Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:47 pm

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:38 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:28 am
Posts: 4
Hi Guys
I am planning to get into F 18 class. One of the boats that I am considering is Tiger. I have questions about changes in the design over the years in production. Are there any vintages to avoid ( reason ??) or to prefer (wt, improvements in hull design or ??).
What are upgrades that are necessary to make Tiger competitive to newer designs ??
Any advice would be appreciated !!!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:06 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 1:12 pm
Posts: 1464
the Tiger is a great all around F18 platform. There have been some upgrades over the years to keep it competitive as the class evolved.
You'd want to make sure it has fresh sails with fully battened Jib and the STX mainsail. There is a slightly flatter spinnaker within the last few years as well. Self tacker system and trumpet snuffer as must haves - but i'd guess that just about any Tiger you find for sale will have most of these mods already done.
Hope that you find what you're looking for - best of luck!

_________________
Jacques Bernier
http://www.hobie.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HobieCatCompany


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:38 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:28 am
Posts: 4
How about design changes over the years, such as hull design modifications, spinnaker retrival system. Which one is considered the best . Some people are talking about mid pole vs end.
Any changes in dagger boards design or length?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:48 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 1:12 pm
Posts: 1464
I haven't seen anyone using an end pole system in about 10 years - everything is midpole, the Hobie systems all work great - so natter which one is on the Tiger - I'm sure it will meet your needs - systems are just personal preference - they won't really make you faster. The hulls haven't changed much beside just the bridle tang location (in 2007 they moved down lower) and the hull construction resins switched to vinylester from polyester - daggerboards haven't changed. (the Wild Cat has had some changes with that - but not the Tiger)

Rudder system got upgraded in 2007

_________________
Jacques Bernier
http://www.hobie.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HobieCatCompany


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:51 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:28 am
Posts: 4
Hi Jacques'
When did you switch from poly to venylester ? I've read somewhere that somebody used wildcat boards on tiger , I guess to improve upwind performance ??


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:51 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 1:12 pm
Posts: 1464
they switched materials around 2007 - you wouldn't notice this in the least though...

You could probably adapt other boards with making some customer spacers for the trunks - longer higher aspect ratio blades would be a benefit in light wind - but you pull the boards up so much once you get to trapping conditions or higher (even the Tiger boards we pulled up partially in strong winds)

_________________
Jacques Bernier
http://www.hobie.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HobieCatCompany


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:05 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 1054
Location: eureka,california
I have a Tiger to sell if you want one.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=46351
all upgrades and ready to race
11,500 with trailer and cat boxes.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:03 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:15 am
Posts: 104
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
I bought an 04 Tiger with all the upgrades except the sails. newer rudders, spin sheeting position moved forward, newer snuffer, mast rotator at base of mast, the bottoms re gelcoated. $7K w/o trailer. I was sailing a Hobie 20 for 18 years and after going for a ride on a Inter 20 I had to go get a boat with a chute ASAP. Searched all up and down the west coast (I'm in Hawaii) for a F18 and finally decided on the Tiger. Solid platform and can still light it up. If you want to race and be competative with the big boys then go get the latest and greatest $25K boat but I'm doing just fine on my boat learning and having fun. Only reason for no new sails yet is that I'm beating the other Tiger, WildCat and the Hobie 20's with the old sails. I think it has something to do with the special older lock nut on the end of the tiller extension instead of the loose nut that is sold separately. He he.

If you are like me (cheap) then go online and read all the tuning guides, check the forums, look at craigslist in the areas that F18s are racing figure out how much you want to spend and then go get her! I had to buy from a long distance so I didn't get a test ride but I kind of knew what I was getting into.
Good luck!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:53 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:28 am
Posts: 4
Thanx Dray !!
When did you buy, just recently or ?? Are there certain wind/sea conditions you do well and what are conditions you struggle with ??


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:21 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 1:12 pm
Posts: 1464
Here's one I saw recently for sale in California its an 06'
http://www.thebeachcats.com/classifieds ... r-f18.html

_________________
Jacques Bernier
http://www.hobie.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HobieCatCompany


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2013 6:50 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:15 am
Posts: 104
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
I bought my boat a year ago and shipped it to Hawaii for $545. The previous owner was great at helping disassemble and shipping.
I grew up sailing in light air and now have been in Hawaii for 26 years so the heavy wind doesn't bother me at all.
I'm comparing to a Hobie 20, my last boat here so bear with me.
The Tiger is way better upwind and of course downwind with the kite. A little underpowered in the 7-8 knot winds (that could be me with tuning yet) I mostly sail in flat water in 15knot winds which is very fast. I've been outside in the Pacific ocean swells and wind waves a couple of times and the Tiger is way better in the swells! I can feel her excellerate in the swells when the 20 would just slow or try to push thru the waves then pop up.
I haven't been around or on other F18's like the WildCat (Jacques has that knowledge) but if you sail in choppy waters or have to sail out thru surf then get the Tiger. If this is your first F18 get the Tiger.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Looking at Tiger
PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 12:10 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2003 4:39 am
Posts: 92
The Tiger is still a great platform and for the money hard to beat. The newer designs are more powered up in light air (longer boards help but the rig is more efficient too) and easier to sail downwind in breeze (less pitchy) but with the right technique the Tiger's are still in the game. Really nice work Hobie did on this platform such that its stayed race competitive all these years.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group