Just purchased a Hobie 18 a few weeks ago. Been a Laser sailor for the past few years. Anyway, looking to ask all TheMightyHobie18 sailor's what "tricks" they have found to make the 18 preform better. I raced the Laser extensively in Southrn California, and plan on doing the same with the 18, WHEN I get more familar with the boat. Again, any tricks to make a new owner aware of, please respond. I actually do have a small leak in the hull, a beat up main halyard, tangling of the mainsheet,and some basic rudder stickage....nothing too serious, but I prefer the boat to be perfect (in my standards) before venturing out into the ocean. Any help greatly appreciated!

It is a great cat ,-they have been sailed across the Atlantic ,-through the Northwest passage of Canada , and have competed in the Worrell 1000 in years past .



Purchased my first one in 78 , they are very good in waves with large rocker profile in the hulls ,-surf well , and are fun . Their only negative aspect may be weight ,-the original boat was designed to weigh 375 or less , many weigh much more so they are weight sensitive cats .



Set up mast rake with little weather helm , the 18 will point high going to weather with its large boards , you can pinch it up around a mark if its needed ,--downwind on cats you need to keep apparent wind at 90 degrees maintaining higher speeds and better VMG and gybe at higher angles. Set the jib at 90 plus and read the telltails at first sailing as low a course as possible without stalling the back of the sail , travel out the main and twist off the top until they both break or stall together reading the upper main .In light air get crew weight forward and transoms clear to reduce drag ,-In heavy winds get out on the wire ,crew weight back , bows up and hang on

Play the traveler and main sheet in gusty conditions to stay upright ,-Keep a righting line handy though , as we all flip occationally . It takes some practise , get a good crew and go race , it excellerates the learning ,skill developement process 10 times over as you have others to learn from as well as sailing upwind and down to specific points .

have fun

Carl

Also, unlike the laser, you want the windward hull out of the water as much as you can (upwind and down), rather than the leeward one on the laser when going downwind (lifting boom up). Less hull in the water = less drag. Don't sail the boat flat if you can help it, but try to keep the waterline long (if you can understand the way I said that). Longer waterline equals (roughly) higher hull Vmax on non-planing shapes. I.e., if the rudder is making a rooster tail, you'd be best to move a little weight forward, unless the bow(s) threaten to dive under (pitch pole).

Other items: Fair everything. There should be very little noise (no hum, gurgle, etc.) while sailing up to about 15 kts.

Check Hobie sites for rigging tips, and also visit sail designer's website.

hobie 18 performance manual, by Phil Berman

If old stye rudder castings, keep the metal rudder cams clean and lubricated with white lithium grease: this avoids breaking the aluminum rudder casting. If new style castings, keep the plastic cams in good condition by lubing then replacing them if they get bent or worn: This practice helps avoid rudder breakage.

I had a hard time when I lubed my cams on my old aluminum style rudder system. It worked much better to disengage the rudders but I couldn't keep them from instanly locking back down again. The whole system is a pill and cost me a rudder when it wouldn't release in the surf a couple of weeks ago....arrrggg..