A Day on a Hobie Cat

[capn_billl]

I rented a Hobie cat last weekend. This was the first time I had sailed a cat of any type. My only sailing experience was being a 30ft charter mono, and a laser.

The cat sailed like a dream, the flexible boom was a lot more forgiving than a metal pole. I was surprised at how short the learning curve was.

I had to launch from a lee shore, as soon as it cleared the sand I pulled the mainsheet and it took off heading close to wind with no problems.

No storage is a downside, but for a daysailer it was the most fun I've had on the water so far.

[dofthesea]

Hobie's rock. The most fun. The great thing about a Hobie is you get a lot of bang for your buck.

[scook1]

They are a blast aren't they? Wait until the first time that you pitchpole or capsize. The fun has just begun!
Spencer

[Loquat]

I grew up with a h16 then got a h17 when I moved to Charleston. The hobie is good cheap (for a boat) access to the water. I went with the 17 because of it's singlehand design and wings

[Tingum]

I have continuously owned a Hobie since 1972! Currently have a 16 and a 21 in the Bahamas. The 21 is faster than the local ferries and makes a great trolling platform offshore! The fish think it is a big ray.

[Fasttalker372]

We rented a Hobie 16 this past week in Rehoboth and what a blast!!!! Anyone know of a Hobie 16 or 17 or Getaway for sail in or near southeastern Pennsylvania?

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Originally Posted by Fasttalker372

We rented a Hobie 16 this past week in Rehoboth and what a blast!!!! Anyone know of a Hobie 16 or 17 or Getaway for sail in or near southeastern Pennsylvania?

Try this one. It's a little bigger than what you're talking about but still looks pretty good.
Good Luck searching.

[Piglet]

I love me a Hobie 16. I sailed a Hobie 17 a couple of times and hated it because it didn't have a jib and was a pain to tack.

[denverd0n]

My first boat was a Hobie. They are a lot of fun. I remember screaming along with one hull just barely out of the water, and passing a guy in a little fishing boat with a small outboard. This was on Lake Monroe, just north of Orlando, FL. I thought that was pretty cool--sailboat faster than a powerboat.

A little later that day the leeward hull dug into the water and we pitch-poled. That was quite an experience! It was kind of fun, actually, with the Hobie. Sure wouldn't have wanted to do that with my San Juan 23, though!

[SaucySailoress]

NO, No, no, no, no. No. You'r all wrong. WHMO has a Hobie, and Hobies are *****. They have a hard boom, which hits your head when you jibe. No storage, like you said. And the most uncomfortable trampoline ever.

I, on the other hand, have a Dart 18. They're bigger. They have space for water bottles in the front crossbar. Hatches in the hull big enough to keep a crate of beer in each side... (or more, but you need to be careful to keep the boat buoyant); and they have no boom. Oh, and the trampoline is much comfier. They tack way better in all conditions. The helm is lighter. They capsize less (or maybe Dart sailors are just better at controlling their boat).

SO, if you're gonna play with a Beachcat, get a Dart :-)

[webejammin]

I started sailing catamarans in 1962 and bought my first Hobie 16 in 1971 pulled behind a Ford Pinto . What fun and I'm still on a catamaran