Hobie 21SC

So I just purchased a P18 a week ago and been out three times already. I was thinking I may want to go bigger and get something that has wings for a dryer ride and have more room to handle more people when performance is not a concern. The H21SC looks interesting for running here in SO Cal beaches and doing Catalina island because of it's size, storage and dual trampolines. Does anyone have an opinion on this boat ?
I can't say much about the 21 SC other than that is almost twice as heavy and not much more sail area. Also keep in mind the front tramp isn't 100% useable for passengers under sail in most conditions. Wings are nice but you could fit wings to your Prindle which leads to my major point that the Prindle 18 is a really great, well built, versatile boat so give it some thought before you jump ship
After adding wings to my H18 I couldn't ever imagine going back, it feels like it doubles the size of the boat. I think just adding a set of wings would get you what you're looking for. No need to make a drastic leap to the 21.

Not sure if you can find OEM P18 wings or if they even exist... take a look at hobos getaway wings, I think with some minor fabrication they could be made to fit any cat.
My brother had one for about 20 years and loved it. Great for groupa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8HuO72VHn8
I checked one out a few years ago up at huntington lake. It could be a really good boat for Catalina trips. Pulling it up on the beach would be hard, the landings on Catalina can be steep. It would also be a cool boat for bigger groups.

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Geno Hacker
Lake Isabella, California
Supercat 20, 1/2 of a B-Lion, H18, P16, H14
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Anybody ever put wings on a Prindle ?
Anybody ever put wings on a Prindle ?
expoguyAnybody ever put wings on a Prindle ?


TurboRat from this site added wings to his prindles
Quote"I ran wings on my P19 and the P19MX with a spinnaker. Performance Cat was making them for awhile. Really enjoyed them."


The Prindle Escape had a wing option

https://www.thebeachcats.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=81481&g2_serialNumber=3&g2_GALLERYSID=bc39914d380a2dee35ea13f2b5f31fdd
I was in a very similar position to you a couple of months/weeks ago. I had a Prindle 18, but wanted more space for my family. I looked in adding wings, but the Hobie wings are about $1,200 and you would still have to fabricate them to make them fit. I ended up finding a nice Hobie Getaway for $2,000. It needed a new bow spreader and front tramp, but was otherwise in great shape.

I was really hesitant to get a Getaway because of the perceived lack of speed and cost frankly; however, now that I have it I am convinced it is the best do-it-all cat out there. Of course if racing is your primary focus, you may want to look elsewhere.

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Hobie Getaway
Prindle 18 - Sold
South Padre Island, TX
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I have a set of factory wings on my Prindle 18
https://www.thebeachcats.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=128490&g2_serialNumber=3
I will add more photos to this album in the next couple of weeks, my P18 is an hour away at the sailing club.
Mario keeps his P18-2 next to my cat. His wife has been hounding him to put wings on his boat after we went out with my wings mounted. I prefer sailing without the wings but put them on when I take 2 or three people out. It does seem to make the space double.
There is a Hobie Gateway a couple of boats down from mine. We took some measurements and the Gateway wings and discovered crossbars are farther apart then his P18-2. It looked like an easy conversion to do. just cut the aluminum seat down and drill some holes in the end caps and cross bars and bolt together. Mario showed his wife the Gateway wings. She said she wanted mesh wings not a hard seat wing. I have not heard any one complain about Gatewings before. My guess is you are moving around enough you do not get sore from sitting on the hard wing. He owns all the equipment to make the wings but does not want to add them to his P18-2. So far he has not made them.

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Prindle 18 w/ wings, Prindle 16, Prindle 15, current
Hobie 16 in rebuild
2 Hobie 18 past
NACRA 5.2 past

Saint Cloud, Florida
member Lake Eustis Sail Club
http://www.lakeeustissailingclub.org
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i have removed my wings for good
they change the handling of the boat too much
only have real use in 10knots or more wind (and it's very variable here).

and they double the time it takes to break down the boat for trailering home
I have never hiked out from the wings. When I have used the wings sailing solo in a breeze, and a big puff lifted the hull up enough to cause the leeward side to dig in to the water and the boat while capsizing, I always thought had the wing not been there I would not have capsized. Maybe I am fooling myself.
They are great for taking out people who are not cat sailors. It makes the boat a lot more comfortable. I also do not push the boat as hard when I have people aboard.
Because my wings do not tilt in when trailing or sit in the post holes backwards as on a Hobie 17. I have to tie them down to the trailer and it does add setup and breakdown time.

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Prindle 18 w/ wings, Prindle 16, Prindle 15, current
Hobie 16 in rebuild
2 Hobie 18 past
NACRA 5.2 past

Saint Cloud, Florida
member Lake Eustis Sail Club
http://www.lakeeustissailingclub.org
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MN3,

Do you have P18 wings ?
MN3i have removed my wings for good
they change the handling of the boat too much
only have real use in 10knots or more wind (and it's very variable here).

and they double the time it takes to break down the boat for trailering home

Do you have P18 wings ?
custom fabricated mystere 5.5 / 6.0 wings

http://asnstudios.com/images/wingq.jpg
now hanging in my garage



Edited by MN3 on Jul 31, 2017 - 03:24 PM.
Look like nice work and guess I will need to do the same. Something tells me I can't justify the expense but will keep looking
FloridaRoadieI have a set of factory wings on my Prindle 18
https://www.thebeachcats.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=128490&g2_serialNumber=3

OMG Roadie! I'm in verliebt

Please tell me the minute you post more Prindle Wing Porn. icon_biggrin

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Prindle 18
96734
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epoxoguy, these aren't rational decisions. The best reason to buy any beach cat is because you lie awake at night thinking about one particular boat. I paid way too much for a 21SC, sight unseen, in so so condition a little over a year ago and am still pouring time and money into it to get it as close to perfect as I can. (New sails should be arriving next week!) Yes, I could have gotten a H18 with wings in good shape for less than half of what I paid, but then I would have always wondered "what if?" about the 21SC. So, no regrets on my end. Do you love the 21SC? Can you afford it? Then buy it. If not then don't.

A little objectivity: the 21 SC is heavy. I keep it mast up on a trailer right next to a boat ramp at our local sailing club. I wouldn't want to drag it up and down the beach or raise the mast every time I wanted to sail. Parts availability is an issue. On the water, you aren't going to win many races against other beach cats. You'll still be faster than all but the hard core racing monohulls. I did blow right by a 40 something foot condo/catamaran. The storage and cooler are great. It's a pretty dry, smooth ride.

Good Luck! Tim