For the past month or two I've been really wanting to get a H16. A few days ago I went sailing with one of my dad's friends in Stuart on his 24 foot trimaran, and he was telling me stories of when he had a 16 back in the 80s and said it was a great, fun, boat, but that I should look into a "modern boat" like a Nacra. "The Hobie was designed more than 30 years ago by a surfer, not a sailor!" he said. He raved about the Inter 20 and Nacra 6.0, but these are way too big for me. I'll be sailing solo sometimes, and I want something simpler and faster to rig.

When I got back I searched this forum for anything I could find about the 5.0. I also found one from '98 selling on Chris's Miami Catamarans site for $2500, which is a near perfect price-point. I've found lots of H16's nearby (cheaper too), but they're all from the '70s or '80s and have at least a worrisome amount of delamination in the hulls.

I know a lot of people are pretty passionate about one cat company over the other, but I guess what I wanna know is, what makes you be so loyal to one brand over the other? I'd like to hear what kind of experiences I'd be having - and what I'd be missing! - if I went with a Nacra 5.0 over a Hobie 16, or vice versa.


A bit about how I plan to sail the cat: I live in Orlando, FL, and will be trailering over to the coast to sail in the indian river and in the atlantic. I've read about surfing a cat, and that sounds like lots of fun if you know what you're doing! I don't plan to race very often. I'll be a senior in high school, so I'll be sailing with a friend mainly to hang out and satisfy our apetites for speed. Not to mention, taking a few girls out too for some good high school fun (you baby boomers were there one day, right?).

We can make this thread another one of those Holy War Hobie vs. any-other-brand kind of skirmishes, or a controlled-chaos kind of debate. And yes, there's a difference between debate and war =) Most of all I'm just trying to decide on the best boat for me.

Thanks!

The Nacra is an easier boat to sail and can hold more people, and won't pitchpole, so better for casual sailing.

But if you are into racing and there is a big H16 fleet around where you are then you want a h16.

I'll agree the 5.0 is a better boat from the racing stand point (unless racing other H16's, then it's a mute point). As far as just flying hulls and having fun? I've got three sons just a few years older than you (20, 21 & 23). Get a 1980 or later H16. Trust me, the girls will think it's "cool".

is it easier to fly a hull on a H16? Isn't the 5.0 lighter than the 16?

as for the "girls will think it's 'cool'" aspect, i agree the hobie is more aesthetically pleasing. especially those banana-shaped hulls. what makes the H16 more fun?

speaking of hulls, what is the composition of the hulls in a 5.0? fiberglass-foam sandwich?

The H16 is a pretty tough boat and can take a good beating. You will go plety fast to satify your need for speed... even in an old design.

Trust me... you will be racing almost every time you are on the water. Any time more than one boat are near each other there is a race <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Also, for casual sailing you need to think if the availability and cost of spare parts. For the H16 it is very good. I'm not sure about the Narca.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

is it easier to fly a hull on a H16?

Maybe not easier, it just seems like the H16 "wants" to be on one hull at about a 30 degree angle.


Isn't the 5.0 lighter than the 16?

On paper 36 pounds lighter, don't know about 5.0 variations but 80's H16 may vary as much as 45 pounds from the 320 pound minimum.


as for the "girls will think it's 'cool'" aspect, i agree the hobie is more aesthetically pleasing. especially those banana-shaped hulls. what makes the H16 more fun?

See the above..."wants" to fly a hull.


speaking of hulls, what is the composition of the hulls in a 5.0? fiberglass-foam sandwich?

Yup.

Get the Nacra! it's a 'real boat' of the 20th century. It will handle so much better, and wont fall over when you least expect it.
The Hobie is a dinosaur.

Double trapped screaming reach! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> You have to experience it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Can we count that as two votes for Hobie?

NOT!

hahaha that's amazing... not gonna lie, that makes me wanna go Hobie in a heartbeat.

From the replies it sounds like the Nacra is a more stable, forgiving, and overall-better-designed boat, but that the Hobie is more fun in an almost unpredictable and - shall we say - flirtatious way?

