I was wondering if anyone had sailed the hobie Bravo. I sold my Hobie 16 a year ago and want to buy either a wave or a bravo. I live on Tybee Island and want a fun boat that is easy launch by myself. I've sailed for 20 years and may want race again(I know the wave would be better for that) but I also want something you launch sail put up in few hours. Any thoughts
Go with the wave, its faster, you can bring friends, and it has a racing class. Also, both the wave and bravo take less then a half hour to rig up. Great boat.
Just sail a Bravo once and you would not even consider it.
I did and it was awful. No comparison.
Rick
I would agree that the Wave is a likely better choice. Moving from sailing a Hobie 16...the Wave is most similar.
I could see where Rick wouldn't like the Bravo as much, but it is a fun boat to sail as well. The Bravo is more like a mono hull. It's benefits are in size, weight and ease of rigging. Easier to drag around on the beach. Roller furling mail sail. The Bravo is fun to sail, but when it is blowing I prefer the Wave for sure. Faster, easier to sail, stable, more capacity and less hiking too! The Bravo main is large and powerful. The boat is more narrow and you really have to hike to hold it down.
But, Matt, how do you sail downwind with the Bravo unless you get the optional boom?
Since Matt has not come back yet, I had better explain my question. The Bravo does not come standard with a boom, and the sail does not have battens. Therefore, when you sail downwind, the sail just sort of folds up on itself.
I think the boat would be a lot more fun if it has the optional boom. And I think the boom is actually a necessity.
Sorry, but Rick and I haven't yet had the opportunity to sail one with a boom. If we do, maybe our opinion about the Bravo will improve.
The Bravo does sail better with a boom. It accellerates faster and will sail lower. You don't "need" a boom though and it complicates the rig. The furling system is compromised greatly, so as with the Wave and Getaway...no boom. The Bravo sails downwind, but not DDW. You have to sail it like a cat.