I have to store a Hobie 16 outdoors - I'm in the midwest so a lot of temp changes. Are covers recommended? If so, is there a place they can be purchased? Any other tips? thanks...

covers can't hurt and CatSailor has an OnLine store

Where in the MidWest do you sail?

in Illinois near St. Louis at Lake Carlyle

How old is the boat? Custom fitted covers can be expensive and are usually used by owners of newer boats. I've used tarps for the past ten years without any issues.

Built in 1986. I am in the process of purchasing. Tarps sound good. How do you keep them on the boat?

I use a 12 x 16 tarp which cover almost the entire H16. A very small bit of the hulls stick out the ends of the tarp. The 12 foot side is across the boat and the 16 foot side is lengthwise. I stretch it over the mast and then run a line from one front corner through the lower trailer mast support brace to the opposite front corner. This pulls the tarp tight, forward and down. At the rear I do sorta the same thing. The tarp is stretched tight and sheds water. I buy a silver tarp at Lowes and replace it every season. It cost about 22 bucks. Seems pretty effective. Of course a nice covered and dry storage would be great, but I don't have that option.

Just be sure you completely drain any water out of the hulls, before the freezing weather. You don't want ice expanding your hulls.

I store my H16 outdoors in Utah using the same tarp option. I take my mast off the boat and hang it on the outside of the garage up near the eves and it stays dry and snow free most of the time. The boat gets the 10X16 tarp wrap and I use bungi cords that go from side to side under the boat. Last year I put a 2X4 accross the middle of the tramp from the front cross beam to the back and it shed the snow and water a little bit better. When we had snows of a foot or more I pushed the snow off with a push broom just so the weight wouldn't get to great. This is the 4th season and it has worked great so far. Don't expect the tarp to last much more than one season though. It takes the brunt of the sun damage so your boat doesn't.

I store mine outside with a tarp and bungees. Bad idea. Just had a few windy days. The tarp and bungees did some damage to the hulls. I don't think it will buff out.

It's also smart to store with the bow as high as possible and the drain plugs removed. This ensures a dry interior.

Regards
Chet

we store in 5-8 foot snow depths without any problems
masts are tied to trees with weight supported on an old tyre. due to snow loads rest of boat is disassembled with hull bases pointing upwards, to split the snow load, plugs out of course