A friend was selling a 1977 Hobie 14 and I wasnt really sure I wanted it but took it anyhow. What a completely wonderful surprize it has been sailing it and now I would have a very hard time parting with it. It seems to be a great "easy to own and set up" solo sailing boat and Ive been extremely pleased with both the speed and the wind range it will handle (Im even getting the high wind tacks down sort of).
Anyhow, one of the reason I originally bought it was to let my 9 and 11 year old boys take it out but the boat lives on a high mountain lake in Colorado which can have some big wind and waves and I think the boat might be a little over thier heads despite both of them having a fair amount of sailing experience.
However, Im wondering if there isnt a storm sail available that I could possibly have a seperate boom on so that either sail could be easilly put up and when the kids used the boat, I would rig the small sail? From what Ive seen so far, they would have a blast and I almost feel comfortable with the boat as is but not quite... (the lake is at 8700 feet and it never gets very warm).
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