Hobie Cat#Hobie 18

Alter opened a surfboard shop (a relatively new sport at the time) in the late 1950s, but his focus changed in 1961 towards designing an easily beached, fiberglass catamaran.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/sports/hobie-alter-surfboard-and-sailboat-innovator-dies-at-80.html | title=Hobie Alter, Innovator of Sailing and Surfing, Dies at 80 | work=The New York Times | date=31 March 2014 | accessdate=17 October 2024 | author=Hevesi, Dennis | quote=Only minutes from the beach, Mr. Alter was a familiar figure there, surfboard in tow. But like other surfers, he was frustrated when strong offshore winds were blowing, flattening the majestic wave tubes they so cherish. So he decided to use the time to work on his idea for a downsize version of a catamaran: a small, twin-hulled sailing craft that would skim the waves, not unlike a surfboard. It would give surfers something to do when they could not ride their boards to full exhilaration. ~. Since then, more than 200,000 have been sold worldwide, now at prices from $3,400 to more than $20,000. And the clientele has ranged far beyond the surfer crowd.}}

The impetus of this shift is attributed to a 1961 boat show in Anaheim, California, where Alter sold surfboards adjacent to the designer of the 1961 Aqua Cat 12 sailboat,{{cite web |author1=Photoboy |title=Before There Was Hobie Cats There Were Aqua Cats |url=http://pressure-drop.us/forums/forum/sailing-forums/multi-hull/3324-before-there-was-hobie-cats-there-were-aqua-cats |website=pressure-drop.us |access-date=10 December 2022 |date=3 April 2014}} which featured lightweight fiberglass hulls with an aluminium tube structure supporting a trampoline style deck for seating.{{cite web | url= https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/aqua-cat-12 | website = sailboatdata.com | title = Aqua Cat 12| publisher =| date =| accessdate =}} Following the 1961 boat show, Alter contacted Arthur "Art" Javes to tell him he was also entering the fledgling catamaran market.{{cite web |title=American Fiberglass Corp |url= https://sailboat.guide/american-fiberglass |website=Sailboat.Guide |publisher=Sea Time Tech, LLC |access-date=10 December 2022}} The first production Hobie Cat was launched on July 4, 1968{{cite web |last1=Schafer |first1=Wayne |title=The Birth of the Hobie Cat 14 |url=https://www.hobie.com/blog/birth-hobie-cat-14,429/# |website= hobie.com |publisher=The Hobie Cat Company |access-date=10 December 2022}} and featured a structure similar to the Aqua Cat, but slightly heavier with asymmetrically-shaped hulls that did not rely on dagger boards. This design was more readily beached than the Aqua Cat or Pacific Cat.

In 1969, Hobie released the Hobie 16, their most popular catamaran and the world's largest one-design catamaran class. Over 135,000 Hobie 16 Cats have been built. This was followed by many other similar beachcats in the 1970s and 80s as the popularity of sailing and Hobie Cats especially exploded… Hobie introduced the Hobie 18 in 1976, the Hobie 17 in 1985, the Hobie 21 in 1987, the Hobie 18SX in 1989, the Hobie 17 Sport in 1990, the Hobie 20 in 1991, and the Hobie 21 Sport Cruiser in 1992.

In 1996, Hobie introduced the Pursuit kayak, the first of a new generation of boats built using rotomolded polyethylene. This production method is less expensive and time consuming than the fiberglass molds used in the original series of catamarans, and results in a very strong and durable hull, but one which is not as smooth or light as those produced using fiberglass. After perfecting the rotomolded technique on a series small kayaks the company offered their first rotomolded catamaran, the Hobie Wave in 1994. The largest of the rotomolded catamarans, the Hobie Getaway was launched in 2000, then the smallest, the Hobie Bravo was launched in 2001. Hobie also introduced their “mirage drive” on their kayaks in 1997, designed to quickly and efficiently propel the boats through the water, while still allowing shallow draft operation, as the drive “folds up” against the bottom of the hull when not in use. Hobie kayaks began to quickly outsell the catamarans in the 2000s, and became a significant focus of the company, with Hobie introducing fishing and sailing variants, along with SUPs (first introduced in 2005).{{cite web | access-date=14 May 2024 | url=https://media.hobie.com/digital_assets/hobie-history-timeline-2015-background.pdf | title=Hobie History Timeline | publisher=Hobie Cat Company | website=Hobie.com}}{{cite web | access-date=14 May 2024 | url=https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=53496&hilit=Pearl&start=210 | title=Why Not the Pearl? | publisher=Hobie | website=Hobie.com}}