Berny - you sound like my friend who told me the Nacra is a more "modern" boat. How does it handle better? I've never sailed one so your input is appreciated! thanks

Does the Nacra like to fly a hull like the Hobie does? How is the overall thrill of the boat? Is there more adrenaline involved with a Hobie 16?

again, thanks for the replies! I'm going down on friday to look at the 5.0, and the price has been lowered to $2200. this includes a trailer, new tiller extension, reenforced keels (from dragging on the beach i suppose?), and good sails. sounds like a really great deal! basically, i have to make a decision which to go with really soon because this 5.0 is the only Nacra available in florida and after friday the seller is moving away for a few months!

and i should ask a few other things...

Does the Hobie sail better in 3 to 5 foot seas? It just seems like it would with those curvy hulls that would seem to slice through the wake with less resistence than the straight hull design of the nacra.

also, i hear how easy the Hobie is to trailer because of how easy it is to stra[ it down right near the pylons. Is it more difficult to trailer a Nacra? I'll be trailering 90 minutes on the highway to the coast to do most of my sailing, so trailering is important to me too.

basically guys, I'm tryin to get the most bang for my buck. i gotta year left in high school, and then - depending where i go - might not be sailing at all (except when i come home) for 4 years at least. after college though? hell yeah

Will,

I really don't think you can go wrong with either boat. In my opinion, I think the Nacra is slightly beefier and I do prefer the feel of the helm of the Nacras (very nuetral...i.e. doesn't tug at you...and responsive). The H16 certainly has the popularity and you will probably find parts and information easier to come by for the H16 although all the factory parts for the 5.0 are still available from Performance Catamarans.

With regard to flying a hull - they both will fly 'em high easily. The H16 has a little more of a reputation for punishing those that fly the hulls and have their crew weight too far forward. If the bow goes under a wave, the shape of the top of the deck tends to trip the boat on it's nose. Usually you will loose your footing in the deceleration and you'll capsize. All catamarans, including the 5.0 up to the 130' monster G-class cats, are capable of such a pitch-pole but some are more susceptible than others.

PS...I get lost when you guys say the bannana hulls are 'aesthetically pleasing' - really now. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Jake has pretty much said it all, and I say this as one who LOVES Hobies! I've never had a Nacra, but have sailed on some, and think they are great boats. The one thing I would've thought the Hobie would be better for is surfing, but not having tried it on a Nacra...? Let us know what you get.

How is it that no one has taken this guy to task about the "baby boomer" comment?
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
not that I have been around a long time BUT... if you want to race on your budget, get the H16 (only because there are so many). If you don't, get the Nacra.

PTP - haha yeah i was waiting for someone to react to my baby boomer witticism. both my parents are boomers ('51 and '54) so i know the species well <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Brian_Mc - would you care to elaborate on some of the Nacra experinces you've had? How were their (the boats') personalities different?

just a quick question again - does the nacra have daggerboards? on craigslist i saw some 5.0 daggerboards for sale, but last i checked the 5.0 uses keels instead of boards right? correct me if i'm wrong.

Mate, the Hobie has a big following because it was marketed well early on. There are lots of older boats around and usually good fleets racing in most areas. They have a cult status which tends to overlook their bad behaviour but really they are a dog of a boat. Sit too far forward and they pitchpole, too far aft and they'll fall over backwards. They're a bit like balancing a ball on your nose, it can be done but it's mostly a big pain in the ar$e.

By comparison, the Nacra will do most everything better than the H16 and will in general be a nicer, easier boat to sail.

This is the same trick they always pull. Note that nobody actually writes that the nacra 5.0 will just as easily pull two people to the trapeze and scream along ! But they still give you the false impression that the Hobie 16 does this more easily.

I know both boats rather well and honestly the Nacra 5.0 is a better design in the way of handling and performance. It will also take a spinnaker better is you ever decided to go that route (which I espext you will considering your teenage need for speed credentials)

The Nacra 5.0 is a more refined design that cuts through the water better and it will be a stiffer boat then the Hobie 16 because of the way the beams are drectly connected to the hulls and the usage of larger beams. The pilon design of the Hobie is not the best setup in the way of stiffness.

Additionally the raised trampoline on the Hobie starts hurting my feet and butt after a while. On the Nacra 5.0 you are sitting and standing on the more flat hulls and so you won't have the same here.

The Nacra 5.0 has skegs (no daggerboards or asymmetrical hulls) and these are better for upwind performance then asymmetric hulls. Actually the difference between skegs and daggerboards in the way of performance is surprisingly small.

