While the H16 may be a great boat blah blah blah, it was designed 40 years ago using technology and technique from that era.
Maugan, I don't think you were alive when the Hobie 14 and 16 were invented, so you may not be aware that those of us who owned and sailed catamarans at the time were appalled by the weird design that Hobie Alter created. It certainly did not reflect the "technology and technique" of the time, which had already created the very high-tech A-Class boats like the Unicorn, B-Class boats like the Tornado, and C-Class boats.
The Hobie 14 and 16 were created for a specific purpose, to be a "beach cat" that could sail in and out through surf. They accomplished the purpose brilliantly in 1970 and they still do to this day.
The Hobie 16 is not just "old" technology, it is technology from WAY, WAY BACK. It is classic, and it is timeless, just like the Wharram designs.
