I am looking for a boat that I could sail solo or with 1 other person and need some help. I know where a 1996 H16 in good shape that could be for $1750 or I know where a 1982 Nacra 5.7 (which I like cause no boom) which I could get for $700 but that may be too much boat for me by myself to right and crew alone. Any other boats that I should consider? I like the H16 but I don't like their pitch tendencies.

H16's aren't that bad Pitch pole wise...
High wind's on the other hand, That boat will Pitch pole in a second...

Have you looked into a Prindle 16 or a Prindle 19?
The Prindle's can be $500-$1500.

Hope i helped.

--
Tyler holmes
Panama city, FL

Boat whore
--

Depends on the condition more than anything really. I sail a Nacra 5.2 and love it and also sailed an H16 when I was younger and experiencd te pichpole problems that you speak of. There are some add on foils you can get but when the wind picks up you will still be trapping off of the back of the hull.

As lots of people already know the 5.7 is probably my all time favorite boat. No boards, no boom, well behaved and actually easier to right than the H16. It also has lots of floatation in the front of the hulls so you can ride them pretty deep without pitchpoling.

The H16 has the advantage of being a simpler rig and there are LOTS of spare parts avalable. They are certainly a lot of fun and easy to sail.

In the end, when it comes to older boats condition is probably the most important factor, but I would definitely consider the boardless Nacras (5.0, 5.7) and any of the Prindles. I would be more inclined to look at those boats over an H16 if they are available but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the boats mentioned if they are in good shape.

D.

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--

averdunn if you don't want the nacra call me, I will buy it.

--
Nacra 5.2
--

1996 is a really new Hobie 16, $1750 sounds like a deal.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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A 1996 Hobie should retail between $3,000 to $3,500 without a trailer. I would check to make sure that the boat is actually a 1996 and if so and if it is in good condition, buy it fast.

I don't know what your sailing experience and comfort level is, but in most conditions the H16 is not going to pitch pole on you. You have to be pushing it hard before it pitchpoles, easier to do with heavy crew, but it isn't like the boat is going to just jump up and pitch pole on you. And you can make any cat pitch pole, so don't let the reputation scare you away. We managed to pitchpole a SC20 once, and they have huge front hull volume. But we were pushing it hard with 2 on the wire and two on the hull, flying a hull and hit a big wake.

Both boats sound like a great deal if they are in good shape. Get one and enjoy it. The H16 will be easier to setup and sail, but the 5.7 may be faster and more technical. It probably depends on what you are looking for.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

Well it turns out the 5.7 is indeed a 5.2. The guy doesnt know what he has, I tried to tell him 5.7's were boardless and boomless but he still said its a 5.7.

What does it say on the sail? Most 5.7's I've seen have that right on the main.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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It's not the factory sail. Probably still not a bad buy but I am going try and look at the H16 since its a good deal. If I buy it and dont like it I can always get my money back.

An original sail on an 80's era 5.7 should look like this, they will be Skip Elliot sail. Click on photo to see full size.Copy th photo & past to your phot viewer, you can blow it up & see the 5.7 layout, clean tramp, no lines at all.




Edited by Edchris177 on Oct 23, 2010 - 07:40 PM.

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

Yeah this one has lines on the tramp and a bar running down the center.

Hey Jeremy nevermind I have one of those.

--
Nacra 5.2
--

Bar down the center sounds like a 5.2
If you want a boomless boat the 5.7 is a good choice. I only weigh 170 & solo mine quite a bit. If the Gods smile I can right it solo, usually I need a 10-20 lbs of water in a bag. If you are heavier they really rock. With only my 120 lb wife or daughter on the wire, I can sit on the hull, bracing a foot against the cleat for the traveler line & fly a high speed hull across the bay. You can also put 4-5 people on them and still make pretty good time. I have buried both hulls up to the main beam & never pitched it.
The clean tramp is good for carrying inexperienced people, & makes a great picnic platform for cruising sails.

