/// Sizing Notes & Guidance ///
Both Gill and Zhik make junior specific sailing gear, though each brand uses a slightly different sizing chart and scale for assigning junior sizing. Typically, Gill ‘junior specific’ gear is available in sizes Junior S – Junior L, which roughly correlates to a kids 8, 10, and 12. The brands Ronstan, Stohlquist, and WinDesign follow a similar convention. Zhik sizing now includes a fourth size, so their range is Junior XS – Junior L, with kids 8-14. Wre understand this can be confusing, so our best advice is to please consult size charts on specific products for more information before making a sizing decision for your junior sailor.
Sailing Boots & Footwear
Whether its ankle-length short boots, or mid-calf length, we’ve got the sailing boots that are right for you. Our rubber sailing boots have a broad fit to accommodate thicker socks and warm layers. Neoprene boots provide great support and protection for the active dinghy sailor. Or shop deck shoes for big boat sailing and our full range of socks and other footwear accessories.
Why West Coast Sailing
We represent a dozen sailboat brands from all around the world. Our dinghy sailboat inventory is second to none, with at least 100 boats in stock in our warehouse at any time. Our staff has extensive experience sailing, racing, rigging, coaching and delivering boats worldwide. This is what we do:
- Selection 70+ models of boats from manufacturers around the world.
- Service Our staff is focused on helping you Own The Water.
- Experience The team here has decades of experience on all types of dinghies.
- Inventory Over $1 million of boats and parts inventory in stock at all times.
- Logistics We have experience shipping boats all over the world, at reasonable rates, quickly.
- Rigging We rig most boats by hand, and stand behind our work.
- Long Term Support We are a leader in our industry, and we didn’t get here by cutting corners. We have your back.
- Apparel and Accessories We have the apparel, accessories, trailers and dollies to go with each boat.
CURRENT LEAD TIME & AVAILABILITY
Due to the high demand for sailboat and kayak products, the team at West Coast Sailing is working hard to bring in as much inventory as possible. We receive multiple shipments over the course of the year with our allocated number of specific models and colors. Current lead time and availability information for specific sailboat and kayak models is posted on our website:
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Line Whipping & Splicing
Give your rig the finishing touches with whipping twine or a custom splice. We offer whipping twine spools and kits as well as a variety of fids and splicing tools.
From inflatable and paddle kayaks to MirageDrive pedal kayaks and Pro Anglers, Hobie has the perfect kayak for you to get out on the water. Shop the full range of Hobie Kayaks below.
Hobie Kayaks
Hobie is home of the original pedal kayak, powered by Hobie’s MirageDrive. Hobie didn’t invent the kayak – they perfected it. From inflatable and paddle kayaks to MirageDrive pedal kayaks and Pro Anglers, Hobie has the perfect way for you to get out on the water. West Coast Sailing stocks the full line of Hobie Kayaks, including the Mirage, Pro Angler, and Inflatable Kayaks as well as the Paddle Series, plus the full range of parts and accessories.
West Coast Sailing Charter Information
Lowest Wind Speed For Sailing
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Turning Into The Wind
Turning into the wind, or coming about, is the most common sailing maneuver. When coming about, the object is to pass the bows of the boat through the eye of wind and over to the other side. Lets refer to the clock example. Suppose you are sailing to the ten oclock position, but Wish to Change Course and sail to the two oolook spot. You would first move the tiller toward the sail to move the bows through the wind coming from noon. Then you would straighten the tiller once the boat is heading on the desired course.
fig. 10.
Heres the procedure step by step.
Do I Need A Marina To Launch My Boat
If you own a sailboat, you dont need a formal place to set sail safely. Catamarans are great for low-tech sailing. As long as you have a shoreline, youre going to be able to launch your boat successfully.
Its somewhat rare to see Hobie Cat owners or events in formal marinas or yacht clubs. Marinas will usually only see Hobie Cats when customers want to store them in their areas, or if they have sailing lessons for tourists.
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Are Hobie Cats Good For Racing
If youre looking for a fast but small sailboat, youre going to love the feeling of sailing in a Hobie Cat. These boats can go extremely fast compared to other boats of their size and maneuver very well.
As a result, these boats are a favorite among boat racers. Want to race? Not a problem. There are multiple organizations entirely devoted to racing Hobie Cats for you to check out once you have learned how to handle your catamaran.