If the nacra 5.0 is young enough then you'll also have mast rotation control, a loose mainsail foot and better downhaul control. All these will allow you to trim the mainsail better and that can make a noticeable difference in performance.

Most older Hobies (the ones that are second hand) have sliding (main and jib) traveller cars instead of ball baring ones. The nacra will have ball baring traveller cars and that works alot better especially when salt and dust collects in them. In my experience older H16 main traveller cars jam up easily. When I worked for the sailing school as instructor I often kicked them across with my feet. But these boats were often old !

And I can go on.

But basically in the way of design the nacra 5.0 is just alot better. The forte of the H16 is the strong class following it has world wide and the general availability of cheap second hand parts. But if you are not really interested in racing then the nacra 5.0 you mention sounds like a really good deal. And I personally would go for it.

Wouter

No ! The nacra is noticeably better here. The lip on the side of the Hobie hulls really do slow it down when it has to punch through waves. The more narrow and rounder deck on the bows also allow the nacra to put its bows under and continue sailing.




Nonsense. Again they make a big deal out of really nothing. In my experience standard length tie-downs (with the ratchet tensioners), costing 3 bucks a piece, are long enough to wrap around the hull of the nacra 5.0 and thus tie it down to the trailer. But I know alot of people just do the wrap around the beams themself and that seems to work very well also and has the advantage of not touching the hulls.




No.





My vote goes to the nacra 5.0 unless you want to tap into the H16 racing cirquit.

Wouter

I am pretty new to cat-sailing, actually to sailing as such, started last year - on a NACRA 5.0. The Baltic sea (northern Germany) is my sailing area, and the boat did remarkably well under all conditions, low winds as well up to 7 bft with appropriate waves (by accident ...). Contrary to the Hobie 16 the NACRA is very easy to control - and it tacks without drama! This boat provided so much fun that my girl-friend and me won the prize of our club for the most frequent sailors last year.
I had the opportunity to sail a Hobie 16 last year, too, it is still the most widely distributed boat to rent. I never felt as safe as on the NACRA, these outdated banana-shaped hulls make the boat very unpredictable (at least to me...) if it gets rough.
Obviously the sense of "the beauty of a boat" differ here in Europe from the US. These banana-shaped design are regarded as outdated over here, and you see less and less of them. For good reason Hobie Europe is manufacturing the new designs of Fox, Tiger, and FX One. The Hobie 16 is still available (through import, I guess), but you have to prepared to loose money if you try to sell it again.
At my club with approx. 30 privately owned boats, we still have one each of Hobie 16, 17, and 18 left, but there are 4x Dart 18s, 3x NACRA 5.0 / 500, and 3 NACRA Inter 17 / F17 - just to mention the smaller/ beginner boats.
To cut a long story short: as long as you don't plan to participate regularly in racing in a single class, I see no reason to sail a Hobie 16. The NACRA will provide more fun (for one as well as for two sailors), it's easier to control, and will go in the majority of conditions faster.

The early Nacras were solid glass, with longitudinal stringers, but that construction was phased out around 1984. Wouter is pretty spot-on about everything here; I learned to sail cats on an H16, but when it came time to buy my first, it was a Nacra 5.O. Lots of times I wish I still had it, for its simplicity, shallow draft, weight capacity, and just plain sheer fun. It'll float a lot of weight - I had mine over 20 mph (yeah, thru the water) triplehanded with an estimated 550 lbs on board. The 5.O (and ANY Nacra) will be "wetter" than the Hobie due to water spraying vertically over the bows. Anyway, my vote goes to the 5.O - heck, if I had the $$ lying around - and a place to put it - I'd come pick that one up myself. Good luck, either way.

Andrew, you went 20 mph with 550 lb on board? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> that's incredible. one other thing - why do you spell it with the letter "O" and not the number "0"?

thanks for the invaluable input Wouter, you really just about hit every nail on the head. After your testimonial, I can't see how I could choose a Hobie over a Nacra. I have decided to go with the Nacra 5.0 for the many reasons you mentioned. A few of the things I really like about the Nacra are the boomless main, which means less rigging time and more sailing, and not having to worry as much about an accidental jibe; hull shape, which, from what I hear, is better for surfing and sailing through the medium-sized wake of the florida east coast ocean, which the Hobie has at least a slightly higher chance of pitchpoling in; the lower tramp, which is more comfortable on the butt when i'm not trapping; and a few other things that aren't popping into my head.