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

I hate to say it but given the choice between a 1996 H16 and a 1982 5.2, go for the H16. Although I have a 5.2 and absolutely LOVE it, but the H16 is a better boat to learn on. The 5.2 is an awesome boat that was actually designed to correct alot of the bad habits of the H16 but the extra rigging/controls and the boards make the learning curve on it a bit daunting. Also, in my mind, you would have to make a couple of necessary upgrades on a 1982 to improve the safety and usablility (pivmatic popups, side loaders for the boards etc) where you probably won't have to do much to the H16 to sail it (provided it's in good shape).

D.

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--

Yes the 5.2 is a more complicated boat to rig but by how much? The mast rotator and put two boards down. I will admit the diamond wires are a pain in the butt. The Hobie tramp is much cleaner, the sails have windows, the rudders kick up, flotation in the hulls, and there are no boards to pull up. You have to upgrade for sure, pivmatics, move the bar, put jib wires underneath, swept spreaders, and a barber hauler. Also the boat may or may not have a capture mast base. Is it harder to sail? It tacks easier, faster, and doesn't pitchpole. A comment was made that in good winds, a Hobie sailor watches the leeward hull, the Nacra sailor watches the scenery. So I have no idea.

--
Nacra 5.2
--

dang...i was so hopeing you didn't want a 700$ 5.7...

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--

golfdad75

Hey Jeremy nevermind I have one of those.

Yeah I figured that.

coastrat

dang...i was so hopeing you didn't want a 700$ 5.7...

It sure sounds like it would have been a great boat if it were indeed a 5.7.

GolfDad ,what are/were your concerns regarding the diamond wires being a PITA?

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

Well it also turns out the H16 is a 94 and not a 96. Sail is in decent shape boat is in good shape and tramp is good. Trailer needs a little cleaning but not bad. would $1600 be a bad buy? I am contemplating either buying it or wings for my getaway. The wings on the getaway would be nice for the family but the wife will not be sailing much if any next year.

Oh and also he said the jib was off a Hobie 18 that was trimmed down and it has a roller furling.



Edited by av8erdunn on Oct 24, 2010 - 02:38 PM.

Roller furling is a nice perk to have, worth $120-$150ish used, $200 new. IF you always have help, & lots of room to beach the cat, & rig it,(so you can always turn into wind) the furling can easily be done without. If you store mast up, on a public beach, you probably want to remove the jib every night anyway, just to remove the temptation for it to run away.
If you go out for the day, but break things up into multiple sails, furling is very nice to have, but again it's a convenience item rather than a necessity.
I picked up the main parts used for fairly cheap, but I spent zero time on cosmetics for my boat, I preferred to sail the crap out of it rather than polish. Then as the season wound down, I just didn't feel like pulling it up on shore, changing things & starting to tweak, so I ended up sailing the entire year without it. I know I know, it wouldn't have been THAT much work to make the changeover. I can say, that there were several times that furling would have been VERY useful, & when the boat goes together next spring, all those collected bits WILL be installed.
I don't know Hobies, but $1600 sounds fair, for a fully functional 16 yr old boat, (check the VIN # yourself)if the hulls, rudders etc are good. If you can get a harness or two, & a decent PFD & righting line, so much the better. Ideally you can go look at it, & have him fully rig it. Then you can try the rudders, hoist the sails & see glitches that might not be apparent. You will see if blocks/traveler etc have issues, & how that cut down jib actually fits.(go take a few photos of an H16 you know is correct for comparison). Sight up the mast track for trueness, look at all the lines & rigging, poor stuff there might mean other hidden defects. Ask how much water he takes on after a day, if he says none, ask if he'll guarantee that. I've run across vendors who can suddenly be a little evasive, or outright liars.
Finally, if the boat is in good shape, & you decide 2 years later you need the 5.7 you found, you can probably sell it for the same as you paid, assuming you don't wreck it.

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

Yeah, I love my roller furling on my Getaway. I will probably go look at it next weekend and see what it looks like. I am leaning towards buying it vs. the wings for my getaway since it will be easier to launch solo. I asked about the trap harness but he didnt have any. as for the PFD's I have enough of them as it is. The righting line, that isnt fixed to the boat? on my Getaway its fixed on bottom.



Edited by av8erdunn on Oct 24, 2010 - 06:14 PM.

Edchris177

GolfDad ,what are/were your concerns regarding the diamond wires being a PITA?