Hobie discontinued many of its catamaran designs starting in 2003, initially with the Hobie 17 & 18, then the Hobie 21SC, Hobie 14, Hobie 20 and Hobie Bravo, as the sailing market contracted and the boats were no longer selling enough to justify continued production. Sailboat sales lagged behind kayaks, thanks in part to the popularity of the mirage drive and Hobie’s rugged, high quality recreational and fishing-focused designs. Hobie continued to support all of the discontinued boats with parts and accessories, in many cases for decades after discontinuation. {{as of|2024|10|17}}, the production line consists of the Hobie 16, Hobie Wave, Hobie Getaway, and Hobie Mirage Island, and Hobie Tandem Island, along with numerous kayak and SUP models.

Hobie Alter sold the Hobie Cat Company to the Coleman Company in 1975. In 1982, Coast Catamaran (The official name of the Hobie Cat Company at that time) bought dinghy company Vagabond and its line of dinghy designs from Ron Holder and produced a series of dinghies (Hobie Hawk, Hobie Holder 12, Hobie Holder 14, Hobie Holder 17 & Hobie Holder 20) and monohulls in the 1980s and 1990s, including a 33 foot keelboat (Hobie 33), all of which were quite successful, though they never reached the same popularity as their signature catamarans and were discontinued not long thereafter.{{cite web |title=Holder 14 |url= https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/holder-14/|website=sailboatdata.com |access-date=14 May 2024}}

In 1989, the Hobie Cat Company was split between Hobie Cat Company (North America) and Hobie Cat Europe and sold separately, the latter of which began operating independently and designing and producing its own catamarans. The two companies shared worldwide production & distribution rights to the Hobie Cat designs, but otherwise operated as separate entities.{{cite web |title=Press Release: Hobie Cat Europe |url= https://hobieclass.com/archive.hobieclass.com/index-Page=9476.html#:~:text=Oceanside%2C%20California%2C%20%2D%20Effective%20September,Hobie%20Cat's%20business%20in%20Europe |website=Hobieclass.com |publisher=Hobie Class Association |access-date=14 May 2024}} Hobie Cat Europe went on to introduce many race oriented catamaran designs and has been the impetus behind most of the “modernization” of Hobie’s production line, with most of Hobie North America’s designs remaining fixed since the 1980s & 90s or moving towards rotomolded boats, SUPs and kayaks, which Hobie focused on heavily in the 2000s. Hobie Europe is responsible for all of Hobie’s Formula 18 and Formula 20 boat designs, as well as several other race and youth sailing boats. Most of Hobie Europe’s production line was not made available in the US, except to owners willing to pay to have them imported. Notable exceptions included the Hobie Tiger and Hobie Wildcat, which were eventually offered in the US to compete with F18 offerings from Nacra, as the popularity of F18 racing in the US grew. Hobie Europe also built their own variant of the Hobie 18 which featured pivoting/retractable centerboards instead of daggerboards. Hobie Europe also spawned a further subdivision, Hobie Australasia, in 2000.

In 1995, The Hobie Cat Company (North America) was sold again to a new private owner.

The Hobie Cat Company purchased back Hobie Europe and its subsidiary Hobie Australasia in 2012, combining the three into one company again. Hobie Europe found itself struggling under the weight of a wide range of boat models, compared to the relatively few offerings of Hobie North America (which had discontinued much of its catamaran production at that time and consolidated production around the Hobie 16, rotomolded boats and kayaks).

The Hobie Cat Company was sold in March 2021 to venture capitalists, including Maynard Industries.{{cite web |title=Hobie Sold to Investment Group |url= https://paddlingmag.com/stories/news-events/hobie-sold-to-investment-group/|website=paddlingmag.com |date= 25 February 2021|publisher=Paddling Magazine |access-date=14 May 2024}} In November 2022, Hobie entered an agreement with Starting Line Sailing to produce Hobie 16s in Bristol, RI, after production had lagged significantly due in part to supply chain and logistics issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 12, 2023, that arrangement was terminated.{{cite web |title=Starting Line Sailing Concludes Licensing Agreement with Hobie Cat Company II|url= https://www.startinglinesailing.com/hobie-update#:~:text=Starting%20Line%20Sailing%20Concludes%20License%20Agreement%20with%20Hobie%20Cat%20Company%20II&text=%E2%80%8BBristol%2C%20RI%20%2D%20On%20December,entered%20into%20in%20November%202022. |website=startinglinesailing.com |publisher=Starting Line Sailing |access-date=14 May 2024}}

