Hobie Miracle Catamaran

Hi all, I'm thinking about buying a Hobie Miracle. I have sailed for many years a Nacra 5.8, so I feel a 20 would not be "too much" boat. I may buy it with a female friend and I wonder if this boat is too much for a light weight woman to go out her her 16 year old son. She has sailed monohulls for many years, so knows sailing. She has never sailed a cat. I would take her out for a season to help her learn the boat, but would this be too much boat for her?and her son? Appreciate any thoughts.
Doug

To add a question. Does anyone know which years to avoid? I have heard that one or more years had hull delamination problems?

I think 93 and older had some problems with the bow breaking off in front of the front cross beam. The early ones also had a smaller diameter dolphin stryker post. I think most were already replaced by now with the thicker ones. They're great boats other than the POS comptip.

Hi, Thank you. What is a POS comptip. I realize it has to do with the mast. What is the problem and was it addressed?

Its not Point Of Sale...

the comptip is a fiberglass upper section of mast designed not to conduct electricity. there have been a number of incidents where people have been electrocuted via overhead power lines.

not being a continuous section of aluminum the bend curve is not even and sails will not set 100%

I have never seen one but from everything I have read they are not a great idea from a sailing perspective.

POS = Piece Of Sheeeet !!!

I owned one for many years. Great boats. They drive great. Just wish they had a spinnaker. You can't add one and get the boat to balance well.

The comptip bends to easily and not in line with the aluminum. Also not being one section makes it more likely to leak. I hated the comptip but it certainly isn't a big deal. It will sail about like your 5.8 they are very equivilent.

Hi Mike thanks for your thoughts. How durable was the boat? Some of the comments I have seen about the H20 is that the hulls might be a bit fragile?

Doug,

ncmbm will tell you anything but a Hobie 14/16/17/18 is a fragile boat. I've owned all of those and raced the "Miracle" for a few years.

The first one I bought was a '94 and had some deck, soft spots aft of the front beam and around the board trunks. I sold it and bought a '93. It had hairline cracks on the hulls inside of the front beam and on the transom at the deck joint. I was told (by more than one 20 racer) these were both problem spots and should repair both. I repaired neither and in two years of racing they never got any worse.

The boat is prone to denting, but aren't most later designs? I wouldn't make a habit of roaring up the beach with a 20 (it's actually 19' - 6" BTW). Pull the port covers off and you can see daylight at the keel line (if you know what I mean? Kind of translucent there at the seam). You'll definitely want beach wheels for the boat.

We had a blast sailing it, especially in 5 to 12 knots, when other boats were wishing for more wind. Down side is it's a real handful in over 20.

Check out the Hobie Class Social Network There's a few 20's for sale in the classified.

I've seen newer boats with the bow problems. It's an easy fix. The problem is the bulkhead under the front beam breaks free. Just put in a port behind the beam and re-glass the bulkhead to the hull.

Good sailing boat, i have to say!

Hurricane 5.9 designed and built by Req White in Uk is remarkably similar to the Miracle 20 ,theres a story behind it too , but apparently thats a secret !, anyway point being as the miracle 20 is virtually the US version of the Hurriucane 5.9 you should find that that it too should be able to carry a spinnaker with no trouble , most of the UK fleet have updated and converted to the SX version with integral chute etc and has been officially adopted by the class , with the Dollar giving the UK pound a kicking at the moment might even be worth getting the whole kit sent over .Andy Webbs your man .



Check out http://www.hurricane59.com/,for further info , they have also developed a new square top main .

sounds like good ole reg white did a better job of building the 5.9 too , with old boats updated still being competitive and no horror stories of breakages like the M20

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........