cost
ease of use
ability to sail to places I like
low maintenance/worry factor
chicks dig me
If I'm dreaming, cost isn't an issue. Count me in for early retirement and a Gunboat 66 with a secondary outside wheel option (why are all these configured to drive from inside the cabin?) and dual davits. There would be a dingy on one and an a-cat on the other. A couple of kayaks would grace the bow and I would have a port that would have groceries and supplies ready for me to pick up based on my internet restocking order.
For me, the Hobie 18 is the perfect boat (at least right now) because I find it to be the ultimate combination of durablity, simplicity, carrying capacity, speed, and overall fun - an extremely versatile boat. Not to mention there is a decent size and competetive racing class in my area.
I don't know of any other cat that I can repeatedly drag across the sand without fear of dammaging the hulls, comfortably blast double trapped in 4+ ft ocean swell with relatively inexperienced crew, easily depower by furling the jib if the wind gets too strong, take three adults out on when it's blowing 20-25 double trapped - ripping across the bay (crews with beer in hand), single hand in light and moderate breeze, rig in 30 minutes or less, not be encumbered by a heap of lines and gizmos, add wings if I want, continue to enjoy after owning for 25+ years, the list goes on...
As for the minus 100 lbs, well that would be my only complaint about the 18 - they are fairly heavy. But that's the price you pay for durability and affordability.
sm
Alright.
If I could have any boat, it would be a modern US aircraft carrier. I want something I can't drive a golf ball to the end of, and I can drive a go kart around on.
Completely self contained as well. As an added bonus it'd probably take me six months with a map to poop in every toilet on board.
Karl
You don't want a carrier. Been there done that and life on board is not that fun. Plus it takes you enough to get crew for a Viper, how you going to single hand the carrier?
This talk is silly. We all know the H-16 is
THE
perfect boat. There's nothing it can't do.
The only thing I don't understand is why does the Tornado get called old but not the perfect boat?
Not sure if Mike is trying to be sarcastic about the Hobie 16; if not, you beat me to it.
If so, I'll be the first to say that the Hobie 16 is the perfect boat. Big enough to be fast, small enough to be nimble, simple enough to teach new crew quickly, yet HARD to sail fast within its super-competitive fleets, which makes it great for racing.
I also like the Hobie Wave, but there is a LOT that I miss about the Hobie 16.
Mike
You don't want a carrier. Been there done that and life on board is not that fun. Plus it takes you enough to get crew for a Viper, how you going to single hand the carrier?
You're under the assumption I need her to leave anchor.
cost
ease of use
ability to sail to places I like
low maintenance/worry factor
chicks dig me
that's my prindle 16 to the t...bang for buck it's unbeatable, i wouldn't trade for anything. my hobie 16 is collecting dust, i grew up a hobie guy and was restoring mine after the hurricane when i bought the prindle...always thought prindles were goofy looking, not anymore.
I've noticed that several people seem to put
ease of use
high on their list of perfection. For me,
challenging but surmountable
is more the ticket.
I think to get a license, you'd have to have a bunch of lawyers make a deal with their lawyers.
You'd also pretty much have to build the carbon boats on a made to order basis. Maybe make a few demo boats and have a distinctive paint scheme and sail logo so everyone knows it's one of your carbon knock-offs. For example paint the hulls day-glo orange.
You gentleman do not know what a soul mate boat is.
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/cgi...
Holdyourcourse,
The boat on boatlisting was sold so the URL is no longer good. It was for a 1995 only lake used 4 years Isotope for $3150. Sailors talk about soulmate boats. In our fleet a good friend of mine Howard Alexander has sailed Isotopes since 1970 and has owned 7. Several other Isotopers buy new boats sell the older boats and get beaten by them.
Hold your course.
Ill Take a R21 Reynolds 21!
not leaving, at anchor
got me thinking. You could always use one of those playthings sitting on the deck if you wanted to go mobile, like Ghostrider.
&w=1200&h=761&ei=X1RNT8zyBaT-iQKG_sGcDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=360&vpy=2&dur=843&hovh=179&hovw=282&tx=145&ty=67&sig=104823644889661944877&page=13&tbnh=110&tbnw=173&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:14" rel="nofollow" >2" target="_blank">Carrier take-off
I'd have to list the old NACRA 5.2
The one in my garage that is paid for.