Hobie Slacking Off?

When push comes to shove Hobie is a business and can make more money selling thousands of stand up paddle boards, plastic skis WTC than hundreds of racing cats.

Nacra doesn't offer the N-20 or any of the older boats anymore, so put them in the same category. It all boils down to greenbacks, like scarecrow said it's business.

You can't blame Hobie for going with the latest

Hot Trend

when it comes to watersports. The plastic kayaks are taking over the world, aided by stand up paddleboards. It's hard to beat the price, portability and set up time, not to mention the learning curve, vs. a catamaran.

I just returned from 5 days in the FL Keys, I saw about a zillion plastic kayaks and paddle boards, both out on the water and on car rooftops, coming and going.

I did not see a single Catamaran being trailerd to/from the Keys, and I drove all the way down to Key West. The only cats I found were the Hobie Waves at Founders Park in Islamorada, and one beat up H16 on the beach behind our hotel in Key West. I was going to ask about taking it out for a sail, there was some wind, but after a closer look, I saw it was a mess and in need of repairs.

Barb Short at Founder's Park Water Sports let my kids take out a couple stand up paddle boards. They had so much fun that my wife made me take a kayak out and chase them back in, as they were going over the horizon towards Key West! I would have taken a Wave out but there was no wind at the time, which made for great underwater visability from the paddle boards.

Thanks Barb! We all had a great time and the kids are still talking about the shark and rays they saw, while out on the paddle baords.

If you guys are ever in the Keys, be sure to stop into Founders Park Watersports and say Hi to Barb.

When Hobie first started making the rotomolded stuff, lots of people laughed and scoffed. My first thought was,

GREAT! If it makes money for them, and allows them to keep making my boat (Hobie 16 at the time), that's fantastic!

Of course, you can only extend the inevitable for so long. Regatta attendance (as one indicator) is way down since the 70s-80s and even 90s, and if people aren't buying new boats, it gets hard to justify building them.

I've done my part and bought 3 new H16s over the years. Of course, that means someone had to buy used ones from me, too...

Mike

Even the Waves have disappeared from the Kaanapali resort down the hill. It's all surf or stand up boards and kayaks now.

Lifestyle changes has shifted the casual recreational boater from sail boats to small exercise oriented craft.... something you do for an hour or so and get a work out. Hobie was on this with the kayaks and the adventure pedal kayak thing.... now its the stand up paddle boards.

The issue we face is How to get what sailors we now have interested in racing as part of a club.... Casual beer cans on Wed nights to Worlds or the Great Texas race.... all are good.

What we don't care much about is recreational sailing. This is not something that race clubs are organized or are interested in supporting. My club has several rec sailors who have zero interest in learning how to make a boat go fast... much less race it. These sailors just need beach access and have no need or interest in organization.

So... I would NOT say that Hobie is slacking off.... I would say that WE are out of ideas on how to get sailors converted into racing sailors.

Nacra makes fiberglass entry boats.... Hobie makes plastic entry boats... Until you want to go fast... Plastic is king. The fundamental issue is time, water access and price (boat plus storage)

Hobie will tell you that by putting a sail option on their Kayak... they are restarting the process of creating sailors.... maybe they will go racing someday!

Maybe the new F-18 Hobie will bring out will be a killer. Should be due by 2024.

Fyi... we don't sell SUP. We are sailing and kayaking. SUP is done by Hobie Designs which sells surfboards (hobie.com).

We do sell catamarans by the thousands and I'm pretty sure we build more Waves than all other brands of cats put together.

Not sure why people think they are just for resorts... although we do own that market world wide. Most are sold to recreational sailors.

Hobie is alive and well... hardly slacking these days. Like... Hobie Big Day Out. Similar to a regatta, but just for fun and all about Hobie Mirage Islands.

And yes... kayaking is king these days. Fishing is hot too... Hobie Diawa Worlds on supplied boats... all new fully rigged Hobie Pro Anglers.

We are currently having our biggest year ever... each and every year seems to go this way... we are alive and well!

http://www.facebook.com/HobieCatCompany

http://www.facebook.com/hobieislandclub

http://www.facebook.com/hobie.fishing

Glad to hear... .... Sadly, Its our racing scene that is just hanging in there.

Keep up the good work Matt. <img src="<>/cool.gif" alt="cool" title="cool" height="15" width="15" />

Times change. Companies adapt or end up like another Wang or Kodak. Good luck to Hobie.