Hobie 16 Buyer's Guide
The Hobie 16 is the most popular catamaran in the world and the second largest boat fleet in existence, with more than 135,000 sold since 1969. For a used-boat shopper it is a beach-launched, 16-foot 7-inch fiberglass/foam-sandwich catamaran of 320 pounds that two people sail on trapeze — simple to rig and hearty enough for coastal days. This guide covers what appears on the market, what to check, and where these boats typically turn up.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every used Hobie 16 shares the same open twin-hull dayboat layout: a trampoline between asymmetrical hulls, a 26-foot 6-inch mast carrying a fully battened main and jib, and dual trapezes for both crew. The boat was marketed as easily trailered, rigged, and beached, and its small footprint lets an owner store it at home. There is no enclosed accommodation — capacity is one to four people, built around a two-person racing configuration.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The trampoline is the one item commonly fitted across the used fleet, and its condition is central to both structure and comfort. Beyond that, the standard equipment a buyer meets is the dual-trapeze rig and full-batten sail plan; these are integral to the design rather than add-ons. Because the brief lists no often-seen or owner-upgrade equipment tiers, a shopper should expect a basic beach cat: no generators, watermakers, or navigation suites as fleet norms, and any such gear would be a rare individual addition rather than a market expectation.
What to Inspect
The Hobie 16's hulls are a fiberglass/foam sandwich, and the asymmetrical shape is load-bearing — the downwind hull provides lift to windward, so distortion or damage to that curvature matters anchor. Because the hull shape eliminates daggerboards, there are no board trunks to inspect, but the beachable design means rudders and hull ends see ground contact. Verify the trampoline lacing and frame integrity, since the open platform relies on it. The lightweight 320-pound build is robust enough for coastal sailing, but any foam-sandwich delamination or hull asymmetry loss should end the negotiation.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These catamarans are typically found in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Switzerland. For the shopper, the checklist is short: confirm trampoline presence and condition, check foam-sandwich hulls for delamination, validate rudder and beach-contact zones, and verify the dual-trapeze rig and fully battened sails are complete. A clean example is a low-cost entry to a worldwide racing class.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hobie 16. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 17 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $1,500 | — |
| Mar 25 | 1 | $1,313 | -12.5% |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $3,570 | +171.9% |
| Jun 25 | 3 | $1,975 | -44.7% |
| Jul 25 | 5 | $10,000 | +406.3% |
| Aug 25 | 4 | $2,175 | -78.3% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $3,200 | +47.1% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $5,600 | +75.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $10,500 | +87.5% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $3,052 | -70.9% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $8,250 | +170.3% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $6,189 | -25.0% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $8,150 | +31.7% |
| May 26 | 5 | $2,200 | -73.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $1,055 | -52.0% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $1,461 | +38.5% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $1,133 | -22.5% |
Where they're listed
Hobie 16 listings appear across 5 countries. United States has the most listings with 17 (68.0%), followed by Australia and New Zealand.
Country view
25 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $5,000 | 17 | 4 | 68.0% |
| Australia | $3,590 | 3 | 0 | 12.0% |
| New Zealand | $1,461 | 3 | 3 | 12.0% |
| Switzerland | $1,491 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
| Germany | $7,926 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobie Cat 16You are here | — | $ 2,357 | 26 | 8 |
| Hobie 14 | 14' | $ 951 | 8 | 6 |