I'm still concerned about one thing though, and that's spare parts. What websites have replacement parts for a Nacra 5.0? I might want to replace the standing and/or running rigging after I get this boat. I can't use craigslist for EVERYTHING now... c-list is dandy for hobie stuff, but not so for nacra parts.

I bet Rick White has all your rigging right here! If he doesn't there are quite a few other places that will mail order parts.

Yeah - most, if not all, of the rigging and hardware is available here in the catsailor store (and at good prices too). Otherwise, you can get anything else from Performance Catamaran dealers like Key Sailing or Sailmax.biz

I had a 5.0 and loved it--you will too.

Parts are very easy to find: Catsailor.com online store, Murrays, SailingProShop.com

Many Nacra parts are interchangable between models; some parts can be refurbished with parts from the hardware store (eg the rudder bungees).

Will,

You don't mention price, so is a TheMightyHobie18 out of the question. I spent the last 2 weekends on a fleetmember's h16 and what a rush. It can be singlehanded, can carry 4 adults easily, and can fly a hull with 2 large males on the wire, it also can be setup and taken down by a single person with the right equiptment.

Just a thought and forgive the spelling.
Sam

Is that a typo about sailing with four people on a H-16? Did you mean Hobie 18?

Gavin Colby: Anyone who says the 16 is a dinosaur or a terrible boat probably sails a rival class, or has tried to sail the Hobie 16, thought it would be a push-over and failed. ...
The Hobie 16 doesn't forward capsize any more than a Formula 18.

Colby Interview

Yes, I'm not a masochist if that is what Gavin is saying.

Wouter

YES, I did mean TheMightyHobie18 Sorry

Poor comparison - the Hobie 16 doesn't carry a spinnaker or do anywhere near the same speed downhill. Before you flame on, I'm a fan of the Hobie 16...but the bannana hulls make the platform more sensitive to crew weight placement and the decks simply dig in harder when they go under. I'm not saying you can't sail it without driving it in - just that you have to be more sensitive to it.

I'm not flaming just setting the record straight by quoting someone who should know. The flames are coming from just about everywhere else and it's getting old. Some people need to realize that trying to tear down the 16 class isn't going to make another class grow. [Do we need to go back to the tall poppy syndrome?] At the end of the day when the wind builds and builds the 16s are the last boats still out there racing every time. Just a few weeks ago you could have found a bunch of 16s in NJ racing in 30 knots. No not 20 knots not 25 and not even 29.9. 30 knots steady. To say that they are more prone to pichpole than a more recently designed catamaran is simply false. I'm not picking on you this has been said by so many other people who just don't know. Again I'm just setting the record straight. If you don't take my word for it take Gavin Colby's.

Those are Gavins quotes
Who better to compare the H16 with the F18?
Hobie 16 World Champion
Round Texal Champion on a Tiger.

My limited experience has shown me that when you get the real good 16 guys(not me) on the same course with the real good Tiger(F18) guys is that the Tigers pitchpole as much or more in big wind.

There are so many H16's out there that you will get a lot of not so good sailors on them.(causing more flips)
There doesn't seem to be a lot of bad sailors on F18's

This is my third season sailing with my now 11 year old daughter and we haven't flipped yet. (knocking on wood)
We also don't stay out in much more than 20 knots

Same thing at our seminars -- as the wind started to build, all the other boats would gradually drop out of the drills and go to the beach, but the Hobie 16's would still be out there, having a great time. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Darnit Will_fl! I told myself I wasn't going to get sucked into these again! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OK...enough with the Hobie 16 and F18 comparisons - it's apples and oranges really since the F18 carries so much more power downwind. I'll gladly agree that it is likely easier to keep the 16 upright than an F18 in a gusty blow. What we're discussing here, however, is the Hobie 16 and the Nacra 5.0 and their pitchpole resistance - which one can put the bow deeper into the back of a wave and survive standing?

The point that there are likely less skillful (i.e. newer) H16 sailors out and about is a good one.

