Matt to be honest the current spinnaker the Hobie USA sells is not much more than a over grown jib with little if any performance benefits, I've used it and sorry to say it really was not much good. I do use the Trapseat spinnaker, which adds a lot of performance to the H16, as a spinnaker should. On the NAHCA website where it notes proposed H16 changes it indicates the following: HCE is working to refine the present up-dated system but to add optional snuffer system. Matt have you heard anything about the HCE snuffer system as this is the system the H16 should have for open and spinnaker events. The snuffer is easy and fun to use, plus you still get all the benefits of a standard spinnaker.

We have recently updated the cut of all of our spinnakers to be more in line with the current thinking. Still, the 16 spinnaker will be small and high aspect. It is a high performance cut, not optimized for light air.

Check out the latest spinnaker snuffer system used on the Tiger. The mid pole "trumpet" design is what they are leaning towards for all Hobie snuffers.



The link below is an article about various systems including an early review of the trumpet design:

Snuffer Systems Review

Do you know what the H16 trumpet spinnaker system will sell for yet Matt? You say the spinnaker is not for light wind sailing and I am thinking one could also purchase a bigger spinnaker for the system as well. Is there another mast tang up higher on the mast for the spinnaker to connect with?

I am a bit wondering if I read:

"Hobie Cat has no plans to make a spinnaker standard equipment on the Hobie 16. It won't happen."

Isn´t it the sailor who has to decide?

Nice pictures about the genacker are to be found under hobie-cat.net from HCE! They are happy to help out!

I thought I had posted an article similar to this but miraculous it DISAPPEARED!


Kind regards

Fritz

The reference to "standard equipment" is entirely the manufactures domain. This is what the builder sells the boat with, from the factory. Of course, the market effects what ends up as standard equipment over time. This statement was only a clearification of Hobie Cat's current and near future plans for the Hobie 16.

P.S. In answer to another post...
The current trumpet design adds a couple hundred dollars to the price of a spinnaker system. On the 16, the current system shown in that catalog with a "standard" pole is about $1,000 USD. You have to add a tang (approx 24" higher) for the spinnaker halyard. This is in the CompTip and is no problem.