Announcements
New Discussions
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Hobie 20 Discontinued #110441
06/26/07 10:17 PM
06/26/07 10:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42
1
16nut Offline OP
newbie
16nut  Offline OP
newbie
1

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42
Hobie just announced that the Hobie 20 will no long be produced. So in just a few short years the, TheMightyHobie18, H17 & then the H20 have been axed (the H14 was axed a while ago). That leaves related to fiberglass boats the H16 (there best selling fiberglass boat), the Fox1, and Tiger. Of course their bigger sellers are the Island, Bravo, Wave, & Getaway. I think Hobie is doing a great job and just axing dead wood to be more streamlined and focus more on their strong class boats (H16 & Tiger). Any ways I just thought this announcement would be of interest to you all.

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: 16nut] #110442
06/26/07 10:31 PM
06/26/07 10:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
hobie1616 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
hobie1616  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
Where can the announcement be found?


US Sail Level 2 Instructor
US Sail Level 3 Coach
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: 16nut] #110443
06/27/07 12:14 AM
06/27/07 12:14 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037
Central California
ejpoulsen Offline
old hand
ejpoulsen  Offline
old hand

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037
Central California
Whoa, that really is a surprise. I've been hearing that in my area the Hobie 20 is an extremely strong class and interest in it is continuing to grow, with Div III events drawing 10 to nearly 20 H20s. I've even heard that some of the H20 sailors came from Tigers! Maybe it's a way of Hobie trying to steer folks back to the Tiger.


Eric Poulsen
A-class USA 203
Ultimate 20
Central California
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: ejpoulsen] #110444
06/27/07 07:39 AM
06/27/07 07:39 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
_flatlander_ Offline
old hand
_flatlander_  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
Rumor started with a dealer in the MidWest, where we see ample numbers of this boat as well.

Send your dead boats to Hobie Divisions 3, 5, 7 & 14, I'm sure they'll linger for several years.

From one dead boat to another, TheMightyHobie18 & H20, in less than two years...damn <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />


John H16, H14
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: ejpoulsen] #110445
06/27/07 08:24 AM
06/27/07 08:24 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
_flatlander_ Offline
old hand
_flatlander_  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
Quote
Whoa, that really is a surprise. I've been hearing that in my area the Hobie 20 is an extremely strong class and interest in it is continuing to grow, with Div III events drawing 10 to nearly 20 H20s. I've even heard that some of the H20 sailors came from Tigers! Maybe it's a way of Hobie trying to steer folks back to the Tiger.

34 boats in '06 and 33 boats at the '05 Nationals obviously has no weight in the Hobie US decision, BTW, of those boats maybe six were new. I don't think Hobie US gives a hoot whether or not US dealers import Tigers.


John H16, H14
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: _flatlander_] #110446
06/27/07 08:49 AM
06/27/07 08:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,348
F
fin. Offline
Carpal Tunnel
fin.  Offline
Carpal Tunnel
F

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,348
It's probably a good thing in the long run. I really believe the future of cats, as we have known them, lies with small companies like Vectorworks.

Expect to see Hobie license small builders with a passionate interest in racing catamarans.

Isn't that (small builders) really the way NASCAR works, and thrives?

Last edited by Tikipete; 06/27/07 08:51 AM.
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: hobie1616] #110447
06/27/07 10:09 AM
06/27/07 10:09 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
_flatlander_ Offline
old hand
_flatlander_  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
Quote
Where can the announcement be found?
confirmed the memo went to all dealers this week
Thread over


John H16, H14
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: _flatlander_] #110448
06/27/07 10:10 AM
06/27/07 10:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 141
M
mini Offline
member
mini  Offline
member
M

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 141
Quote
BTW, of those boats maybe six were new. I don't think Hobie US gives a hoot whether or not US dealers import Tigers.


The H20 does not really sell anywhere outside the US and 6 boats is not enough to keep a production line for. Hobie does not make any of the fiberglass boats in the US. They are made now at Hobie Australia and imported, and I would believe they have no interest in making the 20. All the other Hobie fiberglass models come out of Hobie Europe.

Matt Miller could probably shed some more info on things, but Hobie is just concentrating on the rotomolded stuff that is making them money.

Hobie is essentially out of the cat market except for the plastic boats, Performance is now owned by a European group and may or may not be doing anyhting with their manufacturing. Even Vanguard is now owned by an English Company. Sailing in the US seems to be looking even bleaker than normal unless some of these groups can come up with a way to infuse some interest in the sport. But hey with our Hip-Hop gangster culture it may be difficult.

Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: mini] #110449
06/27/07 10:45 AM
06/27/07 10:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
waterbug_wpb Offline
Carpal Tunnel
waterbug_wpb  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
Quote
Sailing in the US seems to be looking even bleaker than normal unless some of these groups can come up with a way to infuse some interest in the sport. But hey with our Hip-Hop gangster culture it may be difficult.


Put guns, people "of ill-repute" and drugs on them and they'll sell like hotcakes. Look at the Escalade....


Jay

Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: 16nut] #110450
06/27/07 11:17 AM
06/27/07 11:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,582
North-West Europe
Wouter Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Wouter  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,582
North-West Europe


I can't suppress the desire to say : "Told you so !"

My next prediction. It will be going futher. (That was easy !)

Interesting to note is that nearly all 2007 hobie event promo posters in EU show Hobie 16's with spinnakers if it doesn't show Tigers. Size of attending Hobie 16 class (no spi) seems not to matter.

Also I think the Hobie FX-one is on the tight rope at this time. Hobie Fox has been discontinued a few years ago and I think the FX-one is just surviving for now. Actually it all dependents on what a certain 16 foot class will be doing in Europe over the next few years. If that class booms then both the I-17 and FX-one designs will have a hard time.

I think the Hobie 16 may see more modifications to it over the coming years. Maybe better downhaul system and traveller systems added. Of course all with very small steps at one time. Sort of how the laser was upgraded over the last few years. The big step will be a new mainsail (+jib) design and I fear that that will be too much for the class to consider. But it is what will be needed to reverse the trend. Sort of how the new Hobie 14 rig (squaretops) revived the US H14 fleet.

Also I see a new situation developping were Nacra now has a good and inexpensive entry catamaran for today's families and dinkies (double income no kids) but Hobie hasn't. The new Nacra 500 is a good looking, fast and well behaved boat. The Hobie 16 pales in comparison and the roto stuff simply does not catch on in EU. This new generation of potential boat owners doesn't know about "The Old Days" nor cares about them or the "100.000 sold". They want a good looking boat that is reflective of the times. Nacra 500 with gray pentex sails is exactly that. And watch out for that rotomoulded Dart 16. That design has the potential to be a very serious competition to the hobie roto stuff.

I predict the old guard with keep supporting the OD Hobie 16 in its 70's configuration, but as such they will loose the influx of new blood and whither over time. Point in case : out of 495 boats at Texel 2007 only 40 of them were OD Hobie 16's (add 7 h16+spi) = 8%. In the past this used to be VERY different; then there were 100's of them.

Wouter


Wouter Hijink
Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: waterbug_wpb] #110451
06/27/07 11:21 AM
06/27/07 11:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 833
St. Louis, MO,
Mike Hill Offline
old hand
Mike Hill  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 833
St. Louis, MO,
This is hard for me. I understand their decision. You can't keep a production line open for 6 boats a year. That probably doesn't make sense. I really like the Hobie 20. It's the best sailing non-spin boat I've ever sailed. It really has a sweet feel upwind. So I'll miss the boat.

I assume Hobie would continue to carry parts for the boat? Masts and booms and such? It would really suck if you couldn't get parts anymore for existing boats.

Also I thought they were still making the H17? Is the H17 officially dead now too? We have a pretty good fleet of H17's here at our local lake.

I wonder if Hobie would be willing to give their molds to someone that would be willing to continue to support the H20 class? I'm pretty sure they wouldn't but it would be a nice gesture.

I guess we could have an H20, TheMightyHobie18, and H17 dead boat Nationals. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> We'd probably get close to 100 boats.

Just wierd. Seems the boats just last too long and the demand doesn't exist for enough new boats to keep a big company interested in them.

PS. The AI is a neat little boat. Hobie really has some good ideas.

Mike Hill
Past owner of 3 brand new Hobie 20's.


Mike Hill
N20 #1005
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: mini] #110452
06/27/07 11:29 AM
06/27/07 11:29 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,582
North-West Europe
Wouter Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Wouter  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,582
North-West Europe
Quote

Performance is now owned by a European group and may or may not be doing anyhting with their manufacturing.



Their policy is pretty clear now;

Their focus in order of listing is :

-1- Infusion F18 (F18 in general)
-2- Nacra Inter-20 US rig
-3- Nacra 500
-4- Nacra 570

-5- maybe a little inter-17 or F17 or whatever it will be called in EU.

