I have pitchpole a only couple of times in all the years that I have been sailing. Once my son-in-law and I swung out around the mast when I got distracted on the helm and buried a bow with us both out on the wire, the boat went over and we got wet. No problems, no injuries. The Hobie 16, which I think is an ideal boat, has a tendency to bury the lee bow. You just have to watch the weight balance-move aft and keep an eye on the lee bow. You sail the boat according to your confidence level. You luff when you feel uncomfortable with the situation. There is an accessory I have seen of deflectors to put on the bow of the hulls to lift the bow. I don't know if they are effective but was told that they are. Some of the pitchpole pictures you see are of boats other than the 16. Where do you plan to sail? I know there are a lot of lakes around Austin. I sail mainly on a couple of lakes here in NC and occasionally at the beach going out through the surf.

Howard