Hobie 18 singlehanding

Where will you be sailing?

Sacramento area, like folsom lake and natomas, but mainly Lake tahoe... all of which in central CA

I dont think there is any difference in learning how to sail an 18 vs. a 16, other than the daggerboards on the 18. I learned about 2yrs ago on an 18, (and still learning). The only downside I see to the 18 is the weight, and the daggerboards (depending on where you sail), when singlehanding. On the weight side my biggest problems are: raising the mast, taking the boat from trailer across the sand and to the water, and righting. All these, however can be compensated with different devices. As far as the daggerboards, they are one more thing you have to control if sailing in shallow waters. Otherwise they are a plus.

The TheMightyHobie18 is an awesome boat but it can be a lot to sail single-handed. The TheMightyHobie18 has many more tuning options than the H16 including mast rotation, diamond wires, and downhaul. If the boat is set up properly you can be overpowered in about 15 knots of wind. This may be a problem depending on how strong the wind is where you sail. The TheMightyHobie18 is also heavy! It is very hard to drag it around by yourself, especially after a day of sailing. I think the TheMightyHobie18 is best for mostly 2 up sailing, sometimes solo sailing. If you do get a TheMightyHobie18 make sure it has a good downhaul system and get yourself some sort of righting pole. You will need it to right the boat if you are out by yourself and flip. Also getting a TheMightyHobie18 with wings will also help keep the boat down in higher winds. If there is a lot of shallow water where you sail than probably a boat with a skeg hull design would be better (no daggerboards). To see some awesome TheMightyHobie18 footage get the video "Sharing The Wind". I drooled over that for years before finally getting a TheMightyHobie18.

My first boat was a Hobie 16. I sailed it solo most of the time and it was a decent little craft but not showing it's age well.

I quickly moved up to a G-Cat 5.7M (18'9") which I primarily solo. This beast weighs in the same as a TheMightyHobie18 but is harder to drag due to it's Deep-V hulls. If you solo, you need to have Cat-Trax. There is simply no getting around it unless you never have to move your boat around on the beach.

As far as the mast-stepping goes. Figure it as a good workout I use an extra line tied to the jib halyard, going through the bridle ring, and back to the base of the mast. I heave the mast up, pull the slack out of that line and cleat it off to the base of the mast. Then go forwards and attach the forestay. I've been doing this since I was a 5'9" 140lb 16 y/o.

Regarding righting the boat- you'll need a righting pole and possibly a righting bag as well to pull it back upright. You couldn't right the H16 on your own either so which is supposedly "easier" to right is pretty much a moot point. If you plan to sail solo in heavy wind, sail carefully and only in an onshore wind! I've taken my G' out alone with only the mainsail when it was everything I could do just to keep it under relative control, and had some very wet and wild rides. But(!) I always did it with a sandy beach not far downwind of me.

I'd go for the TheMightyHobie18, and try to find someone to show you the basic tuning principles for it. I believe it will be a much more enjoyable boat for you.

I live in Tahoe and three years ago I bought a Hobie 18. It is a great boat. Deffenitly glad I bought the 18 over a 16. It is a lot racier boat than the 16 plus if you are going out on Tahoe a lot you will want the extra length and better hulls. My friend has 16 and it doesn't do as well in the big short period swells. The TheMightyHobie18 will be hard to learn on single handing, but after you get some experience it is good to single hand up to about 15 mph. I single hand all the time on Donner.
Either way, buy a cat you will have a great time.

Personally, I think the Hobie 18 is a lot easier to learn to sail on than the Hobie 16, because it is much easier to tack. And when you furl the jib on the 18, it is very easy to sail singlehanded and tacks very well without the jib.

The Hobie 18 is one of my favorite boats of all time. And one of its best characteristics is that it does not like to pitchpole. We raced ours for 15 years and never pitchpoled it. And only maybe four capsizes in all that time, one of which was caused by a helicopter hovering over us.

Beach wheels are almost imperative for any boat that you get, and if they are centered right, it is easy to move any boat around on land.

