Hobie 14 vs. 16

I am currently considering purchasing a Hobie Wave, however I have located a fair deal on a Hobie 14 Turbo Signature Alto Series. In regards to seating room, weight capacity, trampoline space, how does the 14 compare to the 16?

How does the 14 compare to the Wave in capacity, etc.?

What do the terms Turbo, and Signature Alto Series mean, as opposed to the standard Hobie 14 model?

Thank you.

Soaf:

I've sailed both and used to own a 14. Faced with the choice you present, I'd choose the 14. My 14 was fast but only with me sailing solo. The Wave will allow more passengers, but I found it slow (just my experience). I have sailed two Waves and they were both rentals and may have had water in the hulls or something but I didn't like them much. The 14 by yourself is a hoot. you have the whole fiberglass vs. plastic issue with the 14 and the Wave. I used to fly the 14 solo with the tramp almost vertical. Make sure the fiberglass is in good shape.

I now own a 16 and it is a lot more fun because it really scoots even with two people.

I think the Turbo has a jib. My 14 did not have a jib and I remember wishing it did. I'm not sure of any other differences.

Good luck!

The Wave is underpowered for good reason... to make it easier to sail. It also tacks easier that most other cats out there. The 14 is a bit difficult to tack.

The 14 has very small hulls and can not carry much weight.

Yep... the 16 is a Hoot!

If I had a choice between these boats, it would depend on the wind speed, crew available and water conditions.

Single handed? Hobie 16 in light to moderate winds and protected waters (help to right the boat if I go over).

Windier... maybe the 14 for s short time, but when it gets to 15-20 and more... the Hobie Wave is a real blast and so easy to right.

I like never having to find a crew, and being able to go wherever I want in my 14. Not the fastest boat, but definately faster than the Wave. I know because I raced against a Wave last weekend, and was able to sail in between him and another boat and still pass easily. The guy sailing the wave was good, too. The 14 is the hardest boat to tack that I have ever sailed, but once you get the hang of it, the boat rocks. The only drawback for the 14 is carrying passengers; it'll carry them, but it won't sail as well- very weight sensetive boat. Simply changing your position on the tramp results in big changes in trim, and therefore, speed. All the boats in question would be great fun. but I love my 14. As far as wind speed goes, I have sailed my 14 in everything from a flat calm (I had to be towed out to the windier part of the lake) to Force 6 (wind was measured at an average 28 mph). Great boat.

I started with an old 14 turbo (has a jib) and loved it. I have sailed it without the jib a few times, just to learn, and the jib is like having power steeering to tack with compared to no jib. Only bad thing about the 14T was like everyone said above, it's not fast with more than one person. I now also have an old 16 so I can single hand but also still go fast and fly a hull with 2 people. Can't decide which one to keep, because the 14T is so much lighter and easier to set up, but the 16 is more fun when someone else wants to go along. Setting up the 16 solo isn't that bad, though.

Want a fast single hand boat. Look at the Mysterer 4.3, I know where ine is for cheap.

Doug

Here you go, the question went from "hobie 16, 14 or wave" to "You should not use a hobie" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Flame wars!

The 14 is a fun little boat, but for me lacks buoyancy, At 95Kgs I'm to heavy for it. Unless you are a real featherweight don't think about going sailing with a crew. Having a jib on it helps for tacking, but otherwise just add more strings to pull, and deprive it from its simplicity.

The 16 is a fun boat. You can sail one solo up to 20 knots of wind. If the average wind in your part of the world is more than that, find a crew or get a 14.

The wave is more boring, but far more buoyant than the old design from the 14 and the 16. Less sail area as well which makes it easier to sail. And it can carry a lot of people. Not comfortably, but it will do 4 in a pinch.

Now if you want to consider other options there is a lot of them around. I don't know the aforementioned Mystere, but depending on the size of your wallet, the intended usage and your local fleet it could be a hard choice. A Stealth F16 for example cost the same as a Hobie 16 (I'm talking about new boats here, used H16 are dirt cheap, used F16 are not, yet) and gives you a much more modern boat that can be sailed solo or with a crew. A used A class could be relatively cheap as those get obsolete quite fast, and would give you crazy performance, but don't think about doing a family picnic with one.

All that to say that you do not give us enough information to help you choose: What's your budget? What is your intended use? Racing solo (get a A class), racing with a crew (get a H16), Racing sometimes solo, sometimes with a crew (get a F16), having fun at the beach with the kids (get a wave), having fun at the beach alone (get a 14 or a wave) and so on and so forth...