The dealer in Des Moines has an aussie TheMightyHobie18. Might be the same boat you are talking about. Its only a year or two old I think.

how much is he asking for?

Here in Europe the Hobie replacement for the 18 would be the Pacific: http://www.hobie-cat.net/download/catalogue/gb/pacific.pdf

Thanks for adding a new word to my vocabulary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Soma,

All your points, excluding 4, are perfectly serviced by an Formula 16 boat.

Point 4 itself is not a big issue however. I run my F16 up the beach nearly evertime I go sailing. I don't do it at full speed and I don't try to continue sailing across the beach as some sailor sometimes appear to want. Pretty much I come at speed because I need to stay ahead of the breaking waves in the surf and at the last moment I release the sails, weathervane them and drag a leg in the water. This tends to slow down the boat quickly and I hit the beach with only a mild speed. I then get off (less load on the hulls = less wear) and grap the boat by the selftacking rail and pull it up on the beach while I partially lift the boat. As the F16 is only 110 kg (240 lbs) this can be done by a single person. You don't have to lift the boat completely, but by lifting it partially you again reduce the load on the keels and reduce wear. It is not uncommon for me to drag the boat like this over the beach for 30 feet or so. Then I get the cat tracks and using the spi pole I singlehandedly place them under the keels.

I have run up the beach at full speed with a full crew, typically when the winds were strong and the surf was high. My F16 takes this and I haven't replaired or beefed up my keels for 3 seasons now. Basically I'm claiming that the F16's are not boats for which you'll need to lay velvet pillows on the beach. The are not bloody tanks like the Hob1e 18, but it is equally true that they are not fragile or forgiving of occasional abuse. Abusing these boats frequently may however not be a smart thing to do. Easy to handle (lightweight), ability to solo sail well and competitive in racing has to be "payed for" somewhere.

With respect to crashing into waves, there is absolutely no issue there. Been there, done that, plenty of times. A few times I did jump off waves like the in that picture of the Hobie 18. I got less far off the water surface, but still my keels, daggers and rudder have gotten clear of the water. Every time the boats land beautifully and I continue sailing fully power up.

I sail a homebuild Taipan F16.

Looking over your wishlist I would seriously advice you arrange for a test sail on a F16 and wee in how far it appeals to you. This shouldn't be too hard to do as there are plenty of these boats around in (Southern) Florida. Pretty much all will gladly give you a test ride.

Regards,

Wouter

I asked a while ago, it seemed spendy to me, I don't remember how much. But I haven't shopped for a TheMightyHobie18 so it may have been a good deal under the circumstances.

Wouter:

I have pretty much decided when I get a new boat I am going to get a Blade. As you stated the F-16 can be sailed solo or two-up. My Hobie 17 is 21 years old. I want the latest technology and will get the carbon options and Pentex sails or whatever upgrades are available in 2008.

Good sailing,

Doug

This has to be the disease for you
Now scientists call this disease Bromidrosis
But us regular folks
Who might wear tennis shoes
Or an occasional python boot
Know this exquisite little inconvenience
By the name of: STINK FOOT

Y'know, my python boot is too tight
I couldn't get it off last night
A week went by, an' now it's July
I finally got it off
An' my girl-friend cry
"You got STINK FOOT!
STINK FOOT, darlin'
Your STINK FOOT puts a hurt on my nose!
STINK FOOT! STINK FOOT! I ain't lyin',
Can you rinse it off, d'you suppose?"
- Frank Zappa

Kind of nice to hear the favorable feedback on the H-18. I've been sailing mine for the last ten years and have watched five of my friends upgrade to the Tiger. We've done some racing on the Tiger and it is a blast; but we've seen the best racers just continue to get better while we're just happy to be on the water and enjoy the moment.

The TheMightyHobie18 with wings is absolutely the perfect cruising boat around Lake Erie because you sit on the wings and stay semi-dry when the winds crank up and you start charging through 4 foot swells. I added a square top for light wind days and I'm perfectly happy to only have to handle the jib and main sheets.

I really think that the sailors that upgraded to the Tigers and are not on the racing circuit have actually DECREASED their time on the water because it's more work when you are out there. Flipping it over when trying to fly the spin and sailing solo is not fun.

My boat is a 1990 and I'm still happy with it. I keep the tramp covered with a tarp during the summer and have a snorkel for the jib to reduce UV damage. During the winter I store it in a dry corner of a car port. While I'm not afraid to run the TheMightyHobie18 up on the beach, I like to reduce beach wear and tear by normally dropping it in the water by backing the trailer to the water's edge and pushing it in. We then hook it up to a small mooring pin while we get dressed and make sure our cooler is filled with the essentials for the day.

I sure hope it lasts for a long time.

Wyatt on Lake Erie.

Just curious, but if you have a Hobie 18, can you put a non-comptip mast on it and convert it into a Formula 18?

We've been here before (Windyhill). The curved beams don't conform to the F18 rule.

Sorry. But can't the curved beam be replaced with straight?
I mean, F18 IS a formula class.

If you can figure out how to put straight beams on the TheMightyHobie18...

Seems like a lot of trouble to go through.

Everything to do with boats is a lot of trouble. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

In the end, I'd guess putting straight beams on an 18 wouldn't be that hard. The beams bolt through the hull/deck seam. All you'd need to is build up the beam seat area, potenially just with a pile of thickened epoxy. You could go as simple or as complex as you'd like...

Guess we are lucky here in the Northwest. Plenty of H-18's still racing. When the Miracle H-20 was introduced, it never really took off in this area, most of the sailors stayed with the H-18. We noticed a rebirth of the H-18's in Monterey, CA, at the Otter regatta, lead in to the H-17/Tiger NA's in 2004.

There are plenty of good used H-18's still on the market. Last year, one in mint condition sold for $2,500. Like most Hobie's they will almost last forever with proper maintenance and care, plus parts are still available.

Caleb Tarleton, H-17, but sometimes miss my H-18.

Allright !





If you really want the very latest technology then get an A-cat. F16 only uses that portion of the latest technology that is proven or achieves a sufficiently large gain. Personally I think that Pentex sails are standard, but I'm not 100 % sure. Only get carbon in daggerboards and rudders. The rudder stocks can just as well be of aluminium, same applies to the beams. Why pay to have carbon there when it is not really useful ?

If you really want to spend some money on a good upgrade then I would look at getting a carbon F16 mast. I just inquired myself about it days ago and I was suprised to find that the EU agent doesn't charge that much extra for a carbon mast. It used to be a quite expensive upgrade when done to any F16 with the exception of the Stealth (its standard there). But apparently the European agent has found a way to come down in price. Now personally I find the aluminium mast to be very effective so that option is still a very good one, but a carbon mast will always make the F16's better behaved. As you have stated in the past that money is not really an issue for you anymore I would advice you look into the upgrade. Just an idea.

Wouter

I love my H-18 with wings for sailing around Lake Michigan. I would love a F-16 (can I get wings?)but the cost of all new boats is more than the budget currently allows. Maybe after the daughters get thru college & married off in 6 - 8 years......... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks everyone.

Rick, do you still have that Taipan for sale? And if so, is it in Key Largo?

Yes and Yes.
Rick