Hobie Cat Forums

I have both now both in poor state when found but now restored

the H17 has a bigger jib more the 18 jib size

Both have wings

I get the feeling the 17 is slightly quicker not much in it buit clearly I cannot sail them side by side (will get a friend to do it soon)

But if both cats are 1 up and the 17 has a 18 size jib would it feel a bit quicker?

expert views please:}

I would assume the 17 would be quicker due to the weight difference.
340lbs vs 425 (400 +25 for wings)

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1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

Especially since the 17 hulls are essentially cut-down 18 hulls.

Until you add more weight (crew) to the 17. With 2 or more on each boat, the 17 would be slower, I think, due to the lower hull volume. The 18 can handle more and keep truckin.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Both boats, when sailed by competent skippers, get around the bouy's in about the same amount of time.

Each boat has it's niche.

The 17 is a superior platform when sailed single handed.

The 18 is much the preferred platform for sailing with company.

How's that for diplomacy ! (from a guy that LOVES the H-18)

Stephen

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

You forgot to mention that the 17 is the best boat Hobie Cat has ever built.

Of course it is, It is the Hobie 18's "little sister"

I also forgot to mention that the Hobie 18 is the finest catamaran ever conceived, designed, engineered, and built.
By ANY catamaran manufacturer.
But hey, restating the obvious on the H-17 forum,
well,
I was concerned,
that it might be in poor taste.

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

It is true that the 17's hull design is based on the 18s. That's because Hobie didn't get it right the first time.

Discretion being the better part of valor, and in light of the fact that Matt is the PRO @ the 17/18 NAC's,

I will postpone further remarks/debate on this issue until the 8th of September.

( I may have been born at night, but I studied all night )

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

From my experience, the 17 points better, but off the wind the 18 is superior. Of course that's without what I presume is a "reacher" in which case all bets are off. If you can hold the 17 down with a reacher, it ought to hall the mail, and with less drag, probably beat an 18. But again, as mentioned, not only is the 17 lighter, but 18 has a crew, and without wings, less leverage.

The real solution is to get rid of both of them and get an FXOne! They rock!

Just remember. It's not the boat the makes the sailor. It's the sailor that makes the boat!

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The harder it blows the better it goes!

I agree the 18 is the best all around boat ever built. How many Nacra's can you launch into the air like JD and Froom did in the 80's and still have the boat in one piece.

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The harder it blows the better it goes!

They raced a H-18 SX in the Great Texas 300 this year and he finished 8th.
Only 3 1/2 hours elapsed time and 33 minutes corrected time behind the 7th place I-20.

He beat two I-20's and two F-18's one of them he beat scratch.

I know I know, two of those four capsized and had to be salvaged.

But STILL, 30 Plus year old technology and he pretty much ran with the pack.

The Old Grey Mare still has a lot of life left in her. It is a Battle Axe.

There are those that say the Old Hobie 18 is the most underpowered 18 foot platform built,
the truth is that you can take an old Hobie 18 out in conditions
that would have the new design F-18's laying on the beach like so many broken toys.

And possibly, therin lies the problem, just not enough money in replacement parts for the company.

I wish we could convince Hobie Cat Company that there really is still a niche for that tried and true old platform.

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

I agree , your ..ahh I mean my old 18 is heavy and would not do good consistently against a new lighter 18 or the new formulas but... when the wind comes up big she screams!!! Hobie 18,, simply the best.

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Bodhisatfa