Hobie has made a large variety of catamarans and dinghies since the company’s inception, beginning with the Hobie 14 and later the Hobie 16. They’re most famous for their fiberglass catamarans, though the company has made significant numbers of rotomolded boats beginning in the 1990s and 2000s. While the company briefly produced dinghies and monohulls in the 1980s as well, they never reached anywhere near the same popularity as their catamarans and were discontinued after a handful of years.

The Hobie 14 was the original catamaran designed by Hobie Alter in 1968. The 14 was originally designed to be sailed from the beach through the surf and back, with features to make sailing on and off the beach easier, such as the iconic "banana" shaped hull profile, kick-up rudders and asymmetric hulls.{{cite book

| last = Warshaw

| first = Matt

| title = The Encyclopedia of Surfing

| publisher = Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

| date = 2005

| location = Boston

| pages = 768

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-DWQSYRx4MUC&pg=PA14

| isbn = 9780156032513 }} It's a unirig design with a single sail, designed to be sailed solo or "singlehanded." Hobie later introduced the Hobie 14 "Turbo" or the "turbo" conversion kit, which added a roller furling jib, trapeze and dolphin striker. No longer manufactured by Hobie North America, the Hobie 14 was discontinued in North America in 2004, but is still produced in limited numbers by Hobie Europe and Hobie Brazil.

The Hobie 14 is very sensitive to weight placement fore and aft as a result of the banana hull shape. In rough water, strong winds or weight placed too far forward, the leeward bow is somewhat prone to "dig in," resulting in what is known asa "pitchpole."

The Hobie 14 has a D-PN of 86.4{{cite web |url=http://offshore.ussailing.org/Portsmouth_Yardstick/Current_Tables/Multihull_Classes.htm |title=Multihull Classes |website=ussailing.org |publisher=US Sailing |access-date=22 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816160222/http://offshore.ussailing.org/Portsmouth_Yardstick/Current_Tables/Multihull_Classes.htm |archive-date=16 August 2012 }} with the Turbo version faster at 83.1.

File:Hobie 16 catamaran sailboat 1857.jpg]]

Hobie introduced the Hobie 16 in 1969, and it went on to become the most popular catamaran ever built, both for recreational sailing and as a one-design racer. It was developed to be a bigger, more stable upgrade to the Hobie 14, designed for a crew of two. The boat is {{cvt|16|ft|7|in}} long, {{cvt|7|ft|11|in}} wide, has a mast {{cvt|26|ft|6|in}} tall, and weighs {{cvt|320|lb}}. As with the 14, it is intended to be sailed from the beach through the surf, and to be surfed back in on the waves to the beach, with many of the same features and similar asymmetric "banana" hulls. Both jib and main sails are fully battened and total {{cvt|218|sqft|m2|0}}. A double trapeze system comes standard on the Hobie 16. The Hobie 16 is still in production around the world.

File:Hobie 18 catamaran sailboat 7995.jpg]]

Hobie introduced the Hobie 18 in 1976 as a significant upgrade in sailing performance, tunability and capacity as compared to the Hobie 16 and 14. The Hobie Class Association consider the Hobie 18 the most versatile of all the Hobie beachcats.{{cite web |title=The International Hobie 18 |url=https://hobieclass.com/hobie-classes/hobie-18/ |website= hobieclass.com |date=19 June 2015 |publisher=Hobie Racing - The International Hobie Class Association |access-date=11 December 2022}} The Hobie 18 was designed to be not only fast but also rugged. It is designed to be sailed by a crew of two, but can easily carry four passengers when cruising. Experienced sailors can sail the Hobie 18 solo. Unlike the Hobie 14 and 16, the Hobie 18 has symmetrical hulls, using daggerboards to maintain course stability. The boat features a fully battened mainsail and rolling/furling jib. A double trapeze system is also standard equipment on the Hobie 18. Hobie introduced "wing seats" for the Hobie 18 in the early 1980s with wings that extended from the front to rear crossbar. These later became known as "magnum" wings when Hobie introduced the Hobie 18SX in 1987 which featured a taller mast and longer wings, which extended approx. {{cvt|20|in|m}} beyond the crossbars for more flexibility on weight placement. The SX model featured a {{cvt|19|in|m}} taller mast, higher aspect mylar sails. Wings of both types, magnum and SX, are in much demand today due to the added comfort and space provided. They add about {{cvt|40|lb}}. Much to the dismay of many Hobie enthusiasts, the Hobie 18 is currently no longer produced.

