I have been sailing since i was a kid, sunfishes, raced 420s for a summer, and lately been sailing hobie 16s. I just moved to Albany From the Thousand Islands and I really miss getting out on the water and sailing.

I am not big into racing but I like going fast and flying a hull every now and then! I know probably 50% of the time I will be sailing solo. Probably on Sacandaga Lake and maybe on Saratoga Lake.

The boat that really caught my eye and before never even knew about is the Hobie 17. It looks like the perfect boat for me. Towable with my car, wings for comfort, trap for fun, and single hand ease. I know I will be taking a passenger every now and then some with no experience so I thought it would be a good learning boat. Little nervous about righting one but I think I will make my own righting pole out of a windsurfing mast I have. I am 6'2" 190 lbs. I have also thought about old Narcas, supercat, maybe even a hobie 18? Price is a factor, also location, those choices are what I have found in the area. The local sailing club had a fleet of 17s that is now debunked and I have been harping them for info on the owners of the boats that are unused. I know the running price for a 17 is around 1500.

Just looking for some expert opinions hahaha. Looks like a great forum! I have used it multiple times in my research and finally deciding to join!

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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What do you not like about the 16? If it was me sailing solo, i would like to avoid the daggers

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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I thought the 17's didn't have daggerboards?

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Ben Merkley
Prindle 16
Chandler, AZ
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6'2" 190 lbs. is on the high side of Hobie 17 crew weight, great boat but one of the more weight sensitive beachcats. You are big enough to solo any of the two handed beachcats on light to medium days, and still have reserve buoyancy for crew. With a properly seated mast, good technique (practice) and maybe a righting bag you should be able to right them too.

I solo my Hobie 18 more than I have crew and know sailors down to 160 or so that regularly solo theirs too.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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bmerkley

I thought the 17's didn't have daggerboards?

They don't, they have centerboards, (swing keels?) like the Tornado, Hobie 21, Prindle 18-2, and Prindle 19.

What other beachcats use centerboards?

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Phoenix 18's use daggers...damned big odd shaped ones at that!

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D Johns
Phoenix 18 KC#126
Port Hope Ontario

"If I put 2 Spinnakers on it, will it go faster?"
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Thanks for the responses guys!

I have sailed quite a few h16s and I really dont like how the tramp is raised up I feel like it throws off the whole boat, also the exaggerated forward backward rocking motion gets old. I really want to cut through the water. I started looking at the H17s because of the ease of use but the more and more I read about them I hear they really are very weight sensitive. I do enjoy taking friends out so this wont fly. I dont really plan on racing just having some fun on the water so if one falls in my lap cheap I will prob bounce for it. The other boat that is in my area and I have exchanged a few emails with the owner is a Supercat 17 . I have read alot of great things about this boat. even though it is older is have been used and maintaned regularly. Possible to single hand as well. Plus maybe some camping trips with a friend or two??

there is an H18 in MA close that is real cheap but I dont think I am up to that skill level yet...

Sacandaga looks like the lake to hit for sure. I looked into the Saratoga sailing club but I cant afford it and a boat. I think Sacandaga has some public ramps I can use so that seems like the ticket.

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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With your weight, you need a cat with high volume hulls, Prindle 16 or the SuperCat 17 would be my choice of cats to look at, I would lean more towards the SuperCat 17 just because it has such awesome shaped hulls, looks like it's going at warp 10 standing still. Check out the SuperCat by Boston Whaler under photo albums in the Beachcat Identification section.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=78180

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TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
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Thanks for the advice turbo! That brochure is actually how I found this site!!! I have read through it a few times! its is pretty funny. I particularly like that part that says " computers are pretty bitchin machine themselves" . hahaha and all the sex on the tramp references hahahaha

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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Wow that 18 is cheap. I also have a line on an 18 with wings for $1500, but needs some tlc. Have not seen
the sc17 listed anywhere. Don't discount the Prindle 16. I regularly sail with three light people on mine.
It is a blast with 2 and not bad to solo. Saratoga is not that cat friendly. Tried to get in there last year and told they had no room while 5 floating docks were empty all year. I am on the shore at sacandaga for $250.

