I am considering the purchase of a cat, and need some help. I grew up sailing Hobie 16's but strongly dislike their penchant toward pitchpolling. I also would like to go a bit faster...I will normally be sailing with someone else, but I would like the option of sailing solo. I have considered TheMightyHobie18, H17 and Prindle 18 or perhaps a Nacra...I am leaning towards the H17. Any advice? By the the way, I have a very tight budget, so it will have to be an older boat...
Thanks for any input!
Hopefully I won't be dry too long...

Dry Sailor, I sail a Hobie 17, and love the boat, but I love the 16 too, and suspect that a 16 would be better for sailing two up. I would say that your weight, and prospective crew weight are of vital concern in this decision. Where will you be sailing? The 17's tramp is so low to the water that it can be a source of drag in chop with too much weight on the boat. As a solo boat I love it, and if your combined weight isn't above 270, it can be great with crew as well. I have a jib for an 18 on mine, and it definately makes a big difference in helping with extra weight, as well as sailing downwind.

I have a H17 on the hard right now.

Its definitely not a boat for two people. I manage to fit two people on there, but it definitely is more like a submarine than a cat at those weights.

Currently I would be sailing at the mouth of the Delaware Bay/ into the great blue, Eventually it will be in the Chesepeake and on the Piankatank Ri. Sounds like an 18 might be worth the jump in price to gain the extra hull volume...

I've sailed a 17 and love it for as a uni. there is nothing quite like trapping out on the wings in a blow. A huge improvement over my 16 in terms of pitchpoling. Several of the sailors in this area sail Hobie 18s with a furling jib for those solo days. The 18 offers a nice stable and powerful platform and may offer the all around best choice for you. If you like wings the Magnum is an option.

Good luck, Tom G

I sailed an 18 with wings for the first time this Summer, and I really liked it! I think if I was going to sail those waters with crew, it would be my choice. I think I'd need a Solo-Right, and righting bag to right it though! It must be a great cruising/island hopping boat. You can easily have three people on the boat, and have no problem with drag.

So,in light of the preceeding, who has an opinion on TheMightyHobie18 vs. Prindle 18 or 19, or Nacra 18?

If cost is an issue, I'd guess the Hobie would be first pick.

Does the Hobie 18 have enough hull volume to cruise recreationally with 4 adults?

Yes...4 average/smallish adults will fit quite comfortably (of course check the recommended max capacity). I've cruised with three average sized adults on my Hobie 18 and it was very comfortable. I've seen several Hobie 18s with as many as 7 people on board....but that was clearly too much as the hulls had water coming over the top!

I sail a Hobie 18 with three adults in the 185 to 200lb. wieght range frequently and with a 10 to 15 knot breeze we go pretty fast., and stable. I could easily add another person on the leeward side. If you can find one with wings even better. Mine was an '85 in excellent condition with trailer for $2100.-

Good luck

Great, sounds like the TheMightyHobie18 would be a good choice, if anyone knows of a good one in the NJ, DEL, MD, VA area, let me know!