Thanks for the additional input, Bill. I know my post above sounded somewhat snarky, and I truly appreciate the tone of your reply. It just gets tiresome when almost every time the H16 is brought up on here there's a comment on how "easily" it pitchpoles.
FWIW...I've owned and been sailing H16s pretty dang hard for~30 years and would estimate that I've pitched less than ten times. All of those were in a good blow, and most were when intentionally pushing to find the edge and learn how to deal with it. Obviously, crew weight needs to be out and aft to help keep leeward bow up. The higher the wind, the more sails need to be travelled out and sheeted harder (main downhauled harder) to flatten them (for speed rather than power). The boat needs to be sailed down right on the edge of stalling and pushed further down in the puffs...this helps keep the windward hull down (less pressure on leeward) and causes the boat to be spit forward like a watermelon seed. At some point, one will start hearing the fat lady sing, and it's time to bail. I would not argue that that point is at a lesser windspeed than other, similar boats, and that the consequences may be more dire with a bow that has less volume and is shaped like the fluke of a boat anchor. However, good boat handling (which applies to most beachcats) can minimize the occurrence of the dreaded "P" word and all that boat-biting, flesh-bruising, and Peter-Panning.
A few of other tips, yoram...
Can't stress enough how beneficial it is to get involved with and learn from (hopfully local) other beachcat sailors in person. Find a local club if you can. Also, even if you have no interest in racing, a visit to a nearby beachcat regatta is a good way to meet people and learn. (Offering to buy the beer is usually a good way to lubricate the knowledge transfer process.)
Tons of helpful H16 info on Hobie's H16 product support page (
https://www.hobie.com/support/hobie-16/) and FAQ Forum (
https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=18)
Also on HCANA site: Tuning (
https://hobieclass.com/hobie-tuning/) and Hobie Hotline (
https://hcana.prepflag.com/hotline-archive/)
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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
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