Gearheads Random Ongoing Chat (GROC) 2017+

[Agent☣Orange]

I learned to sail on one of those back in the early 80s. Actually, I started out in some 12ft sail boat so I could learn tacking and jibing so being whacked by the boom wouldn’t hurt so much. Then, I moved up along with other students to a Hobie Cat then eventually part of a crew on a 42ft Morgan.

[pdexta]

At FGCU they have a waterfront area that they "rent" Hobie Cat's to students for free. I took them out a few times and those things are so much fun and surprisingly easy to learn. We did flip one a couple times and got in trouble, but that's part of the learning curve I guess. I've looked at getting one several times, but they just seem super expensive for what they are.

[minuteman048]

At FGCU they have a waterfront area that they "rent" Hobie Cat's to students for free. I took them out a few times and those things are so much fun and surprisingly easy to learn. We did flip one a couple times and got in trouble, but that's part of the learning curve I guess. I've looked at getting one several times, but they just seem super expensive for what they are.

The older 16's & 18's with the fiberglass hulls need a lot of love and care. The newer plastic hulls are what you want and for you a Hobie Wave would fit, plus you can get them with a back rest and a jib.



The 20's were pure racing machines and a lot to handle and the cabin cruiser 21 was big but family friendly. Could eeven put a small outboard on it.

https://www.hobie.com/sail/wave/

View image gallery for pictures. Will post a few pictures on my Cat from the 90's.

[minuteman048]

This was my model boat: Hobie 18 SX

Much more complex and tough to handle alone. To use the jib you needed a second person which helped to turn it around but was big enough for my family of four. Mast was 27 ft and heavy and need a winch to raise it and it weighed 400 lbs. Would love another one.




Tipped it once and although a pain in the A55, glad it happened so I was assured I could right it.

[pdexta]

The one I've used wasn't anywhere near that fancy. I'm sure it was just the most basic model they have.

The first time I went out we left with the wind absolutely flying, then getting back took forever tacking back and forth over and over.

[minuteman048]

The one I've used wasn't anywhere near that fancy. I'm sure it was just the most basic model they have.

The first time I went out we left with the wind absolutely flying, then getting back took forever tacking back and forth over and over.

Wave is basic sailing and the sail is very inefficient and does not even have a boom (good for novices to avoid getting hit with it). A lot of sail with a solid boom will get you back quick while tacking.

[minuteman048]

Fun, fun, fun and no ecu's.

[Pmarcuzzo]

Yup MM, twin hull, each hull had two berths and a head, the center area was the galley, dinner table & nav station. It was a Lagoon 410 model, 41 feet long and 24 foot beam. All setup for cruising, had a watermaker, wind & solar for recharging the batteries. A nice setup.

[Pmarcuzzo]

Couldn't fly a hull with mine!

[minuteman048]

Couldn't fly a hull with mine!

I wouldn't think so. You would need a taller mast and three times the sail and then it would probably break.