I've owned and still own a Prindle 16 and have sailed often on Hobie 16's in the past both in races and recreationally. I'm located in Europe.

I've sailed the Prindle 16 alot solo and even raced it in my club championships as a super sloop (main AND jib). I weight 180 lbs. I found the Prindle 16 to be better suited to mixed solo and doublehanded sailing. I can right the Prindle 16 solo (with some skill) but not the Hobie 16. Don't ask me why.

Pitch pole factor; As somebody wrote earlier you learn to sail the boat that you own so there is not that much in there. Personally I found the P16 to be better balanced and not susceptable to the backward capsize. The P16 hulls do have more volume in total and especially so in the bows. Having said this; the P16 is also pitchpole sensitive than more modern cats like the nacra 500.

>Are Prindles still made today?

-No

>And how hard are spare parts to find?

I used Hobie 16 parts for the blocks and other small fittings and only the castings and rudders are Prindle specific but these are still produced and sold where I live. Sail can still be ordered at any sailmaker. Online stores like Murrays still offer Prindle 16 parts.

>>Does the hobie 16 sit higher off the water than the prindle?

That is what is often said but it is not true. Most definately not in the sense that it is significant.

I found that a well setup Prindle 16 will go to weather (upwind sailing) slightly better than a Hobie 16. On a P16 you can outpoint H16's. I also found that Hobie 16's will run better (sailing downwind or broad reaching) than a prindle 16. Around the course the two are pretty evenly match with something like 1 or 2 % difference in performance overall. Don't look yourself blind on yardsticks as these are skewed by the depth of sailors and related skills in the H16 class. The H16 class has an very active following the Prindle 16 does not.

Weakpoints of the P16 are : The ruddercastings (they break easily) and the rudderlock down mechanisme (These need to be well maintained)

The strong points of the P16 are : beams fitted directly to the hulls and therefor stiffer overall. More forgiving sail characteristic, better running gear (ballbaring travellers and blocks)

Wouter