newbie questions

There ia a huge difference between the 82 and the 89. The good years in the 80's were 84-87 so check the last two digits of the serial number etched into the stern to make sure of the year. Still the 89 will be heavier than 84-87 but it has adjustable rudder castings so you can tune the weather helm out of the rudder system. The 89 may have the newer style comp tip that starts right at the tang which is a big plus. You have to buy them now for racing in NAHCA. The older style comp tip has a sister screw style attachment with a screw head on each side of the mast. The newer style down lean back over time so they are much better. The 89 sails will be better for racing also. Check the mast by sighting down the luff track to be sure that it is straight. Check the hull bottoms for wear right in the middle. A bottom rebuild job is not too difficult if it needs it but a mast can't be straightened. Check the lower batten pockets on the main sail for wear through. Hobie went to a black coated shroud around then that was pretty tough on the sails. A jib traveler system is a plus. Check the tramp for grommets starting to pull. If it has sat out in the sun long enough for the hiking straps to be gone then the tramp is only good for a couple more years. Let me know if you have any other questions. Oh if it has black rudders put your hand on the end and your knee in the middle and pull hard. If it bends then they are the lexan. If it doesn't bend then they are EPO's or some sort of racing rudders which becomes important when you want to sail double trapped in heavy air.

cheers
Bill

To be realistic, I think if you want to race a hobie 16 and be competitive (at the front of the fleet) you will probably need to buy a much newer boat than the ones that you mentioned, unless all the boats in your area are as old as the one you end up with.

If you are just learning to sail, an older hobie 16 is a great boat to learn on. They are cheap so you won't get too upset if you damage it. They are easy to sail. You unfortunately can't expect to be at the head of the fleet on such an old boat. You'll still have some good battles with the other boats around you of course. One of the great things about sailing is that you always have someone to race whether it's trying to knock the number one guy off his perch, stop the boat behind you from knocking you out of the top ten or beating that guy just in front of you so that it's him who's last not you.

How new your Hobie is will not be as important as how good a sailor you are. Your skills will have more to do with where you finish in your first couple of years sailing a cat than your boat (within reason).

Good luck.

Hey Newbbie
Where are you from? Let's get you a regatta schedule.

Maybe I'm wrong, but they both sound a little pricey for their age's.I supose if they were in exellent condition maybe. Make sure the hulls are not soft, delaminated. The place it happens most is just in front of the foward pylons. Try and push down in that area of the deck and other places on the deck. The decks should be hard. You shouldn't be able to budge the deck. If you can, run for your life or just keep looking until you find a good one. I'm not sure what the min. crew weight is for a 16, but remember weight is the single most important factor in boat speed. To be competitive you should be near the min. crew weight in most conditions. However the boat will handle your weight fine. Whatever you do have fun.

Mike

Pete,
Some free advice for what it is worth.
1. Asking price for both boats seems high. I would expect boats in average condition to sell for about $500 less in both cases.
2. Any soft or brittle fiberglass should be a deal killer. Check for faded gel coat, fiberglass repairs, rebuilt hull bottoms, worn/faded trampoline, worn/repaired sails to gauge past use and maintenance history.
3. The mid '70s to mid '80s were the heyday of H16 production. There were probably 5 times the number of H16 built in 1982 than there were in 1989. My opinion is there is a much greater "dog" probability in an '82 (because a more casual owner was likely to purchase in 1982, not due to build quality (should be about the same) and the boat is 7 years older).
4. Sail it before you buy it, no better way to judge a boat. At least have the seller rig the boat and step the mast. Too many newbies have bought boats only to find parts missing or broken. Figure the price of any replacements required into your offer.
5. While weight is a factor, for someone new to catamaran racing, sail trim, boat handling and tactics will have a greater effect for success on the race course. 300 pounds is considered the max for serious H16 teams.
Bottom line: I think the '89 is likely to be in better condition and the better value.

Come on back with more questions. A lot of experienced H16 sailors post on this forum.

Chris is absolutely right about the small parts.
If you have to go and buy a little piece here and another piece there, you can add several hundred dollars very quickly.
Even if the parts are there, they may be broken, damage or worn out.
Get someone who knows Hobie 16s to go with you.
And don't forget the trailer. I have seen people buy decent boats but the trailer is so bad it isn't safe to take the boat anywhere.
Replacing with a good galvanized trailer will add $600 - $1000 to your cost.
I have nearly bought old boats because the trailer was worth more than the total price.
Good luck