1998 H18?

Could this really be a 1998 H18? Most H18 are way older than that.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/calgary/hobie-18-catamaran-sailboat/1154649605?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

My family is getting heavier, so I am looking for an upgrade from H17 to H18.

_________________
H17

Well Hobie 18s were manufactured until the early 2000's, so it "could" be a 1998 boat, but some dead give-aways that it likely is not:

1) No updated front cross bar reinforcements (became stock in mid 1980s).
2) Old style 2-rivet mast step (updated early 1980s).
3) Old style rudder castings (updated late 1980s).

So likely the seller is off on the date by at least 15 years. The HIN would give you the exact year.

sm

Thank you srm. These are the details I was hoping to verify. I will ask for a picture of the HIN.

_________________
H17

What SRM said.....that is an oooold boat.

The lower swivel on the forestay was discontinued in the mid 80's.
No shroud anchor plates at the front cross beam.... so if he sailed 'hard', check the hulls for flex.
Ask about delam.

Steve, if this turns into a parts boat, would you be interested in the Magnum wings?
Shipping would be a pain...

Happy shopping

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Looks like clear anodized aluminum crossbar, too. That's a trademark of an older Hobie 18, as they later on changed it all to black anodized aluminum and called it the "Hobie 18 SE" (standard edition). I want to say they made that change in the late 80's. It also has the older "magnum" wings with clear anodized aluminum. Magnum wings were discontinued in favor of the SX wings when the Hobie 18SX came out (1989, I believe), but there's no guarantee they're original to the boat. The mast looks newer, as it is black anodized aluminum and looks to have a comptip.

Personally, I like the clear anodized, and it doesn't get hot in the sun. The boat might still be in good shape and worth a look, but the asking price is definitely very high. A late 80's H18 with wings in good shape should go for around $2,500 - $3,000, maybe $3,500 if it's in top condition with extras and someone really wants an H18 with wings.

_________________
Mike

'79 H18 standard 'Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP
'78 H18 (unnamed) sail #14921
'08 H16 sail #114312
'97 H21SC sail #238

Front crossbar is black (the sun glare makes it look clear in the photo. Sail number is about right for a 1998...I have a 2001 with sail number 16740. Ask for a photo of the serial on the transom...get both sides, that will answer the question of the question of the year of the hulls but the rest of the frame might be older...i had a 89 that got rear ended in 91, his insurance company didn't want to replace it with a new boat because that would have given me something of value so they bought two new hulls and a trailer....given new hulls the boat became titled as a 1991 even though it only had new hulls. Insurance would have saved if they salvaged the 89 and just bought me a new boat.

_________________
2001 H18 w/SX wings & spinnaker #16740 (purchased new)
1989 H18 w/SX wings #14565 (purchased new, sold 2000)
Would buy another if Hobie would build it.

My 2001 also has a 2 rivet mast step....I took delivery of it new. One forestay swivel is the short one same as mine but for some reason that boat has two swivels on the forestay (second one is longer) not sure why there are two. I can't see the rudder castings well enough to say for sure, but given the sail number, newer 2 rivet mast step I am willing to bet it very well could be a 98

_________________
2001 H18 w/SX wings & spinnaker #16740 (purchased new)
1989 H18 w/SX wings #14565 (purchased new, sold 2000)
Would buy another if Hobie would build it.

must be a mid-1980's boat without crossbar reinforcing plates. I can't imagine they were taken off.
with the amount of mixing and swapping of parts on these boats over the years, matching a sail number with a hull is no good way to guess age, unless one knows for a fact they are the original sails. obviously the HIN is the way to tell.

my 1988 H18 has OEM sail # 13842

_________________
Chris
'88 H18SE Arís

This is what my 1997 HC18 Formula looks like - and that's quite different!

_________________
information is not knowledge
Hobie 18 Formula, Hobie DuraGlide 10'10