Finding crew is becoming more and more difficult. My 18 is a great boat but needs crew to sail safely as I am usually the only boat out. I need a boat that is fast, easy to rig and capable of withstanding years of beach landings.
I have looked at the H14 turbo but with my size its just a pitchpole waiting to happen, I'm 6'3" 200lbs. The H17 could be the answer but not really interested in a wing seat boat. F16s really grab my attention but seem fragile and expensive at this point in the game but might work. An A cat is completely out of the question. The Nacra F17 sounds like a good fit but I know little about it or the Nacra line in general.
So, if you wanted a fast, durable, spin capable, solo rightable cat what would you choose and why?

H16. Easy to set up by yourself and sail single handed.

Waves are even better as they are easily righted.

I have a 16 and its a good boat but not what I'm looking for. The 16 can't be righted solo with out a bag or something for extra weight. I can't begin to imagine sailing a trashcan with rudders, ever! I don't like the ride of the curved hulls on the 16. I prefer a flatter hull design like the H17 over the H14 or H16 shape. Any other suggestions?

Hobie Wave
Hobie 14
Hobie 17
Hobie FX/One
Oh yea, I like that I17r too.

I think this question has been asked 100 times, and since I think I am almost in the same boat, I read the threads with interest. The F16 proponents seem most persuasive to me.

I'm a little surprised you can't right a Hobie 16 at 200 pounds... really?

Dart 18 or Nacra 5000 (5.0) would fit the bill.. Hobie 16 class speed 2 up... hobie 17 speed single handed.

Skegs and hull design form you want plus a boomless main.

H 16, F17, or any of those boats arent exactly single hander ocean boats, but at your size maybe. I wouldnt want to pull any of them up the beach by myself though.
An FX one my fit your bill...or an A Cat---Marstrom only

If you are serious about beach landings, I would leave out the A-cat and the FX one. F17, is a maybe, but I don't know.

Now if you are talking about stopping out in the water and then pulling it up on the edge and then using cat trax to move it the rest of the way, any boat would do.

Lets put it this way, most new boats aren't going to take beach landings all of the time like the TheMightyHobie18.


Mike

I've righted both a Nacra 20 and F18 solo on multiple occasions (at 180lbs). The 16 should be relatively easy to right and I would have to say based on toughness and prowess through the surf that the 16 would be the way to go single hand.

I was interested to see that some are not allowed to capsize with their wife as crew. I made that mistake last month. We could not right the boat at 330 pounds. It just doesn't look like a task where skill is that important. Apparently it is though, and I wish I had that skill.

In the right conditions I can solo right the 18, in the right conditions. The FX 1 will not take repeated beach landings nor will an A cat. I cannot stop coming in due to swimmer traffic, I sail off Myrtle Beach. I hit the sand and slide to a stop, always! The I17R is looking more and more like the right fit for me. I tend to go in and out repeatedly all day long, typically with different crew each time if available. By crew I mean strange women on the beach, not actual crew. Nacra 500 looks interesting as well.
How does the 16 sail with a spin on it? Does the spin give the bows lift or drive them in? The 16 is a pitchpole master like the 14 but more bouancy. My 16 is an '81 with solid mast so I could give it a try.

Re the I17... Why hassle with the boards coming in and out. Any sand upwash and the board could get stuck etc etc. No boards on the tramp to worry about when you storm onto the beach. A mistake with the boards is expensive.... If you are not racing. I would think the 5.0 with a chute would be a good solution... Same hull construction as the 17 with less aggravation. Wouter has noted that it's gaining in popularity in Holland... same purpose that you plan for it.

Anything other then the TheMightyHobie18 will require attention to the bottoms yearly.

Mystere used a metal strip to protect the skegs of their 5.0 (same as the Nacra 5.0) so that could help you out on the wear and tear issue.

WETA!

I've owned an Inter 17 and now own a F16 (Stealth).

THe stealth is tougher on "beach" landings than the F17; boat are foam sadwich construction.

Inter 17 is 60kg more to pull around....

Inter 17 was harder to get back up from capsize.

IF you are really worried about beach landings (what sort of beach?) buy a skeg boat.

The Weta rocks, that would be fun at Myrtle

The FX-One should be fine with beach landings though, used to do that all the time.
It may need a bottomjob every year or so, but that goes for any cat.

That's not the case. I had my FX on the beach for 3 years and sailed through the surf at least 3 times a week. I fixed the nicks and dings every season just because that's what I do to the boats that I own, but there was never anything major. That was full-on on the sand storage. When I sold it this year, the bottoms were as brand new.

J

Partial to the Hobie 17, as I have sailed mine since 1987. Very rugged, and easy to sail. I am your size, and can right solo without any problems. The wings are a real plus. Keeps you drier and a major advantage in heavy winds. Price on the market is way down, close to the H-16's.

Caleb Tarleton
H-17 6446

Hey...I get to brag on my boat the Prindle 15! With almost the same sail area as the P16 main its' rating = 76.2 and weighs 260 pounds. It's a blast one-up and is OK for taking an occasional passenger, but it may be hard to locate one. Seen a few running P16 jibs. My "dream" would be adding a hooter, and a square top,