buying a new hobie 16

Carbon rudders, 6:1 downhaul, hotstick. Those are about the only upgrades you can do. Get a telo-cat, or some sort of windvane as well.

Karl's stuff plus an Hawaiian righting system. You can build them yourself for cheaper.

Karls' stuff, Mikes' stuff, plus...

two

nice

life jackets, two

nice

trapeze harnesses (and a couple of pairs of gloves). Have them explain how the trapeze harness works while you're sailing (sitting down and on the trapeze)and try on the different models they have, in combination with the life jacket. Get what is comfortable for you.

Thanks for your help

For a weathervane use 2 pieces of knitting yarn tied to the bridle, one on either side. Costs nothing and works well. Some people use cassette tape but I find that it pulls off when trailering the boat. One other item is non-skid material on the side rails, either carpet or what I use which is strips of non-skid bath rubber tape. Also you should have rubber shoes or booties. When out on the wire you want good footing.

Howard

A trailer comes in handy when going across land as well <img src=

alt=

/>

that came under the heading of

bells and whistles

but thanks for the comment.

A security knife for you and one for your crew

What about navigation? Do you guys carry a GPS? Are one of those little stick-on compasses worthwhile? I used to be an ocean power boater and I got really attached to my scrolling map gps (although I always had my charts and compass for backup). Do you carry a hand held VHF?

Skip the hot stick. Stock stick is lighter and more responsive.

Do not buy any real fancy wind vane.

Don't worry about nav and communication until you start sailing for distance or out of sight of land.

I dunno about the hot stick. While the stock stick is lighter and more responsive, I find it to be a nuisance in light air. When I'm in 6-8, I end up in the middle of the boat and the stock stick ends up getting caught in my trap rings. I can shorten the hotstick so it doesn't get stuck in my trap rings and I can sit dead center on the tramp.

12+ with crew and the stock stick is the way to go.

I've got both and switch back and forth depending on the wind.

Thank you all for all your help. Today I just ordered my 2009 hobie 16 from KO sailing in La Porte, TX. The 6:1 down haul, EPO carbon rudder and the Aussie Jib setup are all stock items now. I would not have thought of asking about them without your help. I will ourfit the remainder of items when it comes in in about 2 to 3 weeks. I hope to see you at a gathering but if not, then here at the forum.
Regards,

No one mentioned a carpet kit for the rails.

Isn't carpet standard equipment on a new hobie?

Strangely enough - no.

Guess there's too much personal preference in what people choose to put on their sidebars - carpet, neoprene, or that knobby EVA foam stuff that I can't remember the name of.

I would also recommend the hotstick. The stock one bent in half the second time I launched from the beach and splintered.

hydro-turf

Note: Hobie does not come with the 6:1 down haul. Will have to add that later. Does come with Aussie jib halyard and EPO carbon fiber rudders.

If you are using a spinnaker you do not want to mount a windvane of any kind. Unless its a its something like a ribbon on the bridle. The spin will get destroyed hanging up on it. Tape everything you can too. Ringdings, pins, chainplates, anything that the spinnaker can touch.

I didn't think it would make that much of a difference, but coating the snuffer sock, and the spinnaker in the seal n' glide made the chute go up and down way easier. I think that's what it was. It was left over's at a friends house. It was a Homeleko (sp) product

Thanks for the tip, Karl. I'll tape up everything when I get up the nerve to fly the thing. I still have to purchase the seal n'glide.