Well it is one more thing for the the main, jib halyard, front shroud, trap line to wrap around. The hobie gets a plus, also what actually does it do.

--
Nacra 5.2
--

I dont know what to do. I would like to hold out for a nacra but I hate to pass up a good deal.



Edited by av8erdunn on Oct 24, 2010 - 07:59 PM.

gotta add my experience here; the standard Hobie 16 jib is huge and fully battoned, generates massive push, in my humble opinion, this is the major cause for pitchpoling. I switched to a roller furling jib for safety reasons and the smaller jib sail almost neutralized the pitch-pole problem. I say almost because there were days when the wind was blowing around 20 + mph, on a beam/broad reach where maximum push is generated on jib sail, and I was pushing my H16 hard, I was trapped out on the back of the windward hull, one foot on the hull, the other on the tramp frame, where I would have to keep one eye on the leeward hull as it tended to bury the bow ominously.

There were other benefits too, the sail did not hang up on the mast when tacking, setup time was quicker with the jib ready when the mast was stepped, the jib sail could be furled in a sudden big blow, or even when beaching for lunch. I paid $1400 for my '78 H16 without furling option, if your H16 already has that option, hulls are solid, rudders and cams are good, standing rigging good, mast is straight, then I have only one question:-

what are you waiting for?

--
TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
--

Yeah, that's a good price for a 1994 with a roller furling jib and trailer!

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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If I ever wanted to race the boat what would I have to do to be compliant since the jib is not stock? I think it would be fun to do so but I dont want to have to start changing the world to do it.

Quote

Well it is one more thing for the the main, jib halyard, front shroud, trap line to wrap around. The hobie gets a plus, also what actually does it do.

I am assuming you mean wrap around when you have the mast down for trailering? The solution there is to wrap shrouds, halyards etc in coils & hang them from the mast, it takes a few trial & errors to sort out what works best for your Cat, but then the issue is no more.
What they do...diamond wires are the Viagra of catamarans, stiffen the rod, put lead in the pencil. It is very difficult to build a long light stick & keep it stiff. The longer it gets the more wobbly. You can compensate by using thicker walls &/or larger diameter extrusions, but the weight starts to get out of control. Essentially wires turn that thin stick into a engineered truss. (sort of like trusses for floor joists instead of 2x10s) As the mast tries to bend under load, one set of wires is placed under tension, the mast can't bend as much because it has to stretch the wire to do so.
These wires now give you a powerful tool for powering or depowering the rig. Loosen them off & the mast can bend more. More bend equals a flatter sail & less power, or vice versa.
Nacra claims "diamond wire tension is the single most critical tuning adjustment."

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

Quote

If I ever wanted to race the boat what would I have to do to be compliant since the jib is not stock? I think it would be fun to do so but I dont want to have to start changing the world to do it.

you would need to install a Hobie 16 jib and remove the furler completely. That is assuming you want to race competitively. You could probably take your H16 with furling jib out and race with most clubs. You just would be disqualified if you finished ahead of people who were serious about racing. But I think most groups would allow you to come out and race with them in their non-competitive divisions.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

I think I am going to walk away on the H16 also. It has ports installed in front of the pylons reducing the structural integrity of the hulls. He said the ports are stuck on and would need to be replaced, chances are they are glued on to hide damage. Oh well, there is a Nacra, H16 or a set of wings for my Getaway in the near future. Well at least before next sailing season. I was really wanting something to fly a hull on but it would be ok I guess.

don't turn your nose up to a p-16...great family cat, super stable, easy to deal with. having had both h-16 and p-16, i'll take the p-16 every time. it can take a lot more payload and is way more foregiving in a blow.

when i race mine they always put me in open spin b with all the non spin misfits(h-18,p-18,nacra,other,etc) and i am the highest rated boat by a mile. it pays off in rough weather!

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--

I would rather have a P-16 than a H-16 but they are hard to come by. I am not going to get in a hurry to buy anything. I have a few months before its time to sail again.

Yep, certainly the best approach. Look for a good boat in good condition and go for it. All the 16/17/18 footers have thier own idiosyncracies. If you find a Hobie, nacra or prindle that is well cared for, you probably can't go too far wrong.