Line For Sailboat Mainsheets Jib Sheets & Spinnaker Sheets
Sheets control trim of sails such as the mainsail, jib, and spinnaker. Browse top line recommendations for sailboat mainsheets, jib sheets, spinnaker sheets, and more. Check out performance favorites such as Dinghy Sheet XL, Rooster Polilite, Coppa 500, and Samson Ultra-Lite and reliable options such as Marlow Double Braid and Orion 300. Whether you need a new Laser mainsheet, spinnaker sheets for your cruising boat, or jibsheets for your sportboat, we offer a selection of the industry’s best sailing line from top brands you can trust.
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How Do I Keep Safe In A Hobie Cat
Like with any other boat, safety is an issue that should be every persons primary concern. Though Hobie Cats are fairly safe, injuries and accidents can still happen. When sailing, make sure you follow these important safety tips:
- Stay close to the beach, and keep a waterproof radio on hand. Accidents happen, and fast help can save your life. You want to make sure that you can get peoples attention if you need help while sailing. Staying in eyesight of others and having an emergency radio will help.
- Always wear a lifejacket. This is a must. Lifejackets will save your life in the event of an accident.
- Learn to swim first. You really shouldnt sail until you can swim. Should your Hobie Cat capsize, being unable to swim can turn a small issue into life-threatening danger.
- Dont sail in stormy weather. A single lightning strike is all it takes for a good time to turn terrible.
- Avoid larger boats and speed boats. Collisions with larger boats can easily cause death and serious injury.
- Check your equipment before you set sail. An equipment failure, be it a cord or a seal, can easily spell wrecking for your boat. These boats are said to be unsinkable, but thats not always the case.
- Never drink and sail. We know it looks good in movies, but drunk sailing is still a form of drunk driving.
Where Can Hobie Cats Sail
Just about every boat on the market will have places it can and cannot go. A freight boat, for example, wont work on shallow water. Hobie Cats, too, have their own limitations in terms of use and safety.
Hobie Cats are not boats you want to sail in the deep sea because of their wind-powered, low-tech stylings. Its best to just enjoy them for a surf by the sea or in shallow areas near gulfs and local resorts.
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What Other Boats Are Known As Learner Sailboats
Generally speaking, Hobie Cats are considered to be the gold standard when youre learning how to sail. However, there is another boat type that ties with them in the eyes of many sailors: Sunfish.
The vast majority of sailing schools will use Sunfish or Hobie Cats as their teaching boat defaults. So, its safe to say that if you want to learn how to sail, youll have a high chance of using a Hobie to do it.
Turning Away From The Wind
Turning away from the wind, or gybing , is changing course while sailing downwind. Just think of gybing as the opposite of coming about. When coming about bows cross the wind. The sterns cross the wind when gybing. When gybing in light air, you will probably have to give the boom some help in swinging across to the other side of the boat.
fig. 11.
To gybe, just pull the tilter extension toward your body with the same smooth motion as when coming about, grab the mainsheet just below the boom, and, when the sterns cross the wind, warn the crew and swing the boom across. As soon as the sail begins to fill with wind, move to the other side of the boat and off you go.
Gybing in heavy air can be more difficult since everything will have to be speeded up correspondingly in heavy air, the boom can snap across with a lot of force. For this reason, its best to come about in lighter winds until you have had a chance to practice gybing to the point where you feel confident that you can handle heavy air with dexterity. You should be especially aware of wind shifts in heavy air. If the wind should suddenly change direction as it blows across the stern of the boat, it could grab the sail and swing it far out to the other side very quickly. This is an unplanned gybe and could damage the boat if the wind is strong enough, or it could cause injury to unaware crew members.
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Introduction To Hobie Cat Sailing
Offered Most Thursdays, 10am 1pm
This three hour course teaches students the skills needed to sail a Hobie Wave safely and effectively even if youve never sailed before! A short classroom session teaches the fundamentals of sailing such as sail trim upwind and downwind, tacking and jibing. The on-the-water portion of the course consists of rigging, launching and sailing a catamaran with an instructor onboard. Finally, students learn how to right the boat in case of a capsize. Once students can perform all the skills taught in the course they become eligible for Hobie Wave Boat Access.
What Will I Learn
- Launching and rigging the Hobie Getaway
- Tacking techniques specific to beach catamarans
- Using apparent wind to increase performance
- Proper use of the traveler
- Crew overboard recovery
- Catamaran capsize recovery
- Small boat communications and teamwork
Topics are introduced on land and then practiced on Mission Bay in a 16′ Hobie Getaway catamaran. Upon successful completion of the class you will be qualified to rent the Hobie Getaway so you will be able to keep sailing and practicing your skills after the class ends.
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How Much Does A Hobie Cat Cost
It depends on the model and make. Most new models will sell for $12,000 or less, right off the marina. If you opt for an older boat, youll be able to find well-kept models for as little as $4,000 on a fairly regular basis.
