I have a summer house in Maine, and I was looking at buying a hobie 16, the lake I am on is only about a mile by 3/4 (the wind usually blows the length of the lake) and has an area of about 425 acres. is this too small for a hobie 16?

thanks

I'd say that's borderlining it. I mean it is definately enough room to sail around, but you might get bored after a while going around the same area all the time. Then again I dont know much about sailing in lakes. I sail in the ocean, and there's plenty of room there. Perhaps when some people who sail on lakes respond they will have some more definitive stuff to say. However, if you get a trailer with it then you can at least occasionally take it to another bigger body of water to sail.

I sail mine on a smaller lake then that 90% of the time.I put out two marks and set an upwind downwind course.Works great for boat handling skills.At times the size of the Lake frustrates me but I have Lake Superior 15 miles down the road when I need the challenge of good wave action,and long rides.Often times especially in the summer the winds on the small lake are better than the winds on Superior

The lake I used to sail on is about 50% of the size of the lake you are planing to sail on... A few people sailed Hobies and Darts there... Keep in mind that you will tack a lot and that the legs between the tacks will be short - not much time to get on the wire. You might want to think about a 14 or a wave...

hey, thanks for the advice, and another question, could i leave it in the water for the month that im up there, or should it be taken out every time? (if i do in fact get one it will be an older boat)

thanks

Take it out every time or you'll ruin it.

yeah these things aren't meant to be left in the water and if you have an older one it might take on a little bit of water that you want to drain every time.
that's surprising that the wind on a small lake is better than in lake superior. I have some friends here that go up to a lake some summers and they said up there the wind is horrible compared to the ocean. I guess it all depends on the region though.

The Lake I sail on has high elevation.Lake Superior in the summer is a fairly light air lake,the big winds come in the fall.

ahh, that makes sense

Don't you guys remember "the gales of November?" I spent 5 years on the Keweenau going to school. The fall has nuclear winds.

John

On Superior we also get our version of the Freemantle doctor.15-20knts of thermalal wind 3-5 ft waves great fun.

I agree with that size of a lake being 'marginal'. -But it's better than not sailing at all.

It does get boring sailing back and forth across a small circle, if you are by yourself. But with friends and some beer, it is quite entertaining! Also, a slow wind will make a small lake seem HUGE. If the wind completely dies, and you forgot your paddle, hand-paddling will make the lake into an endless ocean! If you flip you boat, you won't need Gary's Solo-Right.-You just float to shore and walk the mast back up.

Seriously, get the Hobie. It will be fun enough. The wind is never the same, so there is always different experience each time you sail. The wind is steady, or puffy, or punchy, or light, or moderate, or heavy, or rising, or shifting, or...

I agree about the beers making the ride less monotonous. Not too many though. I lot of people around here will get totally trashed and then when they go to relieve themself over the side of the boat they fall in and drown.

No need to use the side of a Hobie-16. The tramp on a H-16 is laced with a convient place to 'dangle' through!

hahahahaaha. very nice. most of the incicents I spoke of were in fishing boats actually, but I figured it's probably a good idea not to be completely hammered and driving any kind of boat, if you dont fall off you might wreck it.