Okay it sounds stupid, but what I am wondering is IF I disassemble the Hobie and want to carry the pontoons and the mast and boom on the roof of my Town and Country minivan does anyone see a problem with this for a loooooong journey? Also I am looking for information on a front hitch for a 1997 Town and Country. I've got an idea for a hitch extention that will allow me to carry a long load on the roof. I want to carry a 26 foot sailboat mast. Does anyone know how/where to look for the front hitch unit?

Thanks
Greg

Buying a reciever and a trailer, sounds a lot less complicated

Faced more or less same problem myself: modified my new trailer so it could hold H16 when disassembled. Must admit a large part of my cargo capacity (10' box on trailer) got lost to store all the metal sections of the trampoline, rudders, sail etc. (Due to shape impossible to store economically, heavy stuff too) Fixed both hulls rather high (± 5 feet) which meant weight lifting !! Od banana shape with studs sticking out nasty. Definitely not an easy shape to fix firmly. Try this before with a single hull on a flat area, you will be disappointed!
Resuming: I disassembled my Hobie to avoid driving 2x 1700 km across Europe with a 8 feet wide trailer but found the advantage doubtfull. Lot of additional work and probably most important: the weight of both hulls high on the trailer made it feel unstable (and caught a lot of side-)wind. Needed also at least 3 people to lift hulls on the frame. Don't know how high you will have to lift the hulls to put them on your roof but I would recommend a try-out first. If it's going to be a regular job, I would reconsider seriously. Or buy a Dart or Top Cat instead (more easy, less part, less weight).

Hobie 16 #99173
The Netherlands
Europe

Thanks for telling me your experiences. I think you are right....unless it is a one-time job (it is in my case -I only want to do this once just to get it back home)then it would be inefficient and too time consuming to do. I am currently travelling down a different path. Buying another Cat AND Trailer out in California and bringing both boats across country on the same trailer. It looks to me that if I disassemble the Hobie 16 I can slide the pontoons between the pontoons of the still assembled cat. Then hang both masts on the same support post and I'm home free. The weight doesn't appear to be an issue and certainly I wouldn't have your issue of the load being top-heavy so I think it will work. I'll let you know how I make out.
Thanks again, Hope we talk again.
Greg

Greg,

I am pretty sure the max weight for the roof of most SUVs and minivans is about 100lbs. Not to mention the windage those hulls could catch. You may want to check your vehicles owners manual before you try...you wouldn`t want to find yourself suddenly driving a convertible!

Dave

Good point, Dave. Especially if it rains!!!
I checked with Chrysler and thaey said 150 lbs. max on the roof racks but now I'm passed that point and I'm going for the trailer. Too much to worry about and dragging a trailer is the way to go it seems to me.

Thanks for your reply,
Greg

I realize this post is old but for the record, when I bought my H14 in Halifax, I simply put some inexpensive blankets under it (the hulls) and since my Toyota Sienna had no roof rack, I ran some ratchet straps (ouch) through the sliding doors in the forward area, and through the rear windows (in the aft section) Then I ran some rope from the front and back of the van through the tow hooks to secure it some more. Wasn't pretty and some would not do it but sometimes any port in a storm. The roof was fine. The front sliding door had a tiny bit of paint damage where the straps touched going around the door frame. Probably some duct tape there would have been a good solution. Also where the strap went through the door there was a bit of wind noise and rain of course would have probably migrated through there but it wasn't an issue. My older van had a rain gutter for putting roof racks on.

The rest of the boat was inside the van.

Drove to Montreal (13 hours)

Remember to point the pylons at each other with the round side of the hulls on top so the top is flatter as this will reduce windage.

I have since built a trailer but at the time it was my option.