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--

Thanks

Edchris177

Quote

Well it is one more thing for the the main, jib halyard, front shroud, trap line to wrap around. The hobie gets a plus, also what actually does it do.

I am assuming you mean wrap around when you have the mast down for trailering? The solution there is to wrap shrouds, halyards etc in coils & hang them from the mast, it takes a few trial & errors to sort out what works best for your Cat, but then the issue is no more.
What they do...diamond wires are the Viagra of catamarans, stiffen the rod, put lead in the pencil. It is very difficult to build a long light stick & keep it stiff. The longer it gets the more wobbly. You can compensate by using thicker walls &/or larger diameter extrusions, but the weight starts to get out of control. Essentially wires turn that thin stick into a engineered truss. (sort of like trusses for floor joists instead of 2x10s) As the mast tries to bend under load, one set of wires is placed under tension, the mast can't bend as much because it has to stretch the wire to do so.
These wires now give you a powerful tool for powering or depowering the rig. Loosen them off & the mast can bend more. More bend equals a flatter sail & less power, or vice versa.
Nacra claims "diamond wire tension is the single most critical tuning adjustment."

--
Nacra 5.2
--

Hey Aviator, here's one for you, it's in excellent condition and it's only 8 hrs from you in Tarpon Springs, FL.

http://www.searchtempest.…oa&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max



--
TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
--

AND you have to love the final word of the ad motivated

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

I called him and left a message. We will see what happens. Thanks for the heads up.

Well it looks like a new boat is going to have to wait. I just bought a 2004 Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel in it 3 weeks ago and this morning it didnt want to crank.It only has 90K miles on it but it may be the injectors and if it is it will be about $3000 just for the injectors. I have had a truck act like this before and it was the injectors. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

the performance difference of H 16 vs Getaway is large, the poly hulls of wave and Getaway lack stiffness and yield a soft muchy 'ride', similar in windsurfing to original cheap poly boards vs later epoxy stiff lightweight hulls

av8erdunn

Yeah, I love my roller furling on my Getaway. I will probably go look at it next weekend and see what it looks like. I am leaning towards buying it vs. the wings for my getaway since it will be easier to launch solo. I asked about the trap harness but he didnt have any. as for the PFD's I have enough of them as it is. The righting line, that isnt fixed to the boat? on my Getaway its fixed on bottom.Edited by av8erdunn on Oct 24, 2010 - 06:14 PM.

av8erdunn

I think I am going to walk away on the H16 also. It has ports installed in front of the pylons reducing the structural integrity of the hulls. He said the ports are stuck on and would need to be replaced, chances are they are glued on to hide damage. Oh well, there is a Nacra, H16 or a set of wings for my Getaway in the near future. Well at least before next sailing season. I was really wanting something to fly a hull on but it would be ok I guess.

the moral of your story aviator, never buy Dodge, never buy Dodge Ram, and certainly never buy Dodge Ram with diesel engine especially when diesel fuel is so expensive.



--
TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
--

turbohobo

the moral of your story aviator, never buy Dodge, never buy Dodge Ram, and certainly never buy Dodge Ram with diesel engine especially when diesel fuel is so expensive.

I have never had a problem with a Dodge, I had more problems with my 08 Silverado than I have a Dodge. I am paying $2.89 a gallon for diesel premium is $2.69 and I am able to get 4 MPG better with the diesel than I did with my POS Silverado. With the difference in cost I am still better off with a diesel and I can tow whatever I need. I take it you have never had a diesel. The Cummins diesel is more reliable than the crappy 6.0 powerstroke Ford puts out and it gets better fuel economy than the Duramax GM has.
Turns out I had air in my injector lines which was causing my problem. Opinions are like assholes
everyones got one. What do you drive a prius.



Edited by av8erdunn on Oct 31, 2010 - 02:23 PM.

So you have an opinion too! I drive a Dodge Ram with the Cummins Turbo Diesel. Just funning wit ya boyo, lot of good-ole-boyz around here joshing each other with their Chevvy/Dodge/Ford/GMC preferences. I just have to chuckle, these vehicles are all just pressed sheet metal with round rubber wheels, but they all get so personal with their trucks.

Glad you were able to troubleshoot your problem, easy fix, so u can still keep that other beachcat in mind.