That being said, buying a Hobie Cat isnt the only cost youll incur. You also have to worry about the following issues:
- Storage and transport. If you own a trailer and have a large lot, this wont be a problem. Otherwise, you may need to look for a marina that will store your boat off-season. Transport and storage can cost more than the boat itself!
- Maintenance. Hobie Cats are generally low maintenance. That being said, they still need upkeep. Expect to pay at least $400 per year on upkeep alone, especially if youre not storing it properly.
- Fees. Just docking and driving your Hobie Cat can incur fees. These vary greatly depending on your location.
Are Hobie Cats Popular Among New Sailors
Yes, big time. If you want a Hobie Cat, youre not alone! These are hyper-popular boats. The Hobie Cat 16 is the most popular model of them all, and currently is the worlds leading catamaran sailboat.
At one point, owning a Hobie Cat was a suburban status symbol. That tradition kept on in many pockets of America, though the trend mostly faded in the 80s. Even so, you can bet that renting a Hobie Cat will be easy enough due to their popularity.
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High Tech Sailing Line
For sailboat racing, high tech line that is durable and offers minimal stretch isn’t an option, it’s a requirement. West Coast Sailing offers a range of high tech line options including Samson Ultra-Lite, Alpha Ropes SSR, Robline Dinghy Control, Marlow Excel Racing, and Robline Coppa 500. These lines have a strong, low stretch Spectra or Dynemma core with a durable cover.
Finding The Right Diameter
If you are replacing an existing line, the easiest way to determine what diameter you need is to match what you already have. This can be done with a caliper or by close estimation with a tape measure. If you’ve previously used a 5mm control line and it has performed well, another 5mm line is likely a great choice. In most applications, there is some flexibility in the exact diameter that can be used. Most blocks, for example, have an ‘ideal’ diameter but also have a range so that you can run a slightly thinner or slightly thicker line. If you have a control line that is getting hung up in your rig, stepping down 1-2mm might help the halyard run more efficiently. If you have a larger boat or rig and want to run a thinner control line , consider a double braid high tech line that features a Dyneema or spectra core for strength.
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Wondering Why Hobies Are So Hot They Are Popular For Three Main Reasons:
Notes About Small Children
Hobie Cats, for the most part, are pretty great boats for younger children. However, there is still a point where these sailboats arent child-friendly, and its important to use a little common sense with kids. Most parents can tell when an activity is too risky for their tot.
There have been cases where toddlers have drowned due to a capsizing gone wrong. There have also been cases where reckless kids got injured due to bad behavior on the boat. Its best to keep children under 5 years of age off the boat, just to be safe.
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Hobie 16 Catamaran Sailboat Boats For Sale
1-14 of 14
Length 16.0
Posted Over 1 Month
This beautiful 16 foot Hobie cat is ready to sail! Boat comes with 2 sails in pristine condition, updated lines, rebuilt rudder fittings, trapeze wires, beach dolly and road trailer. All are in good condition. Need gone, so willing to negotiate. Asking price is $2,000 or best offer!
Length 16 feet
Posted Over 1 Month
MOVING NEED TO SELL WILL DELIVERY UP TO 50 MILES FROM SEA ISLE CITY NJ.COMPLETE BOAT READY TO GO! TEIN TRAP SET UP. TRAILER TO WATER, AND SAIL. HAVE LEGAL TITLE AND REGISTRATION FOR BOTH TRAILER AND BOAT. GREAT FOR ANY SAILOR BEGINNER TO EXPERT. SAILS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, NO SOFT SPOTS ON HULLS.. TRAP IS NEW FROM LAST YEAR. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN A BOAT THAT IS READY TO GO THIS IS THE BOAT FOR YOU! INCLUDES COMPLETE HOBIE 16 WITH SAILS, TRAILER, AND BEACH WHEELS.
Length 16 feet
Posted Over 1 Month
COMPLETE BOAT READY TO GO! TRAILER TO WATER, AND SAIL. HAVE LEGAL TITLE AND REGISTRATION FOR BOTH TRAILER AND BOAT. GREAT FOR ANY SAILOR BEGINNER TO EXPERT. SAILS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, NO SOFT SPOTS ON HULLS.. TRAP IS NEW FROM LAST YEAR. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN A BOAT THAT IS READY TO GO THIS IS THE BOAT FOR YOU! INCLUDES COMPLETE HOBIE 16 WITH SAILS, TRAILER, AND BEACH WHEELS.
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Length 17′
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Length 17′
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Length 17′
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Length 17′
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Length 17′
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Length 17′
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