Hobie Cat Forums

Fresh water boat. Includes 2011 Karavan galv. trailer, sail box, Cat Trax, SNU snuffer. Mast rotation moved to mast base, adjustable from trapeze. Great entry-level boat for F18 racing!

$7200

It might be possible to arrange delivery to within ~300 miles of the Chicago area, or along route from Chicago to Florida.

RCSchulzZ
EhOhEll

SixTreyZeroTooSevenTooTooSevenTreySeven

I am a seventeen year old and I am really into hobie cats. I was going to get a hobie 16 but it sold before i jumped on it. The only boats I have sailed have been melges boats, E's, C's, MC's, X's. These boats are fun but nowhere close to the speed of a catamaran. Would the jump to a F-18 be to big for me or is it a reasonable boat? I have sailed 2 months, 5 days a week, every summer for the past 5 years.

You could easily learn to handle the boat. It is a 2 man boat, just keep that in mind.

When I went to buy mine, I asked at the Catsailor forum if it was possible to single-hand a Tiger. I got a reply from a woman that she frequently single-handed a Tiger. That's all I needed to hear and I proceeded to get one.

With your experience CJ you'll be a shoe-in, just DON'T capsize!!!! : )

I find a second person gets in the way a bit. However, I would not learn sailing on a Tiger because of the cost or repair, etc. Also you are quite busy and a second person is useful as ballast on a strong day : ) and don't capsize single-handed. Even two-handed capsizing it is a problem. I've only done it once when the switch on my traveller ratchet block, switched directions and I couldn't let out the sail in a particular big gust. Fatigue from a full afternoon of max speed played a part also ; ) I taped the switch after that.

I was a very proficient windsurfer for years (won lots of races) and then had a H14 for a couple of years and could sail that very proficiently.

_________________
Cheers
Alan

What makes the tiger more difficult to right than a 16? Is it just the extra size?

Honestly it was the first time I tipped any Hobie so I couldn't say for sure. Maybe a 30' mast, probably inexperience on my part. I tried moving the sail as you would for a windsurf water start and other tricks like sitting on the stern. I tried my homemade version of the righting pole that sells on Catsailor. There was two of us.

The bigger they are the harder they are to right I guess.

_________________
Cheers
Alan

A Tiger without the spinnaker shouldn't be much harder to sail than an H18 (First cat I ever sailed, and I sailed an MC before that).

Adding the spinnaker on light air days is definitely a good way to ease your way in - Sailing the spinnaker in 15-20 is unbelievable, but you gotta re-program your tiller arm as all your instincts will be backwards.

You need at least 2 solid people to right the boat. Its a much bigger boat and a simple matter of mass and leverage.

The comment about expensive repairs is one to consider but shouldn't stop you. You have to be very careful with rudders and daggers - they are expensive and the daggers go much deeper. Used sails are tough to find and generally rather expensive as well. I won't even talk about new ones...

All that being said, the boat is much more efficient, goes faster, and more rewarding to sail. It is an awesome platform to learn F18 sailing. I spent last summer learning the finer points of F18 sailing on a Tiger club boat and finally decided to jump in and purchase an F18 this winter.

As for the boat in question, I've sailed with (against) it several times on Lk Michigan and can vouch for the condition and care that has been taken. I'm sorry to see it for sale, but hope someone in the area will pick it up, enjoy it, and use it well.

_________________
Jeff R
'88 H18 "Jolly Mon"
Sail Michigan's Great Lakes in 2013
cramsailing.com

I'd like to do a comparison for you.
Hobie wave = bike with training wheels
Hobie 16 = old VW Beatle
Hobie 18 = family station wagon
Hobie 20 = Cadillac
F18 = exotic sports car
Hobie 21 = luxury liner minus the fire
Now, I'm new to the Tiger but not new to sailing catamarans, I flip over less as I get older, experience? Maybe but righting a cat is no problem if you know how. Choose a boat like you choose a car. What do you drive?
Whatever you end up buying never sail alone! Even if a second boat is sailing with you make sure one boat has 2 people! (Exception being a Wave or 14)
Learn to right the boat in practice not when it catches you off guard.
Find a catamaran mentor not a dinghy, mono slug, windsurfer or kite boarder to help you with not only how to sail but how to maintain your boat.
Good luck! And hang on!