Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I have been working on a Hobie 18 off & on for the past few months. Yesterday the PO and I splashed it and spent the afternoon sailing. It is quite a bit different from the Catalina 25. Wind was about 8 knots maybe a gust to 10 or so. Later in the afternoon the wind dropped off to about 4 or 5. That made the Hobie a little harder to keep moving. Boat does not go to weather very well. All in All I think I will have some fun sailing it.
1988 WK/SR w/inboard diesel Joe Pool Lake Hobie 18 Lake Worth
Life is not a dress rehearsal. You will not get another chance.
...It is quite a bit different from the Catalina 25...
Really?
My experience is only on Hobie 16s and a 14-Turbo (w/ jib)--wait till you get into some 15+ kt breezes where you're flying a hull... My favorite was 30+ kt gusts on a mountain lake in Colorado on a 16--it was like flying into a fire hose, 6' above the water. (...and then its owner reached for his hat that blew away, and fell off!)
Have a blast!
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Yep, cats can be a little tough to point up in light winds, but they are a blast off the wind or with a little more breeze. Any point of sail can turn into a close reach on the apparent wind.
Dave B. aboard Pearl 1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399 Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle
Owned a 16 for 5 years in the early 70's. Paid $2,100 for it brand new on the trailer and sold it for the same price.
Buried it almost to the numbers on the sail one day on Canyon Lake. Boat stopped, bows came up and it breached like a submarine on an emergency ascent.
Would like to have another one but can't rationalize $20K for a new one. LOL
We have a Prindle 16. I don't like it as much as our Catalina 25 - I keep spilling my martini, but my wife loves it and loves taking the kids out on it.
Interesting coincidence with our boat inventories - I bought a Hobie 18 this past winter, and I'm probably going to finally get it on the water next week!
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.