File:Hobie 17 catamaran sailboat Myrtle's Folly 2657.jpg]]

The Hobie 17 was introduced in 1985 and was available in two trim 'packages': the SE and the Sport. The SE version was a unirig boat with a mainsail only and wings, and was designed to be singlehanded. The Sport version included a jib and a small boomlett that was not attached to the mast and was intended for recreational sailing by two people. It was {{cvt|17|ft}} long, {{cvt|8|ft}} wide, had a {{cvt|27|ft|7|in}} mast and {{cvt|168|sqft}} of sail area (200 ft² or 18.6 m² with the jib). Both models had swinging centerboards and 'wings'. The uni-rig or catboat sail plan allows the 17SE to 'point' well, or sail closer to straight upwind than many other sloop-rigged catamarans. The Hobie 17 was discontinued in 2003.

The Hobie 17 had a Portsmouth Number of 783.{{cite web |url=http://www.benfleetyachtclub.org/files/Portsmouth_HC/2004_PY_Multihull_Handicaps.pdf |title=The RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Number List for 2004 |publisher=Royal Yachting Association |access-date=22 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040007/http://www.benfleetyachtclub.org/files/Portsmouth_HC/2004_PY_Multihull_Handicaps.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} The SE version had a D-PN of 74.0 and the Sport version had 74.5.

The 21SC (for Sport Cruiser) was Hobie Cat's first 'family boat'. Intended for casual sailing, this boat has a front trampoline, wings, an outboard motor-mount, and a built-in cooler. Though larger than the Getaway at {{cvt|21|ft}} long, {{cvt|8|ft|6|in}} wide, with a {{cvt|29|ft}} mast and {{cvt|222|sqft|m2|0}} of sail, it could be raced off a D-PN of 74.5.{{cite web |url=http://offshore.ussailing.org/Portsmouth_Yardstick/Current_Tables/Multihull_Classes-Inactive.htm |title=Multihull Classes-Inactive |website=ussailing.org |publisher=US Sailing |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816160107/http://offshore.ussailing.org/Portsmouth_Yardstick/Current_Tables/Multihull_Classes-Inactive.htm |archive-date=16 August 2012 |url-status=dead }} The 21SC was quickly displaced by the more rugged, cheaper Getaway and has been phased out by Hobie Cat.

The 21SE hulls are similar to the 21SC but the similarities end there, the 21SE is a performance oriented boat. It is no longer in production but it had a beam of nearly {{cvt|10|ft}}, and {{cvt|14|ft}} with the wings. The boat was intended for a racing crew of two or three adults. It also had centreboards instead of daggerboards a {{cvt|33|ft}} mast and {{cvt|300|sqft|m2}}. of sail. It weighs {{cvt|700|lb}} and has a D-PN of 67.0. It had arched, curved crossbars. It was raced as a one design boat in professional racing circuits. The boat is fast and stable but probably saw low production numbers because of its weight, the need to telescope the hulls for trailering and because it is difficult to right the boat if it capsizes without outside assistance.

Introduced in 1991, the Miracle 20 has {{cvt|250|sqft|m2|0}} of sail area and high aspect ratio mylar sails, as yet another significant performance improvement over the Hobie 18. The Hobie 20 eliminated the hull lip, a significant source of drag, and moved towards higher aspect ratio sails and daggerboards. The 20 was {{cvt|19|ft|6|in}} long, {{cvt|8|ft|6|in}} wide, with a {{cvt|31|ft}} mast, weighed {{cvt|420|lb}}, and had a D-PN of 65.0. The Hobie 20 was discontinued in 2007 after a 16 year production run. The Miracle 20 was designed by Jack Groeneveld, a Dutch catamaran sailor (European champion Prindle 19, winner of the Prindle 19 nationals etc.)