The rest is going out the door.

But very little has happened on the 17 foot front in the last few years.

The nacra Inter-20 thing (US rig) is a bit unconvincing at this moment. The intent is clear , they want to establish a new ISAF class with the Inter-20 US rig in OD status. But I'm not too sure that the EU market is supporting this. There were 17 Inter-20 US at Texel and 19 Inter-20 EU's + 15 F20 which are 90 % inter-20 EU anyway. Basically of the 47 to 52 Inter-20's at Texel only 17 of them sailed with the US rig when the rig conversion had been initiated 2 or 3 years ago. France, Australia and other regions in the world see no 20 foot racing next to the Tornado AT ALL. The UK I-20 fleet has largely switched to F18's I'm told. You'll need these area's for full ISAF recognition.

The next 3 years will make or break this intended Inter-20 ISAF recognized class.

Wouter

Last edited by Wouter; 06/27/07 11:31 AM.

Wouter Hijink
Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: Wouter] #110453
06/27/07 11:50 AM
06/27/07 11:50 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Quote

Their focus in order of listing is :

-1- Infusion F18 (F18 in general)
-2- Nacra Inter-20 US rig
-3- Nacra 500
-4- Nacra 570

-5- maybe a little inter-17 or F17 or whatever it will be called in EU.



In the US Performance are apparently promoting the SL16 pretty strongly. In Europe, do you see the SL16 and the Nacra 500 as competitors?

Mark.

Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: Mike Hill] #110454
06/27/07 12:43 PM
06/27/07 12:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
_flatlander_ Offline
old hand
_flatlander_  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
Quote
This is hard for me. I understand their decision. You can't keep a production line open for 6 boats a year. That probably doesn't make sense. I really like the Hobie 20. It's the best sailing non-spin boat I've ever sailed. It really has a sweet feel upwind. So I'll miss the boat.

I assume Hobie would continue to carry parts for the boat? Masts and booms and such? It would really suck if you couldn't get parts anymore for existing boats.

Also I thought they were still making the H17? Is the H17 officially dead now too? We have a pretty good fleet of H17's here at our local lake.

I wonder if Hobie would be willing to give their molds to someone that would be willing to continue to support the H20 class? I'm pretty sure they wouldn't but it would be a nice gesture.

I guess we could have an H20, TheMightyHobie18, and H17 dead boat Nationals. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> We'd probably get close to 100 boats.

Just wierd. Seems the boats just last too long and the demand doesn't exist for enough new boats to keep a big company interested in them.

PS. The AI is a neat little boat. Hobie really has some good ideas.

Mike Hill
Past owner of 3 brand new Hobie 20's.


Mike,

A recent storm at Lewisville tore up several 17's and 20's. A quick rumour started that if an order for (10) 17's came through Hobie would build them. Matt Miller quickly squashed that and stated they did not have the parts on hand to build ten boats. Subsequently, Hobie sold the last three 17 hulls they had in stock. I'm sure the same will hold true for the 20 when the parts are gone, they're gone.

Wouter,

Rest assured that this years' biggest gatherings of 14's (next month's NA's & daggerless with 19 boats at each) will be/were all class legal boats. Used parts and new sails are no problem, finding solid hulls is. Funny you would mention the FX-ONE as serious questions are being asked among the Hobie faithful. My question was exactly how is it doing in the EU and will it become the next "dead boat"?

As one local 20 sailor asked, "Are we all supposed to start racing Getaways?" A problem seems to be the vast majority of inland lake (Hobie) sailors are allergic to kites.


John H16, H14
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: Mike Hill] #110455
06/27/07 12:59 PM
06/27/07 12:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 101
chesapeake bay
davidn Offline
member
davidn  Offline
member

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 101
chesapeake bay
Quote
It really has a sweet feel upwind. So I'll miss the boat.

I sold my H20 last August and got into an A cat (didn't want to search for crew anymore and wanted to race level in a good fleet, which we have here in the Chesapeake). I also miss the H20. In light to moderate winds, if you put the bows down that boat would carve to windward in an amazing way; the only boats that could outpoint us were A cats. It sailed great on all points and was quite a ride downwind in a blow--with those sharp bows. We often stuffed to the front beam, but if you knew it was coming, you could recover and keep going.