EDIT: I think we can probably agree on a couple of things here: if you put the bow under on a Hobie 16, you are less likely to recover than if you put the bow under on a boat with a more perpendicular and rounded bow. HOWEVER, the bannana shape of the hulls makes the boat very sensitive to crew weight - which is a good thing if you have some experience and a bad thing if you don't. That is, if you keep your weight too far forward, you will pay for it more than you would on a boat like the 5.0. However, when it's blowing stink, the bannana shape of the hull lends itself to keeping the bow high if your crew weight is back back back.

It always seems that the arguments between the Nacra and Hobie sailors come from the same people that are scratching their heads wondering why catamaran sailing isn't as big as it once was. Most Nacra sailors wouldn't be out on the water if it wasn't for Hobie. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

The best thing I ever did was (let Trey) chop up my Hobie with a chainsaw.

</gasoline>

It's amazing that H16 owners always seem to think that whenever the boats obvious shortcomings are discussed they see a need to defend the boat. It's been a great boat, there's no denying that. Lots of people have had, and are still having huge fun sailing the thing. It's been responsible for much interest in cat sailing generally and probably has contributed more potential sailors to cats than any other boat.

It says much about the boat that it is still popular today after 30 or 40 years on the water but there's no denying that it embodies very old technology requiring particular skills from the crew to sail it well. I guess that if one can sail a H16 well, success on any other class possibly comes somewhat easier, but the reality is they are a very old design which in these times is very much outdated.

Nobody expects existing H16 sailors to burn their boats or feel in any way inferior because they still like to sail them, but you need to relax.
If you want to sail/race a H16, good for you but expect that when asked, the rest of the world will have a realistic opinion.

No matter how much twisting and turning, and comparing H16 to F18's (two totally uncomparable boats) the fact of the matter is that the Nacra 5.0 is a BETTER design then the Hobie 16. Whether or not a F18 is more prone to diving (which I don't think it is) doesn't say ^&%$*@ about how the Nacra 5.0 compares to the H16.

The rest is just typical Hobie 16 "hurt-feelings-blame-gaming"

NO, other sailors don't want to destroy the Hobie 16 class and NO, there is no secret conspiracy among ALL non Hobie 16 sailors to talk the design down every time it is discussed. And YES, the hobie 16 will even dive and pitchpole backwards in a blow a charactistic shared with the Hobie 14 and this is rather unique in the catamaran scene. If you like try that on a F18. And YES, a good portion of other boats will stop sooner, but NOT the nacra 5.0 which was they other boat in the comparison. So YES there are definately inferiour points about the H16 that are TRUE beyond a question of doubt.

Wouter

And the nacra 5.0 can't do all those thing ?

Or more precisely , can't do these things better still ?

Wouter

I've owned two H16s and one N5.0 and from my experience the N5.0 was the better boat in all categories. Lot's of fun in the surf too! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The H16 was an incredible success story however modern board less hull designs look more like N5.0’s then the old banana shaped hulls on the old original H14s and 16s and there’s good reason!

Still I did learn how to sail on one (just a few years back) and I’m thankful for that experience. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Best

There sure are a hell of a lot of people out there who love their 16s.
Probably more than all the Nacra sailors combined.
I guess if you don't get it you just don't get it.

Will,

To be honest whichever boat you plump for your gonna have fun. My opinion is you will probably get more boat for your money with a H16, plus you are more likely to find second hand spare parts for a H16, which could be an issue if you are on a budget. After all alot of new parts are probably going to cost you about the same as you payed for the whole boat.

The Nacra is going to give you better performance and will be more forgiving, but unless you are racing its probably not an issue, and if you are racing then its far more important to go for a boat that your buddies are sailing. Bottom line if you want to have a faster boat go for Nacra, if you want to be a faster sailor go for a H16 (if your buddies sail a H16).

The difference in speed is probably not going to be much faster that you can crawl. So you are not going to notice it unless you are sailing boat on boat.

Be sure and let us know what you go for.

If you like the look of the Hobie more (and perhaps more importantly in your case if the girls like the look more) don't let people push you to go for something else.

Be happy with what you buy.

All the best

Gareth
www.fourhulls.com

Not really Zealot, you only have to look at regatta attendence to see that of those 100.000 Hobie 16's sold only a tiny portion of them is still actively sailing them. At the regatta I attended last weekend of the about 35-45 boat attending only 4 were Hobie 16's. Nacra boats outnumbered the Hobie boats.

