Hobie Cat Forums

So my local Craigslist has a complete spinnaker kit for sale, but I am not sure it is worth it. I have an '81 hobie 16 with the all aluminum mast and i have always wanted to put a kite on it, but could never afford it. But now that i have the chance, i have heard form a F-18 and Nacra sailor that hobie 16's are just not built for it and that i shouldn't bother. Then again i hear that in Europe that ever 16 has a spinnaker and that it makes sailing down wind so much more enjoyable/challenging. So the question is, is it worth it?
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/3254613827.html

Sailing with a spinnaker is quite the rush. For that price, I would seriously consider it. I sailed on a friend's Hobie 16 with spin outfitted and it was quite the experience.

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-Zach
West Lafayette, IN (school)
Melbourne, FL (summer)

I'd be all over that if I was close!
Better hurry and nab it or I will ask him to ship it!

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1980 H16
1997 Wave

I would do it, no question about it.

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2001 Nacra 20
84 H16 108123

The F18 sailors have a point. The H16 was not designed with a spin in mind and, compared to a Tiger or F18, seems to labor somewhat. Probably has something to do with the asymmetric hulls. Having said that though I sailed on my buddy's spinnaker boat most of last summer and it was a real hoot! Especially in lighter winds. We crashed a lot though. Its a little more work to recover the spin before righting the boat. If you like to push the envelope, by all means, get it. If you sail mostly for recreation with the wife and kids you should probably pass.

Spinnaker, absolutely !!! The H16 may not have been designed with a spi in mind but operates excellently with one. Contrary to popular opinion, the spi actually lifts the bows out of the water on it's downwind run.

However, I didn't see a snuffer included in the pics of the spi kit for sale. Make sure that come with it as that would be essential !!! Happy Sailing !!!

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Happy Sailing,

David

That is because that one comes with a pole (not as good as the snuffer system).Also the Spi is a different cut then the new ones,that cut is not as efficient as the ones they use now.The ones now are better designed for reaching.

On a semi related note, how hard is it to actually install the newer style spi kits? I've seen the routing instructions for the lines and have searched through these forums and others but haven't seen much detailed discussion about the difficulty. Any thoughts from those of you that have gone down this path?

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Happy Sailing,

David

So i caved and bought the kit . I have a few questions through on rigging the pole. All i see is the two wires on the pole that attach to the bow tangs, is there any other support needed? Also how would I pre-bend the pole and in what direction?

You have to tie the middle of the pole up to the main bridle wire/forestay junction. This is what holds the pole up when not using the spinnaker. It's also how you induce pre-bend into the pole. Pre-bend is such that the pole is concave down, i.e. the middle of the pole bends upwards.

sm