Hi all:

I got a standard 1981 H18 and I was wondering how much faster modern F18's and 20 foot catamarans actually feel in comparison. The handicap charts show how they line up compared to each other in a general sense but what does a hobie fox or f18 infusion feel like compared to an H18 in speed terms? Side by side is it going to be like getting passed on the highway?

Sorta like an F1 car compared to a K-car

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Greenville SC

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bacho

Sorta like an F1 car compared to a K-car

bacho

Sorta like an F1 car compared to a K-car

So a 2008 infusion f18 is going to be drastically faster than my h18 provided both are just running mailsail and jib?

The infusion is gonna be much more lively and accelerate much faster.

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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tbox

So a 2008 infusion f18 is going to be drastically faster than my h18 provided both are just running mailsail and jib?

Definitely noticeably faster on all points of sail (assuming equally skilled skippers). On mixed-fleet starts when I start with the F18's, F16,s, Nacra 20's etc. they usually gradually pull away upwind and sometimes I hang with the slower ones for a while, but the raw speed takes over.

It's really dramatic downwind when they pop the chute. If I am next to a spin boat at "A" mark, (because they have lapped me or started later) they pop the chute and are GONE.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Damon how does every thing factor on the reach or what ever the word is for running perpendicular to the wind? I am not strong on the lingo yet!

tbox

Damon how does every thing factor on the reach or what ever the word is for running perpendicular to the wind? I am not strong on the lingo yet!

I'm not sure what you are asking? The F18 will be faster on a reach as well, most of them will need to be double trapped in only 10 mph wind speed on a reach.

Tell us about yourself, how much sailing have you done? Do you feel you are sailing the stock Hobie 18 on the edge as fast as it can get and crave move speed? Have you topped 18 mph on your Hobie 18? Believe me it's hairy and on the edge when you are pushing 20 mph.

Do you have a nice soft sand beach to launch from? Do you always have good experienced crew? All these things make a difference on whether it would be a good move to go to something like a F18 Infusion, Tiger, or Capricorn.

These high tech boats are great machines but take a lot more care, setup time, and expensive parts than the Hobie 18.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Quote

I got a standard 1981 H18 and I was wondering how much faster modern F18's and 20 foot catamarans actually feel in comparison.

I upgraded from an h18 to a mystere 5.5.(which almost fits as a f18.) The difference is big. so is the price difference.
I have easily dropped 4k in sails for my cat in the past 5 years


I like think of it in car terms

h14= small 60's car
h16 = a nice 70's camaro
h18 = a nice 80's 80's corvette

modern f16/18 (C2) = Porsche
Nacra Carbon20 = Lamborghini

in catamaran terms, you are talking a few miles per hour difference..
but in a sport of inches... being beat by 45 minutes is a big deal



Edited by MN3 on Jul 16, 2013 - 01:23 PM.

I started with an H18 about 4 years ago, and just purchased a used F18 (C2) last December. The C2 is for travel racing with CRAM (and maybe Sarasota this fall - keeping my fingers crossed), and I keep the H18 stick-up on a perch on a nearby medium sized lake (800 acres).

Anyway, I love them both, but for different reasons. H18 is perfect for single, double, triple, or more handed rec sailing. Its relatively simple, quick and easy to set up and more-or-less bullet proof. The C2 is for racing. Plain and simple.

Upwind, the new boats point much higher and get a bit more speed (maybe a knot or 2 more) as their foils and sails are much more efficient.

On a beam reach, the huge jib on the H18 seems like a big gennaker and if its not as fast as an F18, its only by a little. That boat was built for reaching, and a beam reach in 15+ is a ton of fun - especially when the lee bow gets just a little too low...

Downwind with the chute up on an F18 is like Damon says: Unbelievable. Probably 2X plus faster. To answer the question in your terms it is like getting passed on the highway. You're doing 70 and F18 passes you at 100+.

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Jeff R
'88 H18 "Jolly Mon"
'10 C2 USA1193
NE IN / SE MI
cramsailing.com
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Hey Andrew where does my 5.2 fit in the cars? I am hoping maybe a 442 or Super Bee.

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Nacra 5.2
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sounds good to me

Quote

Hey Andrew where does my 5.2 fit in the cars? I am hoping maybe a 442 or Super Bee

I have a H-18 great boat. Two years ago got a Nacra 5.5, it is not a formula boat but does have a kite same basic set up as an F-17. The downwind is the biggest difference Launch the kite and away you go. The 5.5 with the kite is not as fast as an F-18 but it is faster than the Hobie 18.

As Damon eluded to, make sure you have mastered the 18, it is a lot of boat, tough and cheap, Dacron sails, thick hulls, bullet proof in most aspects and parts are available. The Formula boats are lighter, have mylar everything, thinner glass and in general just more expensive. They are also more sensitive to being sailed well. Until you are on the top of the H-18 or local fleet the 18 will last you a long time. JMHO, YMMV, Ricardo.

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Lake Perry KS
H-18
N-5.5 UNI +spin
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