The Hobie TriFoiler was one of the fastest production sailboats ever created. Introduced in 1994, it was based on a series of boats designed by Greg and Dan Ketterman and sailed by Russel Long, which eventually culminated in Long setting the A-Class Catamaran world sailing speed record in 1992 in the boat "Longshot". That record remains unbroken.{{cite web |title=Hobie TriFoiler |website=hobiecat.com |url=http://www.hobiecat.com/sailboats/trifoiler/ |publisher=Hobie Cat Company |access-date=5 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218050407/http://www.hobiecat.com/sailboats/trifoiler/ |archive-date=18 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=World speed sailing records | website = speedsailing.com |url= http://www.speedsailing.com/Background_records.htm}} The TriFoiler is based on Longshot and this sailing hydrofoil stands as the most unusual of Hobie Cat's boats. Also designed by Greg Ketterman, this trimaran has two sails, one on each ama, and hydrofoils that lift the hulls out of the water at wind speeds of {{cvt|10|–|11|mph}}, allowing the boat to reach speeds up to {{cvt|45|mph}} and pull over 2 g in gybe turns.

The TriFoiler was {{cvt|22|ft}} long, {{cvt|19|ft}} wide, weighed {{cvt|145|kg}}, and was sailed from a "cockpit" by two people. The boat was fitted with two {{cvt|18|ft}} tall masts, with a total sail area of {{cvt|215|sqft}}.{{cite web |title=Hobe TriFoiler |url= https://media.hobie.com/2010_archive/sailing/models_trifoiler.html |website= hobie.com |publisher=Hobie Cat Company |access-date=10 December 2022}} It was the largest multihull boat built by Hobie Cat, with 170 produced between 1995 and 1999; another 30 were built independently prior to production starting at Hobie Cat.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} Production ceased because of limited popularity; the boat was expensive and fragile, and could be used only in low-wave conditions with winds between {{cvt|10|and|25|mph}}.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}

File:HobieCatTiger SUVLM06 7.jpg]]

The Hobie Tiger, a Hobie Cat Europe import, was Hobie Cat's entry into the Formula 18 multihull class. The Tiger was very popular and successful both in class racing and Formula 18. At {{cvt|18|ft}} long, {{cvt|8|ft|6|in}} wide, with a {{cvt|29|ft|6|in}} mast and {{cvt|227|sqft|m2|0}} of sail area ({{cvt|452|sqft|m2|0}} with the spinnaker). It weighs in at a minimum of {{cvt|396|lb}} as to conform to the Formula 18 specifications. The class D-PN is 62.1. Though originally only available in Europe, many were imported and sold in the US. At its introduction, it was a very competitive F18 boat, but had been eclipsed by newer F18 designs by the end of its production run.

The Hobie Fox was designed by Hobie Cat Europe to meet the Formula 20 racing class rules. The hull shape was designed by world champion A-Class sailor Nils Bunkenberg. It had a modern wave-piercing hull design. It had a double trapeze, asymmetrical spinnaker with snuffer retrieval system, high aspect ratio daggerboards, race rudders, and sails designed by Giorgio Zuccoli. It was {{cvt|20|ft}} long, had an {{cvt|8|ft|6|in}} beam and weighed {{cvt|419|lb}}. Mainsail area was {{cvt|194|sqft|m2}}. Jibsail area was {{cvt|52|sqft|m2}}. Spinnaker area was {{cvt|269|sqft|m2}}. With a D-PN of 60.4, the Fox was at one point the fastest of the Hobie family.

The Hobie Dragoon was designed by Hobie Cat Europe as a youth trainer for racing. Age target was 12 to 14 years. Double trapeze and spinnaker option to introduce young sailors to high performance. Length: {{cvt|12|ft|10|in}}, Beam: {{cvt|7|ft|1|in}}, Mast Length: {{cvt|21|ft}}, Sail Area: {{cvt|118|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. Main plus Jib, Weight: {{cvt|230|lb|abbr=on}}. D-PN: 83.0

The FX-One was designed and produced by the France-based Hobie Cat Europe company. The boat was designed both for single-handed racing (mainsail + gennaker) and dual-crew sailing (jib + mainsail + gennaker). In both configurations, this boat is eligible for the IHCA racing class. In the two-sailor configuration, this boat is also eligible for the Class 104 multihull class. Relatively uncommon in North America, the FX-One is {{cvt|17|ft|8|in}} long, with a {{cvt|27|ft|9|in}} mast and {{cvt|172|sqft}} of mainsail area, {{cvt|3.98|m2}} of jib area, {{cvt|17.5|m2}} of gennaker area, and weighs in at {{cvt|326|ft}} with the dual crew set-up. It features wavepiercing hulls, and daggerboards. The D-PN is listed as 70.1 without spinnaker and 68.5 singlehanded with spinnaker.

