For what its worth and at the risk of sounding sexist, I think an TheMightyHobie18 may be a bigger, heavier and more powerful boat than you want for yourself and two kids.

The TheMightyHobie18 is a great all around boat. The 1984 and newer models are slightly lighter due to changes in construction. As for racing the TheMightyHobie18 won't keep up with the latest designs but you should still be in the pack and having fun, especially if you add a spinnaker. Most long-time racers have raced the TheMightyHobie18 at some point so it should be easy to get some help in properly setting it up. It will hold you and the two kids OK and in fact might need that much weight if the wind kicks up. You can also add wings to it if you desire. The biggest downside of the TheMightyHobie18 is it's weight. At 450 lbs you don't want to have to drag it around alot. The mast is also a bear to raise due to the diamond wires and it's height. It is best to use some sort of EZ stepper to raise it. You will also have to contend with the daggerboards, which can be a pain if your solo sailing or sail in a lot of shallow water.

On the other hand, they are really hard to kill! I love mine, the flexibility to race, to sail solo or to put 4 or 6 kids on it is great. I never have to worry that my guests will crush or break anything. It is extremely predictable- I have never gone over in 4 years, and it runs like a frieght train in a good wind.
The only design issue is the dagger boards, and that is just not a big deal if you keep an eye on them and simply remember not too sail onto the beach with them extended. The Hobie 18 is also cheap and plentifull these days, at least out here on the Left coast. It's the most popular boat in our fleet! We usually pull a few boats over and let the kids use them as dive platforms while waiting for the wind!

Hey Frenchie:
Welcome to the world of sailing when you want and meeting new friends. I am very familiar with the waters of Lake Erie; we sail off a beach on the western end near Buffalo. I currently have a Hobie 18 magnum which I consider the best boat for this lake because I can power through the waves (they can get high in this shallow lake) and still remain stable.

But, catwoman was correct on the weight thing. My daughter is about 125# and very athletic and sails her own Hobie 16 because she can move it around easily and with the use of a winch, she can load it back on her beach trailer by herself. Our beach (www.wnycatamaran.org) permit allows us to keep the boats on a trailer behind the sand dunes.

If you're going to be raising your mast each time, think about how you're going to do it. We use the trailer winch to help step our masts at the beginning of the season or when we travel to a race.

Wyatt

Catwoman:

Just a note on the shredded H18sx jibs: They were probably left up in the sun and that will kill them when they are put under higher winds. They should have a sail snorkel. I bet Rick will offer one. I know you find one at Murray's for around $80.

Wyatt

Hello MBounds. I would love to be a part of someone's crew, however, on April 23-24 it will be impossible. What are some future races?

frenchtwist,

Head to Hobie Fleet 276's 2005 events page here and let us know when you're available. There are several H-16 sailors in the fleet that need crews on a regular basis (your kids are welcome, too!). Let us know you are coming and we can get an extra boat or two for the kids to play on.

You can contact me directly via the private message feature on this website or at mbounds(at)comcast.net.

frenchtwist,

If things don't work out with Fleet 276, the Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan will be conducting 8 regattas in Michigan this summer, beginning the weekend of May 21 at Higgins Lake. CRAM's website is www.websitemagic.com/cram. The schedule is there with the NORs and a section where you can register as an available crew. There are also links to other clubs like OCRA (Ohio Catamaran Racing Assoc.). I hope this helps.

Oooooh, I wish I could crew in a REAL racing regatta with REAL boats. All we have here is a drinking club with clapped out boats that never races when it's actually really windy!

CatWoman,

2 solutions to that problem:

1) Have a regatta. Invite a whole bunch of people to come play in your backyard. (Easier said than done, though.)

2) Travel to a regatta. Get the thing on a trailer and hit the road. There's a CRAM regatta in Benton Harbor, MI (see either of the links above). There's also CRAW. They have a whole bunch of stuff in Wisconsin.

Wanna see a "real" regatta? Come to CatFight in Muskegon August 19-21. There'll be close to 100 boats there. (Trusty computer says it's only 214 miles.) Leave in the middle of the day on Thursday and you won't have to deal with Chicago traffic.

You can take either of your boats to any of these events.