worth the effort to search one out. I currently own 3 of them plus a Prindle 18-2 and a Nacra 5.2. The Dart is still my go-to boat!!! Bob Martinez (Ventura Sailing Club multihull fleet captain)

bayoucat wrote:

Seems like a really good cat but I don't think a hobie 16 would best fit where I want to sail.

I forgot, where could you be sailing that a Hobie 16 wouldn't work?

The Hobie 17 is a very specific single handed boat. Low volume hulls don't carry weight. It may look bigger than a Hobie 16 on the beach because of the wings but it's not. H16 is a great all around boat, the H17 (and a lot of boats mentioned so far) are tools for a specific job.

bayoucat wrote: I mean I guess I could always get a H16 and if I'd like something else in the future, sell it.

Yes, the important thing is to get a boat and get started, but unless you manage to buy a Hobie 16 that someone has filled with foam you can't go wrong and can probably sail it a year and sell it for what you paid.

Hi there, I would take the advice of these people here! They are giving you good advice. Run away from this one. OK I just looked at a Hobie 18 in Atlanta Ga. Posted recently its is the white one sitting next to the blue tractor. The man who bought it knew nothing about it and a very nice person. We checked it for sold spots all over. Crunch,crunch,then he was sick. He owned a shop and told his worker to bring over a sawzaw. He cut off the first 6 feet of the hull. Wow! We inspected it and the inside fiberglass strip along with the outside glass was totally separated with rotton foam inside. I noticed that the inside foam was so thin it could be rolled up. The outside fiberglass was a little thicker. I didn't realize the fiberglass was so thin. Now I am reluctant of buying an older boat. This boat appeared rough even before we checked for sold spots. The whole boat was delaminated. OK, so a boat looks nice with paint and all the nice hardware just make sure its solid. The boat owner told me he is redoing the add as parts list. By the way, notice the front crossbar has a welded brace from a crack! The mast looked fine and sails were a little faded but I did not see all of them rolled out to check for inspection.The trailer was a heavy duty type with rust.The tires were good.

Hi there, I would take the advice of these people here! They are giving you good advice. Run away from this one. OK I just looked at a Hobie 18 in Atlanta Ga. Posted recently its is the white one sitting next to the blue tractor. The man who bought it knew nothing about it and a very nice person. We checked it for solf spots all over. Crunch,crunch,then he was sick. He owned a shop and told his worker to bring over a sawzaw. He cut off the first 6 feet of the hull. Wow! We inspected it and the inside fiberglass strip along with the outside glass was totally separated with rotton foam inside. I noticed that the inside glass was so thin it could be rolled up. The outside fiberglass was a little thicker. I didn't realize the fiberglass was so thin. Now I am reluctant of buying an older boat. This boat appeared rough even before we checked for solf spots. The whole boat was delaminated. OK, so a boat looks nice with paint and all the nice hardware just make sure its solid. The boat owner told me he is redoing the add as parts list. By the way, notice the front crossbar has a welded brace from a crack! The mast looked fine and sails were a little faded but I did not see all of them rolled out to check for inspection.The trailer was a heavy duty type with rust.The tires were good.

Edited by ec on Apr 26, 2017 - 11:06 AM.

Dartman wrote: For an all-around boat that can be sailed single-handed with jib and main or main alone (well-balance either way), that can be righted easily and has simple, but effective controls and has one of the best designed rudder systems--the Dart 18!!! It moves well in light wind conditions, when sailed properly, and that is part of the learning curve, but it really gives you confidence and handles superbly in a blow. Finding one may be a problem, as not many were imported from England to the U.S., but it's worth the effort to search one out. I currently own 3 of them plus a Prindle 18-2 and a Nacra 5.2. The Dart is still my go-to boat!!! Bob Martinez (Ventura Sailing Club multihull fleet captain)

They are especially hard to find because the owners, like Bob here, buy up all the others in their area! 😆 He is right about it being a great single handed cat. It is about 100 lbs lighter than a P, H or N 18, and was designed for ocean sailing in the North Sea.

bayoucat wrote: I want an H16 anymore. Seems other cats would be better suited for where I'll be sailing and what I wanna do.

Plenty of H16s have been and are still tearing up the Mississippi sound. Highly recommend that you hook up with the Ocean Springs YC folks and familiarize/sail on some different boats before you make decisions based on internet fodder (like mine). I'll be sailing my H16 (along with a lot more H16s and other cats) out of there to Ship Is. in a few weeks.

http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/14794