a Tiger in sheeps' clothing

Hobie Pearl

its an f-18 for dummies, centerboards, furling hooter smaller sail plan in dacron, and almost the same price as a tiger

And a way to keep utilizing the Tiger molds after the new Hobie F18 comes out.

To me, it's filling a niche left by discontinuing the standard TheMightyHobie18, with a more modern design. Remember, only about 10% (my educated guess) of cat sailors here in the U.S. race. Most are into cruising.


Whether it catches on or not is anyone's guess.

J

translated french blog regarding price

Way too pricey to make a splash. If the molds can somehow make it to Hobie Cat US (how's that for wishful thinking?). Too bad, looks like a fun boat for distance racing.

I'll agree it would fill the gap left by the 18, trouble is looks like the Getaway is Hobie's answer for that niche.

Do you think we will ever see a pearl in the US?

Hobie Europe and Nacra Europe both make 3 times the models
than that of their US conterparts

I've always wondered why?

B/C they sell 10x the boats over there that they sell here.

Once again why? - better marketing? - more interest in sailing?

BINGO... Surfcity nailed it.

AND... the new boat is not joining an existing class nor is Hobie corp creating a "racing class"!

The Hobie company will publish "class rules" that allow them to be able to make changes that the public wants over the years and that the factory can support econmically.

Independent measurement of the boat would allow a rating committe to issue a PN or SCHRS or Texel rating and this would be the defacto class standard rule set for open racing... should a boat show up to a race.

It would also be a mistake for the existing Hobie class association , to create a new racing class assn for this new boat as well. Down the road, if the new owners find they have demonstrated sufficient interest in racing and get themselves organized into an association, the HCA would then be able to assist them and allow them to join the NAHCA for example.

Most likely... the owners would prefer to join an owner's group for the boat. The HCA forums are a good example of how to support these cat sailors on Bravo's or Getaway's.

IMO, every new boat that Hobie introduces to the market points to the flaws in the existing Hobie One Design Policy.

It forces the Hobie regatta to give one design starts/trophies to Getaway's, or FXones, ... but this is a chicken and egg situation that is not converting these guys into racers. However a policy that put any Getaways and Bravo's along with 17 sports and 18SX's... not to mention the FXone and any other boat that does not have an active racing class into a portsmouth fleet would give these owners an entry into racing, contribute to the regatta finances, add new people to the club, etc etc.... Who knows... that FXone class just might catch on.

The new Hobie F18 will really stress out the supporters of the Hobie One design rule. Do they create a seperate class for the F18' based on the It's a Hobie principal. Do they ignore the design and class rule differences and declare them equal and race them as Tiger's. Do they say... Hey... when you get sufficient numbers and organization for a OD class... come talk with us. Do they change their rules and say... Hobie only plus F18's...

It will be interesting to see how they square this circle.

I would be curious to hear if any region could make a convincing argument that their sailing region is BETTER OFF with a hobie one design policy. I am not aware of any. In Hobie Division 11....The Hobie 20's died off and the Tigers never got started... perhaps with open class racing these fleets would have survived or grown. Oh well Too late now!

http://www.hobie-cat.net/site_gb/html/emailing/cp_16.html

http://www.hobie-cat.net/site_gb/html/emailing/cp12.html

intersting looking hull design for their new F 18 and its not a pearl

I think, yes on both points but more interest being the most important one.

Do you think it has something to do w/ "good, reliable jobs" w/VACATION TIME !!!!

Europeans START w/ 4wks/yr and rapidly go to 6wks/yr or more .... while here in the USofA our benefits are being slashed and eliminated .... all the while the companies cry that they can't afford to pay "livable wages" and benefits like health care and vacation time ..... the "Wall St Fat Cats" just get wealthier .... all the while the "workingman" gets to work longer and harder ..... thereby leaving little time or money for leisure activities like traveling to regattas and racing sailboats ....

Let's just look at some basic numbers .... when I purchased my TheMightyHobie18 new in 1985 the boat cost $4000.00 and the average family income was approximently $30,000.00/yr .... now a new 18' boat costs $15,000-$20,000 and the average family income is approximently $45,000/yr ... do the math and just look at the ratios .....

Please note that I'm a registered Republican .... and I KNOW that we've been Flim-flam'd by our business and political leadership of both parties .....

And next Tuesdays choices between one side that wants to raise taxes even higher ... and the other side believes in unresticted "free traded" that has already sent one of my "good manufacturing" jobs overseas so I have no steady/reliable income or benefits at all ..... how do you think that effects my ability to purchase a new Hobie Cat? ..... What excellent choices we have .....

HAAaaaaaaa!!!

There's my "rant" for today ....
HarryMurphey

To me the Hobie Pearl is the Hobie Pacific with a new name and a new colour scheme.

There are almost identical in every respect down to using the Tiger hulls with skegs and the same pinhead boomless rig.

The Pacific has been around since at least 2001, I see no reason to expect the Pearl to do better then the Pacific over the years.

Hobie pacific


I also wonder what Hobie will do with the Pacific now that they have created an identical internal competition for it ?

I know that the reason I have not bought a new Hobie is because of the price/selection. The Tiger is 20k, the 16 is out dated, the plastics don't excite me and are too much money for what they cost to build. It is the old chicken and the egg. Build a product locally so it is affordable and not a slug and you will sell more boats. Why do you think everybody is buying Infusion's. Becuase they are faster or because they are less money and a much cooler design? Probably all of the above on that one. My point is rather racing or cruising, 99% of cat sailors want to go fast. Why do you think more motorcycles are sold then mopeds?