If you have ever browsed the catamaran pictures section of this site you know that I enjoy collecting pictures and information about obscure out of production beach catamarans. Today we will hear the story of a very unusual line of catamarans. How unusual? Well, you might think that all catamarans are constructed out of fiberglass in California, the Sizzler cats were made out of Aluminum in Cleveland, Ohio!

This information on the Sizzler Catamaran came to me after a member of this site enquired whether I had any information on Sizzler Catamarans, I didn't, but I knew who to ask. First I posted a message to the Beachcats Yahoogroup to find out if anyone knew this particular catamaran sailboat. Before long, a member had found a Sizzler 16, snapped some pictures, and uploaded them to the Beachcats Identification folder. Sizzler Catamaran Pictures.

Then, Mary Wells, the editor of Catamaran Sailor Magazine provided a wealth of detail about the boats construction and development. Mary actually worked for the company that manufactured the boat. Thank you very much Mary. If anyone has additional information about the Sizzler, or any of the former catamaran lines, please use the contact form.

The reintroduction of the Hobie 17.

I have sailed the Hobie 17 for 16 years and this is great news for the best solo catamaran that I have ever sailed. There is an opportunity for the makers and owners to make some non-performance modifications to make a great boat even better . Lets begin with things on the boat that have failed on me and the possible remedies.

Cross Beam inner gunnel securing bolt bearing plate .
Fault - It's small size and relative fore and aft alignment of the bolt hole and pop rivet securing holes causes the cross beam to crack around its underside at this point. Remedy - Make this plate " U " shaped , wider and longer to separate this hole alignment and give the bolt more support .

I put this little beastie together when my first Hobie 17 tore itself apart . After 12 years sailing Hobie 17 catamarans and being quite partial to the comfort and mechanical advantage of trapezing from a wing, returning to a Hobie 14 while my 17 insurers decided what to do with me (and I had sailed Hobie 14's from 1972 to 1987) was going to be quite a letdown .

Not so, as this is only recreational sailing (there isn't any 14 competition in Western Australia any more), I could put wings on a Hobie 14 catamaran and go like a striped ape! That is indeed how she performed, with a VMG to windward far better than the local Hobie 16 catamarans.

A record number of 60 brand new Hobie 16’s, rotating between 200 entries, will be at the starting line-up of the Coca Cola Hobie 16 World Championships, May 4-14 in Cancun, Mexico.

The boats are all being supplied by Hobie Cat Company, the Oceanside, California manufacturer of the Hobie 16. Hobie Cat Company president, Doug SKIDMORE, stepped up to the plate by giving race organisers the extra boats they needed to accommodate the outstanding racer turnout. “It is our way of encouraging as many people as possible to get out on the water and enjoy Hobie sailing and racing,” commented Skidmore.

It's official, the Hobie 17se, recently declared dead by the Hobie Company, has been brought back to life. Read the announcement from Doug Scidmore, President of Hobie.

Several months ago the Hobie Cat Company made an announcement that the Hobie 17 would no longer be produced at our Oceanside, California facility anda final few boats were to be manufactured at our Australia facility and then stopped there as well. At the time the decision was made many of us were reluctant to make it knowing that the Hobie 17 racing class would be effected by it. The Hobie 17 has been like a good friend over the years and saying goodbye was difficult. For those who have sailed it they understand that it is a very nice sailboat.