Hi Guys,

Back in the late 80s/early 90s there was a good active fleet of Prindles in OC Maryland that I would good and play with on my H-18mag. I could STOMP all over the P-18 anytime no problem. They (Performance) made a set of 'wings' for the P-19 but I never saw a set except at a boatshow and never on a 'old' P-18. So if you are looking for a "numbers" beater with wings, and sail at 400lbs crew wieght I would personally find a H-21SE model. It has wings, its Portsmith Handicap is underrated, you can use "aftermarket" sails legally (open sail suppliers because of "ProSailing" circut). It is my feeling that the boat was never fully developed because of the collapse of the ProSailing Circut in the late 80s/early 90s. I do have a P-19mx w/spin and find it very difficult to sail it to its portsmouth handicap number, I'm just not as good as Smythe, Glasers, and the other gods/sailmakers of our sport who used to sail the boat and set the current handicap numbers where there are; still an Excellent boat to sail though. And I still have, currently race and dearly love my H-18mag, that would be my second choice.

Please note that I'm NOT a great fan of Hobie Corp and have had my issues with them over quality (my H-18 carries "84'RED FOAM serial numbers on 87'/88' replacement hulls that took me 2 years to get at the time) and most recently they screwwed Dan Flannigan when the port bow of his one /two year old H-16 sheared away at the front corner post while racing at Wildwood NJ. He was a mile off-shore with his 12 year old son on board when this happened, they dragged the pieces/debris through the surf with a jet ski. It was/is obvious that the failure was because if NON WETTING of the surfaces when the hull was assembled. The mast is now bent, the sails are toast and all "Hobie" would do after a year of wrangling is give him one new hull.

So check CAREFULLY any Hobie you buy, though the H-21 seemed to be built like a tank and I never heard of any problems other then ice freezing in the wing mounts and cracking them same as on the H-17. Unless you are good at repairs stear clear off a "red foam" H-18. They are very lite but very fragile and take a gentle hand