Hello All! I am glad to have found this informative forum <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I am in the market for a Hobie Wave and have some questions...

1) Classic vs. Club. I understand there are differences like cup holders and quicker setup with the Classic, but why is the Club referred to as being the 'better' model in this forum?

2) How do Waves built in the 1990s differ from those built in the 2000s? What are the differences/improvements that have been made?

3) What is a 'traveler' for a Wave?

4) What year was the Wave introduced?

Thanks so much!

I will comment on the 07's, as that is what I researched and own. IMO the club is not any better in terms of quality or workmanship, just a matter of preference as to intended use. I have a classic, (or SE) model, and it has basically the same hardware, rigging, save for a couple xtra clips to make rigging faster. I had read that the SE rigging had less adjustablity, but my 07 SE came w/ 7 hole adjusters/clevis pins on the side and forestays just like the club. This is a rencent change I think. Early models had ligher rigging I understand. If you do buy used, you want to replace wires anyway, cheap insurance. Just get the club wires.

The club tramp is laced, tighter and more permanent (if can be taken apart, but it would be time consuming to reassemble) but otherwise the same tramp mesh material. It is just secured differently to make transport / assembly easier. The drawback is that the SE tramp cannot be laced taught like the club tramp. So it may sag some w/ weight on it. Not a big deal. If you intend to use it in heavy surf, and leave it assembled or trailered, then a club might be more appropriate. If you find an SE that needs a new tramp, and it has the slide rails as the newer models do, you can put a club tramp on it. The club tramp is actually quite a bit cheaper too.

The traveller is my next upgrade. It makes sail control much better. If you look at a H14 or 16, the traveller is the sliding rig on the rear crossbar which the mainsheet block attaches too. A club tramp is usually needed to make this upgrade, as the SE tramp uses big straps in place of where the traveller needs to be rivited, but I am working on a mod to workaround that. It will take relocating the velcro strapping w/ another method of lacing or securing. I am a tinkerer <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I think the first year of production for the wave was 1994-1995.

I am not an expert, so I am sure you will get other responses. Just sharing what I learned.

Good luck!

Jim

Well stated!

There have been some changes to the mast base system. The older models have a cup on the crossbar, newer have a ball on a post. Older boats have aluminum rudder castings, newer boats have the EZ Loc rudders.

The basic sail, hulls etc are unchanged.

The class rules prohibit a traveler. I really don't think it would be a big improvement anyway. Most of the sailmakers use a bottom batten that angles down to the clew, which hold the clew down when you ease the sheet for off wind sailing. In effect, it acts like a traveler.
Be sure to check the Wave Class Website at www.waveclass.org
for all sorts of information.
Rick

You are talking about a custom sail, right? What about the effect on a stock sail? I had a H14, and recall using the traveller alot. I don't intend to race, so I was considering the traveller. But maybe a better investment for me right now would be a upgrade to the mainsheet system. I am not impressed w/ the stock blocks. Still investigating that one.

Jim

I think the Wave works well "stock", but the traveler works great on the Wave! The Wave has very small bows. The ability to travel out and sheet harder (flatter sail) on a reach keeps the load on the bows down... less pitch pole... more control and therefore, more speed.

Actually, I have always been surprised at the decision to allow custom sails on the Wave. No Hobie Class association based rules would allow that.

Allowing other sailmakers makes the class more one-design and allows folks of different abilities and weight be closer in speeds.
Stock sails are cookie-cutter designed.., one sail for all, fat, skinny, tall, short, crisp helmsman, sloppy helmsman.
However, a big person needs more power than a light person. With after-market sails a big person can have a fuller sail designed which has more power.
A lighter person would want a flatter sail as they do not need so much power.
A fuller sail is easier to sail and has a larger band before going into an error zone, while a flatter sail has a narrower band of good zone. So, the crisp helmsman would opt for a flatter sail, while the sloppier helmsman might want the fuller sail.

And this has worked to perfection with the Wave Class. In Our local series races we do about 120 races per year (about 60 last year in Key Largo, and about 60 in Ohio, and in both cases, women and younger, lighter kids compete evenly with bigger folks -- We have 4 of us over 200 lbs). No one dominates the racing.., and that is pure one-design at its best.

And the Nationals two years ago was won by Kathy Kulkoski. Other women were in the top 10. Zach Grant weighed about 100 lbs and won the Worlds in Provo in the Turks and Caicos. Last year's North Coast Championship was won by my Daughter-in-Law, Leah White, who is just over 100 lbs.
And, on the other hand, I have won the NAs 3 of the last 4 years at 230 lbs.
No matter the weight, in the Wave Class it is anyone's regatta.

In other words, you can have a sail that fits your size and style built for you at a reasonable price. One sail for all is not the way one-design has ever been, i.e., Tornado, Thistle, Interlake, Lightning, et al.

Ever since I started sailing Hobies in 1980, I was told by all the top sailors in the TheMightyHobie18 Class that the first thing you did with a new factory sail was to take it to a sailmaker and get it redone or resewn. And for the same reasons I have described above.

Rick