Claiming the contrary doens't make it any more truthful, Zealot. H16 glory, while still present today, is however mostly to be found in the (distant) past I'm afraid.

Wouter

Check it out
170 boats registered for the Hobie 16 Open Europeans.
That's your neck of the woods right?
http://www.haveahobieday.com/index1.htm

Enough of all the mudslinging. I don't see any Nacra people doing it, either.

My suggestion is to try both boats out in 10-15 knots of wind and then make up your mind.

Ok, so how about cost of the TheMightyHobie18 VS the Narca 5.0 given most things being equal?

Just asking, no need to get ugly.

Sam

I don't understand that question. What do you mean about the cost. I think Will could buy a 1998 nacra 5.0 for 2200 USD including trailer and other stuff. Do second hand Hobie 18's of that age come cheaper with trailer etc included ?

Wouter

About the same depending on condition of the boat.

Since my research shows last year of manufacture for the 5.0 as '97...

1997 5.0 $3,580
1997 TheMightyHobie18 $4,630

go find a '97 TheMightyHobie18...few and far between, that is, for sale.

I own a H16 and a Nacra 500,
Bouth are very fun and very good for the first steps in cat sailing.

The H16 is a very old design and the fact that there are plenty of cheap used parts is not always an advantage,
Those parts have been used by so many sailors so many years, that they are not useful any more.
I found my self fixing the boat 90% of the time and sailing it only 10% of the time.
Now the H16 is decorating my roof and is used mostly as a resting device for birds,

I say go with the Nacra
Add a spi

Take your time until you are ready for the real thing – A Blade F16

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

There sure are a hell of a lot of people out there who love their jetskis.
Probably more than all the catamaran sailors combined.
I guess if you don't get it you just don't get it.

Does it make more sense now?

Hey Rhino--Missed you at Huntington this weekend. Now that was a sight to behold--about 300 sailors, 200 sailboats (no H16s), and only 2 jetskis. (Oh, and I did have to dodge a few trolling fishing lines.)

Wow this thread is really hot. Let me recap what's happened this weekend...

thursday i went to see a H16, 1976, no soft spots, used as a racer, garaged and babied by a old guy who eventually died, and the people i bought it from got it from a government auction after the guy died. They got brand new rigging for the whole boat, new harnesses, tramp, etc, and 1984 Olympic edition sails in great condition. The couple only took the boat out once since they bought it, back in february, but the husband works long hours and the wife is occupied with a 4-year-old daughter, so no time to sail the boat. All that going for 1650.

Then I went to see the Nacra 5.0 in Miami. Yes it's a 1998, but it's been a rental since it was bought, and the boat looked very abused. duct tape was everywhere, lots of repair to the hulls, everything very scratched up, etc. I didn't bother to see the sails, because I knew this boat was not in good condition to sail comfortably. It was really disappointing, because if this boat were comparable in condition to the 30-year-old Hobie 16, I would go with the Nacra. Unfortunately, this is the only Nacra 5.0 or 500 i could find in the state, so it was the only option.

I knew I would have lots of fun with either boat. I think what we're dealing with is a great boat and then a greater boat. even if the Nacra is in some -or even all- ways better than the Hobie, I'm still gonna get my fill and thrill on either boat. A few of you guys have said I can't go wrong with either boat, and that's the philosophy i kept in mind when looking at different boats.

So what did I do? the verdict: I went with the Hobie 16. The Nacra 5.0 was just not in good enough shape... I wouldn't have been comfortable with the buy. The seller even offered to give it away for 1800, but money can't buy me love. All I need is a reliable cat that will give me lots of fun on the water, and, in my situation where there weren't several options (financially especially), I went with the most practical choice that gave me the most peace-of-mind that I made a good, solid purchase that I wouldn't regret.

I'm going over tomorrow (tues 7/11) to pick it up! i'll get some pictures up here when i get it over to the beach and in the water, which is where it yearns to be. =)

Thanks everyone a billion times for the invaluable info!!! I couldn't have made a more informed decision without all the help. Without the responses to this thread, my decision would have largely been a blind one. If you're a big Nacra fan and you're a little disappointed that I went with Hobie, I hope you realize that, before this thread, I never had the great opinion of Nacras that I have now. Thanks for illuminating the other options beyond just the Hobie 16. And if you're a Hobie fan and you're glad I went with the H16, I'm proud to be part of the club! I can't wait to get on the water and see how this boat sails, especially after all the praise that has likewise been bestowed upon the classic Hobie 16 design.