For helping to right the boat (no matter what boat), there are various things, like righting bar, water bag, shroud extenders, and sea anchor to deploy off the front to keep the bows pointed into the wind during the righting process.

hey skier, do you live up at tahoe much? and if so where you located? im from agate bay, near kings beach

I am looking for a job in the bay so I have been down here a lot, but usually spend most of my time in Truckee.

KB is a great spot to go sailing. It gets good wind and huge swells, great for jumping your boat. When I sail on Tahoe thats where I go out of. There is also a beech near KB where you can keep your boat. It is about a mile west from KB.

When you get your boat make sure to get a warm wetsuit becuase when Tahoe is windy it is cold. When you get your boat I can help you out rigging it and showing you the ropes. Hit me up with a PM or email casey@mediaessentials.biz

thanks alot skier, i appreciate the help... ive grown up on tahoe like my whole life, and i definitely have a wetsuit for other watersports... that place never seems to get any warmer...

I think Mary's advice is about the same as mine. I'm now 57 and I sail my Hobie 18 Magnum alone much of the time. You can work it fine as long as you're safety-concious about the righting thing; I use a righting pole and can get it up by myself. You should be able to handle the main sheet with one-hand though. If the stock 6:1 doesn't work, try making it a 7 or 8:1.

Wyatt

Sort of sucks now that they stopped making the Hobie 18, M, or SX. This is just one terrific, cruising boat. It takes a beating; can be launched and landed on the sand (The Tiger can't); and drives through the waves well. Put one or four people on it and you have a fun afternoon. I realize most of the TheMightyHobie18 Racers went up to the Tiger, but in about four more years when the present number of H18s start falling apart, I don't know where I'll go. I see nothing out there for us cruisers that want to hang around the beaches.

Wyatt

NewbieSailor,
Next weekend (May 7-8) is Fleet 2's Viento Fiesta Regatta. It is being held on Lake Commanche between Jackson and Stockton. You should come out and see the different boats in action. Here is the NOR:
http://home.usamedia.tv/~dfreeman/2005regattaflyer.pdf

Let me know if you are interested. If nothing else you can compare all the different Hobie's at once.

-Eric

Oh you can drive anything up onto the beach. Tiger owners just don't want to be doing bottom jobs every season.

Agreed - but personally, I would rather smoothly slide up on the beach than watch the boat get pumelled in the shallow surf...so what if I have to do a little work on the bottom every now and then! Let's just call it .... 'wetsanding'

sorry, i dont know if i can make it to the regatta, im in school in colorado at the moment... but i will be home on the 6th actually, are all hobie models welcome? or is it only for 18s?

All Hobie are welcome. The latest I heard we had Tigers, 16, 18, and 20s in attendance. Hope you can make it out but Colorado is a long way away.

well, if i have my boat by then i'll try and go, or maybe if i don't i'll still go and check it all out, i get home the 6th...

You should try to make it at all possible. They are a great group of people that love their cats. I was an outsider to the group before spending a week with them in San Felipe, MX and shortly after we got there I felt very much a part of the group. You think you would have a blast even without a boat, and it might help you decide what you want.

sorry guys, i dont think im gonna be able to make it, mothers day is this weekend...

I have a Hobie 18, and I single-hand it all the time.
I crewed for a 10 year-old skipper at the Viento Fiesta this weekend, and we had a blast! In light winds, and with a 45 pound skipper, we were able to keep with the Tigers and 20's at least part of the time. The boat is a lot like a mid 70's american car- It moves along at a pretty good clip, but nothing happens all that quickly. In 5 years I have yet to flip the thing without trying, and I do a lot of cowboy-single-handed hull flying out on the wire. It is very easy to control, and when you are done you can sail it up on the beach and put it away wet!
You should definately check us out at Hobie fleet 2- I have had the same experience as Eric, they (or I guess we) are a great bunch of folks who love to sail and camp and eat. We have events scheduled all summer throughout Northen California and Nevada.