David
ex H20, now A cat

Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: _flatlander_] #110456
06/27/07 01:03 PM
06/27/07 01:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,246
Orlando, FL
tback Offline
veteran
tback  Offline
veteran

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,246
Orlando, FL
Quote
A problem seems to be the vast majority of inland lake (Hobie) sailors are allergic to kites.


You've now confirmed what I've been told:

"Kite pollen is rampant in the mid-west states" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


USA 777
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: 16nut] #110457
06/27/07 01:08 PM
06/27/07 01:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 216
Lakewood, Colorado
MUST429 Offline
enthusiast
MUST429  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 216
Lakewood, Colorado
I said it over 2 years ago, The 20 is not an international boat, it will be the next to go. They'll ship production of the 16 to Australia, and before long you will be able to sail anything you want with a Flying H on the sail, as long as it's made out of plastic.

Given that as of today, the only Fiberglass Hobie you can buy new is the 16, how much longer can the Hobie Only regatta format survive. Something to think about.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Tiger......... there's a boat that is just MADE for the family/weekend warrior.

Ya Rite.

Performance has their own group of problems and missteps.

Someone else opinioned that
"Expect to see Hobie license small builders with a passionate interest in racing catamarans."
I watched that happen many years ago when Nacra sold the molds and patents for the Sol Cat to a small group of passionate sailors. Needless to say, it didn't work.

I'd sure like to see it happen with the discontinued Hobie's, but unless it is really well funded, and someone takes a long view and doesn't need to make a living doing it, I don't have high hopes.

I sure wish Hobie Cat Company would look harder at ways to support the existing fleets possibly thru periodic limited runs of slow moving boats, and warehousing someplace besides Southern California where the cost of doing business is so high.

I understand that the only thing constant in life is change, but this does not bode well for the future of Catamaran racing in general.


Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: MUST429] #110458
06/27/07 01:47 PM
06/27/07 01:47 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 14
Oklahoma, USA
H
hobieokc Offline
stranger
hobieokc  Offline
stranger
H

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 14
Oklahoma, USA
So how is everyone feeling about the Hobie only regattas now? I believed in the one-design concept but assumed Hobie would continue to support the existing boats. How will the 17's, 18's, and 20's fare 10 years from now with no new boats?
BTW, Stephen, hope you and Sabrina do well @ the Championships. John M.

Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: hobieokc] #110459
06/27/07 02:13 PM
06/27/07 02:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,116
Annapolis, MD
Mark Schneider Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Mark Schneider  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,116
Annapolis, MD
Hey... We have been this way before! The bottom line... we agree to disagree as to the present and future of cat racing in the USA.

If your fleet wants to run an open regatta... Just don't use the flying H in your NOR... Run your regatta just like a yacht club... any class that commits and gets the turnout that you want... goes racing.... (that might include classes likes skiffs, 505's Int Canoes or portsmouth cats and mono's.)

The guys who run the national and international class make the current class structure happen... They get the Nationals and Midwinters to happen. They seem to be all 16 sailors... who graciously make events for all of the other classes (except the Tigers ) happen. Appreciate what they do! (it ain't easy) ... and if racing in your region is served by droping the flying H.... better to do so sooner then latter. (Its hard to put the racing scene back together after it collapses).

(Consider... it might make more sense to run Hobie 16's and 17's in a single class after you factor in the skill and experience of the two small fleets.... )

Critical thinking about what makes the weekend worth doing is needed... If three boat one design classes work for you ..great... They don't for me.

The more interesting question is... What will we be racing in 5 years?






Last edited by Mark Schneider; 06/27/07 02:22 PM.
Re: Hobie 20 Discontinued [Re: MUST429] #110460
06/27/07 02:35 PM
06/27/07 02:35 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037
Central California
ejpoulsen Offline
old hand
ejpoulsen  Offline
old hand

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037
Central California
Quote
...this does not bode well for the future of Catamaran racing in general.


I was about to send in my registration for one of my favorite regattas (High Sierra Regatta run by a yacht club) when I noticed in the NOR that they had dropped the multihull class...

...I guess I'll go buy a Laser.


Eric Poulsen
A-class USA 203
Ultimate 20
Central California
Page 1 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Moderated by  Damon Linkous 

Search

Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 408 guests, and 91 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Darryl, zorro, CraigJ, PaulEddo2, AUS180
8150 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
Forum Statistics
Forums26
Topics22,404
Posts267,055
Members8,150
Most Online2,167
Dec 19th, 2022
--Advertisement--
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1