I'm a believer that ambivalence is truly a fact of life, but your comments made this decision fun and rewarding, not frustrating and confusing. I'm sure I'll have some more questions with rigging and trailering the H16, so I'll be back when those pop up! thanks again!!!

The right choice. A well maintained Hobie 16 is always to be preferred over any well beat up alternative. I wou;dn go out to sea on anything that isn't well maintained.

You get a good time on the Hobie, no doubt. The discussions mostly centred on the assumption that the state of the boats were comparable. In this case it wasn't.

Best of winds and heaps of enjoyment sailing your Hobie 16 !

Wouter

+1 and let us know how you go.

Berny

Good Used Boats are hard to come by so, You definitely had to go with the best condition boat for the money. If you catch the Racing bug, One advantage with the H16 is that there will be more oportunities to Race one-design. Even though the Nacra is more of a performance boat, I've never found it a lot of fun to race against portsmith numbers. Once you get some experience on the H16, you'll have to step up to an F18. Then you'll have the same debate on your hands: Nacra F18, Hobie Tiger, Capricorn, Infusion. Have Fun!!!

A little too late, but did you see the two 5.0 meter G-Cats in the classifieds. Surely, $1350 is not the right price??

Would you cancel the H16 for a 2006 G-Cat hull?

Who knows, you might even be featured in Sailing World's Dr. Crash someday <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like you made a good decision. One of my favorite things about owning a 16 on a student budget is having lots of available parts. Congrats on the new boat.

But would you need to buy all those parts when you own a 5.0? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Jake, well with the 5.0 i was lookin at, it seemed everything was on the verge of collapse. Duct tape was EVERYWHERE, holding shrouds to the hulls, trap lines, tiller gudgeons, etc. it looked really sketch to say the least haha...

about the G-Cat, yeah kinda didn't see that in time, but who cares cuz i got a boat i'm happy with.

OK so i got the H16, but have no clue how to rig it all up. does anyone know of a link that shows how? i found Hobie's online PDF manuals, but the images are basically black blotches, much like something out of a 1988 fax machine.

JUST MAKE IT STOP!!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> OK, just to show you I'm a good sport about it, I've changed my avatar. If the Extreme 40 guys can pitchpole one of those, than I don't fill like I'm in bad company...

ALL HAIL! This is from the person who is ACTUALLY featured in Dr. Crash in this month's Sailing World!

This not the way I would have liked to make the magazine. I was hoping to stay anonymous. The nice thing about the photo was that it didn’t show the sail # or mention our names.

Was that taken during Spring Fever at the A-mark? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes, still reliving it. One advantage (or disadvantage) of having Walter Cooper, renowned freelance photographer, at an event... You may just get published. He certainly captured my worst moments.

Yeah for some reason that A mark gave a bunch of people problems. I remember going around that one a little less than wide and having the rudders stall out while I was pulling the chute up. Don't usually have that problem <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

At least you win style points <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

To say a Hobie 16 is agricultural would be kind. It is the Harley Davidson of beach cats. They keep dressing it up but it's still a tractor. If you are not going to use it in surf run. Even huge fleets don't excuse its bad behaving. I run several cats including the old 16 foot Tornado copy the Hydra which is about the same vintage.
I took a nat champs H16 sailor out on it recently and he was super gun shy of plowing the nose in.. kept pinching and not giving the boat its head.. who needs that?
Get long noses, dagger boards, over power the boat and go up wind. :" )
Seroiusly though I think it is about mind set. If you will get into sail trim, tactics and the beauty of sail go the Nacra, if you just want to be a monkey and thrash about the Hobie will probablly give you the laughs.
Whatever the choice, sail fast! : )

I've been considering names for my new (to me) boat for about a year now...."Thrashing Monkey" just moved to the top of the list!

Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mi'sippi USA

: ) heheheheheh! I have often thought of "Monkey Boy" for mine! after the words of that song "nobody loves you monkey boy!"