The Hobie Pacific was based on the Hobie Tiger design, but had skegs instead of daggerboards, a smaller rig, and no boom. The boat was intended to be easier to handle than a F18 boat, and targeted at sailing schools. Sail area was {{cvt|211|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}}, the optional spinnaker was {{cvt|200|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}}.

The Hobie Wildcat was introduced in 2009. It is Hobie's latest Formula 18 boat and has the same measurements, weight, and sail area as the Hobie Tiger, per F18 box rules.

The boat features wave-piercing bows, a flat bottom in the stern for better planing, and high aspect ratio mainsail & daggerboards.

File:Hobie Getaway 1054.jpg, a design with rotomolded plastic hulls]]

This series of boats is created of rotomolded polyethylene plastic and is intended for casual and new sailors.

These can be split into two main categories, Hobie Cat USA rotomolded boats and Hobie Cat Europe rotomoulded boats. The boats from the US include the Bravo, Wave and Getaway, whilst the European range consists of the Catsy, Teddy, Twixxy, Max and Tattoo or "T2".

The Bravo is the smallest the Hobie rotomolded catamarans at {{cvt|12|ft}} and is intended for one person but can carry two. The relatively narrow beam ({{cvt|4|ft|5|in}}) compared to its {{cvt|19|ft}} mast leads to considerable heeling, or tipping of the boat compared to other catamarans. The Bravo has the distinction of being able to furl its sail around the mast. The D-PN is 100.0.

The Hobie Wave is intended for one to four passengers, but is easily handled by one with its {{cvt|13|ft}} length, {{cvt|7|ft}} beam, and {{cvt|20|ft}} mast. The Wave was designed by the Morelli/Melvin Engineering firm, and has proved to be extremely popular with beach resorts and rental operations. It is often praised for being rugged and easy to sail.{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hobie-wave|title = Hobie Wave sailboat specifications and details|access-date = 3 August 2019|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2019}}{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/designer/morrelli-melvin|title = Morrelli & Melvin| access-date = 30 July 2019| last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2019}}{{cite web|url = https://www.boat-specs.com/hobie-cat/hobie-cat-wave-classic| title = Hobie Wave Classic| access-date = 3 August 2019 |work = Boat-Specs.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190803142132/https://www.boat-specs.com/hobie-cat/hobie-cat-wave-classic|archive-date = 3 August 2019}}{{cite web|url = https://www.boat-specs.com/hobie-cat/hobie-cat-wave-turbo|title = Hobie Wave Turbo| date= 24 February 2016|access-date = 3 August 2019 |work = Boat-Specs.com| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190803142344/https://www.boat-specs.com/hobie-cat/hobie-cat-wave-turbo|archive-date = 3 August 2019}} While described as slow and underpowered by catamaran standards,{{Citation needed| date= August 2019}} it has a D-PN of 92.1, similar to a Laser (dinghy) that is often considered to be a performance dinghy.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} Although marketed as a recreational sailboat, an owner-controlled racing class has organized and held regattas since 1998.{{cite web |title=The Hobie Wave Catamaran Review: Perfect For All Sailors |url= https://waveschamp.com/hobie-wave/ |website=waveschamp.com |date=18 July 2022 |access-date=11 December 2022}}

The Hobie Getaway is marketed as a "social boat" and is designed with room for up to 6 people, more than Hobie Cat's other boats. The boat has a trampoline both forward and aft of the mast, and is the only rotomolded Hobie to come stock with a jib and have an available trapeze. At {{cvt|16|ft|7|in}}, the Getaway is the same length as the Hobie 16; the beam is {{cvt|7|ft|8|in}} and the mast is {{cvt|25|ft}} tall. It has a D-PN of 83.3.

The Hobie Tattoo or "T2" was a "performance oriented" ABS boat, sold primarily in Europe, though a few were sold in the US before the boat was ultimately discontinued.

The Hobie Holder boats were originally Designed by Ron Holder and produced by Vagabond sailboats, which was later bought by the Coast Catamaran Corporation (Hobie Cat) and sold under the Hobie brand name in the 1980s. It was a series of monohull dinghys of various sizes from 9' 0" to 20' 0" in length. All were discontinued by the end of the decade. Previous versions were sold under the "Vagabond" name, as well as several others, such as the "Vagabond 14," "O'day 14", "Monarch 14" and "Hobie One-14."