Edited by turbohobo on Oct 31, 2010 - 04:17 PM.

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TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
--

turbohobo

I drive a Dodge Ram with the Cummins Turbo Diesel.

So it's really turbodieselhobo

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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they don't make 'em like they used to...all the plastic on my truck will fit into a dixie cup!

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--

turbohobo

So you have an opinion too! I drive a Dodge Ram with the Cummins Turbo Diesel. Just funning wit ya boyo, lot of good-ole-boyz around here joshing each other with their Chevvy/Dodge/Ford/GMC preferences. I just have to chuckle, these vehicles are all just pressed sheet metal with round rubber wheels, but they all get so personal with their trucks.

Glad you were able to troubleshoot your problem, easy fix, so u can still keep that other beachcat in mind.Edited by turbohobo on Oct 31, 2010 - 04:17 PM.

Its all good.
A vehicle is a tool, it takes you from one point to the next whether it is a Hummer or a smart car. In the end they do the same thing.

Quote

I just have to chuckle, these vehicles are all just pressed sheet metal with round rubber wheels, but they all get so personal with their trucks.

Just like our boats. They are all so different yet so much the same, but everyone "knows" which is best, just ask them.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

My brother still has one of those Cummins diesels,from the 90's I think. You could tow the earth if you had a hitch point. Cummins builds a good engine, but those years the Rams rode pretty rough unless he had a max camper or horse trailer hooked on. We pulled a 27' 5th wheel through the mountains at 60 mph & still got 21 mpg.
I'm amazed at how "loyal" people get to a Detroit manufacturer, don't you guys know yet, that you buy a Japanese vehicle, & they just run, for 400,000km, & at the end of that time your maintenance bills are only around $1000 + oil changes?



Edited by Edchris177 on Nov 03, 2010 - 08:04 PM.

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--

My brother has a mid 90's Dodge with the Cummins. Over $250k miles and the engine is running strong but the rest of the truck is not holding up so great anymore. But it has been on a ranch for over 10 years, and seen a lot of abuse. That engine is a power house though. People get loyal over Detroit cars, but people seem to sign their name in blood over their Diesel truck alliances. Then again isn't the Chevy diesel truck engine from Japan anyways?

Japan has long had the edge on cars that just run forever, but in my opinion Ford and Chevy are getting much closer with their recent vehicles.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

It's a thing of beauty when my 5.2 is hitched to my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 w/ Cummins TD.

--
Eric C

Force 5 project boat
Unnamed

Previous boat
1980 Nacra 5.2
"Double Vision"
--

03' Chevy 2500HD Duramax(LB7) with 275k miles on it. Programed, Straight piped, and intake work has been done on it in the last 25k miles. - only had the injectors replaced twice.. 90k and then something like 175k.

Other than that, she still does work hah.


& I vote for the Prindle 16 -- since I just picked one up recently. Haven't had a chance to sail her yet, but she looks promising!

--
83' - Prindle 16
--

Quote

It's a thing of beauty when my 5.2 is hitched to my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 w/ Cummins TD.

Yep, best thing ever, and when I run outta diesel 50 miles down the road after just filling the tank, I hitch that dern thing to my trailer, raise the sails on my cat, an tew it where I'm going, I git-r-dun.

having sailed H 16s freq ,owning Solcat 18 as first boat, then H18,H20 Miracle and now Bimare 18 all are daggers except H 16, to me the performenace difff of modern symmetrical hulls is so great I have a hard time even gong out on a H16,db are not that much truoble , mast rotation si simple, who wants to pitchpole ?

Wolfman

I hate to say it but given the choice between a 1996 H16 and a 1982 5.2, go for the H16. Although I have a 5.2 and absolutely LOVE it, but the H16 is a better boat to learn on. The 5.2 is an awesome boat that was actually designed to correct alot of the bad habits of the H16 but the extra rigging/controls and the boards make the learning curve on it a bit daunting. Also, in my mind, you would have to make a couple of necessary upgrades on a 1982 to improve the safety and usablility (pivmatic popups, side loaders for the boards etc) where you probably won't have to do much to the H16 to sail it (provided it's in good shape).

D.