I took my Hobie 16 sailing for the first time last tuesday. It wasnt without difficulty though. She is an 83 and she looks it. No harm no foul, she was free! I live in South Florida, and keep the boat near Dania Beach. I was hesitant to put in at the beach because the seas were pretty big and I wasnt sure where I could put it in. I decided I would try it out in West Lake, a small lake near the beach. I launched the boat got and it rigged. In the process I ripped out the worn jibsail head, but decided to sail without the jib anyway. I paddeled the boat out through the narrow chute of mangroves protecting the boat ramp and to my suprise I was not in a lake at all. I was in the ICW. A rather narrow portion of the ICW at that. Not more than 100' bank to bank. With the wind channeling straight down it no less. After about a 20 minute beat I made it to a large turning basin where I could strech her legs on a reach. On my way back to the ramp I broke the ratchet block off the traveler car during a rookie attempt at a jybe. O well thats all in a days sailing. Does anybody know a protected waterway that might be a little easier to sail in near dania beach? Where can I put in on the beach without having to have beach wheels? Thanks in advance for all your help and for reading my endless babble.