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Pete Knapp
Schodack landing,NY
Goodall Viper,AHPC Viper,Nacra I20
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Quote

They don't, they have centerboards, (swing keels?) like the Tornado, Hobie 21, Prindle 18-2, and Prindle 19.

Yes the H17's have little swing boards .. kinda neat set up (bungie and stopperknot) but like anything on a cat.. no fun WHEN it fails

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What other beachcats use centerboards?

mystere's



Edited by MN3 on Aug 04, 2011 - 06:19 PM.

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Possible to single hand as well. Plus maybe some camping trips with a friend or two??

it is a fun and fast and a WET ride.

kinda easy to get overpowered in 15mph+ but fun if youdon't mind getting soaked



Edited by MN3 on Aug 04, 2011 - 06:03 PM.

Raise the mast on Supercat before you buy it. Pete

is it pretty hard? Well Maybe I could find a place to keep it rigged all next summer? maybe on Sacandaga lake.

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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DamonLinkous

bmerkley

I thought the 17's didn't have daggerboards?

They don't, they have centerboards, (swing keels?) like the Tornado, Hobie 21, Prindle 18-2, and Prindle 19.

What other beachcats use centerboards?

The Nacra 580 does. I would like to have that boat. it fits me perfectly on our shallow-ish lake

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Stefan, Denmark.
H14,H16,P16,P18,SC17,N5.8
Team StaySail
http://www.staysail.eu
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The 5.2 def has boards. I Think I would rather not have boards. I will be sailing a lot at my parents house on the St. Lawrence, I grew up there but still lots of shoals and depending on the time of year they are all different. And since I have been away from home for a few years im gettin rusty! Thats why that SC17 looks like a good bet.

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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Quote

it is a fun and fast and a WET ride.

I will agree with this. Supercats tend to be very wet, but that also adds to the feeling of going fast. Sounds like you are in a tough spot like a lot of people. Wanting a good singlehand boat that will also perform well with crew.

The choice is often a boat you can get overpowered with by yourself, or a boat that is underpowered when you add crew. Good luck in your decision, I think part of the decision is the conditions and water you sail on. Overpowered on a smaller lake with others typically around is much better then overpowered on a large body of water without many people around.

I have a lot of experience on a SC20 and it sounds like the 17 is similar, they are a blast to sail. But the mast is massive and heavy.

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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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I would mostly be sailing on the St. Lawrence river and sacandaga lake I think. Both can get pretty whipped up. I have never been on sacandaga before but I heard stories. I think its a safer bet to get something that can handle 2 ppl easily. I know my limits and its easy to sheet out and dump the sail if it picks up solo. Plus I dont want to limit the number of squeezes I can bring out on the boat at one time hahahaha. I hope I can look at that sc17 next week. Maybe a N5.2 this weekend.

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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The Hobie 17 is great if you plan to solo or only have children as crew. If you can get a H18 for a good price go for it they are great to sail they point well and the daggerboards are super easy to raise & lower. If you get caught out in heavy winds you can furl the jib and the boat will be is easy to handle. Stay away from 84-88 and get the newer style rudder system if possible, do research and post questions here on the that before you buy one. A 18' boat with a furler is pretty safe from getting overpowered if you flip its hard on just about any boat to right without crew especially if your on a budget light boats are expensive. Another factor to consider is parts you will break stuff, the N5.2 & SC17 are both nice but parts are not as easy to get they are out there but may require some searching and ARC is really proud of thier stuff $$$.



Edited by fa1321 on Aug 05, 2011 - 09:28 AM.

I have seen quite a few H18s really cheap but they were the really old ones which I have heard are super heavy. Did all the H18s have a furler? I think I might have to rule the H17 out.

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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Look at this thread about broken hulls and you might want a "heavy" one. I am looking at that cheap 18 tomorrow as a parts boat for mine. One hull has a small crack.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ms/viewtopic/topic/12598

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Pete Knapp
Schodack landing,NY
Goodall Viper,AHPC Viper,Nacra I20
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Hmmm well that $800 in ma is looking nicer! There is one in duanesburg too but its the mid 80s one and he wants 2800

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Scott
Something soon hopefully
Saratoga Springs/Alexandria Bay
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