About to get my first boat.
I have been sailing before, sailed a 12m cat for a week. So I have some but little experience.
Found a decent Hobie 16 built in 2000 with everything to get started, lifejacket, gloves, harness, trailer, beach rollers, sails etc all for a decent price. To put it into perspective the same price as a brand new basic model Hobie Bravo, without trailer and with no extras
Being my first boat anything I should be looking for?
BTW Im from Australia



Edited by chrisb123 on Sep 30, 2013 - 09:08 AM.

soft spots on the hulls
esp around the tramp posts

anything really soft is gonna be time, work and money to fix

ask for a test sail - make sure everything works

take notes (and pics) when they rig it for the test ride - you may forget much of it otherwise

chrisb123

BTW Im from Australia

chrisb123, Welcome to TheBeachcats.com.

What part of Australia will you sail? What are the conditions like? Do you have beach access or launch from a ramp?

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Are soft spots that much of a major problem?
I'll definitely get a test ride, and I'll take some pics

I'll be sailing around the bay and at places along the south coast, conditions are generally good
There is plenty of beach and ramp access in many places

Here is a link with some information on H16

http://www.hcana.hobiecla…__%7C%2Fc20071%2F9268%2F

Search this forum for more info on used H16. There is a plenty good information on what to look for/watch/expect in a used cat.

For a $3000 or so, you should be getting a H16 in reasonably good condition, with normal wear and tear, but no soft spots.

--
Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
--

This isnt America, average price for a H16 is almost double what was offered

Boat seems to be in fairly good condition. Hulls looks clean no apparent wear or repair signs, sails, sheets, cleats, and other steel cables all look good

There are a few soft spots on the top of each hull around the tramp posts
The trailer has lots of rust on the wheels, axel and leaf springs otherwise in good condition. I rolled the trainer and it moves very freely

chrisb123

There are a few soft spots on the top of each hull around the tramp posts

That is surprising for a 2000 model boat, that's considered pretty new in most places. Are Hobie 16's hard to find in your area? Is this particular boat priced a lot less than usual?

It's possible, since this is your first Hobie, that what you describe as soft spots aren't they same as the deck delamination usually described as soft spots. How much flex is there? How hard do you have to press with your palm to make the deck move? Do you hear any crunchy sounds?

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

There is usually a couple for sale at any one time. The price of this is H16 is a lot less then usual H16 price.

There is a difference in firmness between the sections I call soft and other parts that are not. The deck does not feel or look warped. I can press down a few mm I guess. The soft parts are all consistently soft.
I didnt check every bit of the hulls but one part for certain was crunchy when I pushed it

I would strongly suggest taking some pictures and measure extends of the soft areas. Small soft spots can be fixed, but big could not be repairable. Just post the pics, and let our soft-spot experts advise.

--
Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
--

hmmm, numerous soft spots about the size of a sheet of paper all along each each
I did find an excellent H14 turbo for 1/3 the price with a registered trailer in good condition