>>>You can't be serious when you say the 18 or 20 is too much boat over the 16.

Ummm, so you'd recommend a Hobie 20 for a first cat??? Have you actually sailed a Hobie 20?

Here's a couple reason's why, for 99% of people, the 20 would be a very poor first boat:

1) The rigging is among the most complex of all cats with it's 4-way jib cars, barberhaulers, multiple mast rotation devices, powerful downhaul... And if you screw up the rigging, at best you'll be a little inconvenienced, at worst, you'll lose control of the boat or break something.
2) It is among the most fragile of the Hobies. Unlike the 14, 16, 18, Wave, Getaway you definitley don't want to drag this boat over beaches or pound it in the surf.
3) It is the most powerful of the Hobies. In any wind over about 10mph they'll most likely be overpowered, especially if they don't know how to depower the rig or use a trapeze. I still remember when it first came out and experienced 16 and 18 crews would complain how easily it was to get tangled in the lines and how beat up they would be at the end of the day.

As I said, the Hobie 18 could be a suitable first cat for someone who know's what they're in for. For all but maybe 1% of first time sailors, the Hobie 20 is too much.

sm