Hobie Cat Forums

I am going crazy waiting to finish getting my boat ready to sail and for the warmer weather to take it out. So here is a question to get some activity on the H18 forum.

I used to sail the Hobie 18 and 16 alot back in the 80's before we had GPS to measure speed & I always wondered how fast I was going on that perfect high wind reach. Now that we have this tool what is the top speed people have seen on their Hobie 18's?

I have seen someone post 17 MPH on a Hobie wave recently and I am thinking the 18 may be faster.

I had mine going 75 mph one time.

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Bodhisatfa

I don't think the max speed on the trailer counts

Can't wait to find out myself. Same deal, had a 16 along time ago and now have an 18 waiting to go. Seems I saw 20 is about it. Wind gets too powerful for the boat and the slowing of the waves keeps her in check. It'll be so much more fun calibrating the boat using my wrist GPS speedo.

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H18, H17 & Various motor boats

The fastest i have recorded my hobie 18 was 17 knots last summer in Jamaica bay. It was recorded using my hand held radio with GPS.

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BrooklynSailor
Brooklyn, NY

Henry Pau and Sue Nadin-Davis clocked a GPS speed of 29.4 kph (translate all you want, I make that 18.4 mph or 15.75 knots) in a gust last Fall on the Ottawa River on the Royal George, Henry's 1982 H18. And they weren't even trying.

Check us out at http://www.kanatasailingclub.com

I think Phil and his son touched 30.1 kph the week before.

Not bad for a bunch of old geezers.

later

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1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

When I first got the 18 I couldn't work out the furler setup, took it out under main only and did 16.5 knots. I don't work out the peak speed, I use the Velocitek's average over 10 sec's reading. In 30 knots with main only, traveller out, held back by stays, boat did 16.6 knots. Could have done more but had left mast pin in and could not release due to it being tied on, had to cut it off to release. Always carry a knife, would have been one decent ride.

Got to 18 knots, 3 weeks later. Took me a year + to advance to 18.6 knots. Tried extreme winds, tried 650 lbs of crew etc - couldn't get past 18. So for me solo 18.6 knots was the best I was going to get. Tried offshore, with current assist my max is only 17.2 knots.

The above is with an old std main and very worn out jib. Duct tape is wonderful. With a spinaker, I have no high speed recorded runs due to the Velocitek being killed, but have exceeded my solo top speed. Will try again in our winter when our winds come through.

I got a GPS to clock me this summer. Am waiting with bated breath.
BTW what is the routine to get the data into the site that gives you your map drawing with speed checks on it (from the GPS).
I bought a Colorado 300 to record the data.

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Cheers
Alan

I don't know about the 18 but my Gps said 17.9 knots max speed on my singlehand 16 last weekend and I wasent really pushing it too hard. Did I mention it was in New England? Maybe 48 degree water is faster than 65 deg F in the summer?

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Cold water is denser so you were probably going slower As much as .002 knots!
Just kidding

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Cheers
Alan

Maybe denser, yet still slippery-er? I dunno, a didn't do so hot in Physics!!

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Well it could be that the density of the water being greater the boat floats higher so less friction ..... But then the water is thicker so more sticks to the surface so you are heavier. But then there are less flies on the boat so it should be lighter...

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Cheers
Alan

I have herd of the 18 doing over 20, how much over i don't know ?.
http://beachcatsaustralia.ning.com/