Need to change to a smaller boat from our Hobie 18. (My back is aching from dragging this boat onto the beach.)

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Kim

F16 is around 235lbs compared with 400 for Hobie 18.

Mark.

The F16 is THE way to go. So much lighter!! And it flys!!! We have loved ours. Check out the blade at http://www.vectorworkssail.com/f16.html

If you are sailing a Hobie 18 you are on the low-end cost and maintenance-wise for boat ownership. If you are not interested in racing and want just a lighter performance boat start looking at an older A-Cat in the 200lb range. You will get it cheaply, it will probably have aluminum mast, that is good cost-wise. It is heavier than the racing ones and that is why it will be cheaper. Still a fine ride and easy on the back compared to 400lbs.

Later,
Dan

i have a supercat 17 thats very fast with a 29 foot stick and it pretty light.... heck even my SC 19 is lighter than most 18' cats out there

If the Hobie 18 "fits" your sailing requirements, except for the beach drag, I suggest you keep the Hobie 18 and buy some beach wheels, at only $500 that will be much cheaper than any other lighter cat. If after you have had them for a while you then decide you want to buy a newer, lighter cat, you can keep the beach wheels for the next boat. If you want to get into racing, find the fleet nearest you and see who has what for sale, ask a lot of questions, you will find the answers there as they have all been down that same road.

Dan:

he can check www.usaca.info This add is a little old, but something like this is what you mean I think.

5/24/2006 1987 AHPC Boyer Mk II. Excellent entry level A Class boat. Kevlar hulls, aluminum cross beams and mast. Lots of recent upgrades. Boat weighs slightly more than 200 pounds ready to sail. Comes with Seitech beach wheels, but no trailer. Carbon mast and/or trailer may be available for additional money. $3000. Ed Bourguignon edbo@spiritone.com 360-606-7041

Doug

Good, older A class is a good idea and a jib is easy to add.
Quality beach wheels make a huge difference but you may already have that.
Light back stretches go a long way to keeping you in the game.

Gang:

Also a Mystere 4.3 is a GOOD smaller boat. I love mine and it handles me at 200 and grand daughter 110 fine.

Doug

Doug, is that boomless? If so do you have any photos of the jib sheet block arrangement? Also how does it set rotation?

Jib sheet is like most other, except no moving of jib cleats. It is fixed permanent mount. No roation adjustment, but doesn't seem to be a problem. Yea it is boomless, I really like the boat as a trainig platform till I get the Blade,I am going to sell the Hobie 17 and give the 4.3 to grand daughter.

DOug

You are a good grandad.
My anti-rotation is set by setting this outhaul which also flatten the bottom of the sail. The boat has a reversed spanner for over rotation.
As there is no factory setting for this boat I will go with a track so i have some chance of setting correrctly.
Thanks.