The Hobie 10 was a small dinghy produced as a response to the Laser dinghy. It has been discontinued.

The Hobie 33 is a {{cvt|33|ft|m}} monohull lift-keel boat designed to be very light and very fast. It is considered a ULDB or ultralight displacement boat, a sportsboat. It was intended to be a trailerable, one design racer/cruiser. To be trailerable in all US states without special overwidth road permits, beam was kept to just {{cvt|8|ft}}, which is quite narrow for a boat of this length, although the Hobie 33 was advertised as being capable of sleeping 7 people. A total of 187 Hobie 33s were built between 1982 and 1986.{{cite web |title=History of Hobies |publisher=Hobie Class Association |website=hobieclass.com |url=http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/?MenuID=Resources/10815/0&Page=3025 |access-date=15 February 2016 |archive-date=23 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223050242/http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/?MenuID=Resources/10815/0&Page=3025 |url-status=dead }}

The design was the brainchild of Hobie Alter and Sheldon Coleman Sr. To start the project a Bill Lee designed ULDB Santa Cruz 27 named "Redline" was purchased, analyzed and then raced in southern California. Once the design stage started Lewie and John Wake were brought in to lend racing yacht design experience. Hobie 18 designer and legendary surfer Phil Edwards designed the keel and rudder.

There is an active North American class association{{cite web |title= Hobie 33 North Americans |publisher= Hobie 33 Class Association |url= http://www.hobie33class.com |access-date=16 February 2016}} and national championships yearly. The Hobie 33 is still a competitive offshore sailing yacht and as recently as 2006, 'Mad Max' was the Overall Winner in the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, beating vessels of all lengths from {{cvt|26|–|90|ft}} on corrected time using the PHRF formula. In 2005, the Hobie 33 was first in the doublehanded division of Transpacific Yacht Race and went on to win its class against fully crewed boats.

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}

The Hobie Class Association organizes regattas for multiple classes of Hobie cat all around the world. In North America, the continent is divided into 16 divisions, with several fleets in each division, in order to help sailors find regattas and events near them, but there are no regional restrictions on who can compete where. Indeed, many of the top sailors will travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles to attend as many regattas as they can.

The Hobie 16 fleet is still a highly active and highly competitive racing fleet, with Nationals and Worlds competitions/regattas drawing hundreds of competitors, often requiring separation into A fleet, B fleet & C fleet based on competitor skill level. Local regattas may have as few as 4-5 boats and be very casual affairs, or as many as 100+ boats and be highly competitive. There are several dozen Hobie fleets across North America alone which organize regattas and events, teach newcomers how to sail and race, and host parties and social events, or even just get together to sail.

Hobie 14, 17, 18, 20 and Hobie Waves each have active nationals competitions every year in the US, and many are raced at local regattas as well. The Hobie Wave is a quickly growing segment of the racing community, appreciated by competitors a simple, easy to handle, easy to rig and easy to sail single-handed boat. Discontinued boats have typically a much smaller turnout and tend to be much more casual to race. Hobie Nationals and Hobie Worlds tend to rotate around the country/globe, hosted in a different place/by a different fleet each year.

Racing of Hobie catamarans is conducted in a large number of countries around the world, with 20 countries sending their top two teams to Hobie worlds every year. The Hobie 16 has large racing fleets in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, South America and in the islands of Oceania such as New Caledonia and Fiji. Racing is a mix between casual/recreational races and highly competitive regattas, depending on the class of boat and fleet hosting the regatta.

• List of multihulls
• Hobart "Hobie" Alter{{spaced ndash}} founder and creator of the Hobie Cat
• List of sailboat designers and manufacturers

{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Hobie (catamarans)|Hobie Cat}}

• [http://www.hobiecat.com/ Hobie Cat Company - web site]
• [http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/all_models.html Hobie Cat sailing models]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050111143240/http://www.hca-na.org/ Hobie Class of North America]
• [http://www.hobieclass.com/ International Hobie Class]
• [http://www.catsailor.com/waves/wave.html International Wave Class Association]
• [http://www.hobiecat.org.uk/ British Hobie Cat Class Association]

{{Hobie Cat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobie Cat}}

Category:Hobie Cat

Category:Catamarans