Well from what I've read and I have read a lot of the forum here... the Wave is the most stable, most easiest to right, the eastiest boat period, but there is a reason the Hobie 16 is still on the market!! I am one of those people who would rather learn on the hardest tool so I find all others easier. Should I lean towards the easier
Wave
or gear towards the more troublesome, yet more professional Hobie 16 or 18?
Why do you consider the 16
troublesome?
The hulls are easier to repair than rotomolded models. There are parts galore for the 16. Hobie has sold over 100,000 so there's plenty of people to help you set up the boat properly and provide plenty of hints on how to sail it. The 16's are not that hard to right if you have a decent righting system.
The Wave is a good starter boat. They're not fast unless you Rick Whiteize it.
Find a dealer that will let you try both and then make your decision.
I'm a rank amateur myself but I've sailed on quite a few boats lately. Hobie 16,18 Prindle 16,18 the Prindle 16 was by far the easiest for me to handle. But it was boring after flying with the Hobies, the Prindle seemed to go way slower. Good luck.
Stan
The condition of any of the boats could have really changed the performance, if the Prindle was old and the Hobie was new then the comparisone isn't really fair.