Hobie 17 Buyer's Guide
The Hobie 17 is a 17-foot sports catamaran from Hobie Cat, designed by John Wake with production starting in 1985. On the used market it appears as a light beachable catamaran of 315 pounds displacement and 7.92-foot beam, drawing 0.42 feet board-up. Buyers should understand it as a day-sailing platform with a cat rig and centerboard, not a cabined cruiser, and judge any example on structure, rig wear, and completeness of factory support parts. The Hobie 17 Turbo is a variant encountered among used boats, alongside the 17 Sport named in factory manuals.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Factory-available items of consequence include mast float kits Bob and Mama Bob, an Easy Rite righting aid for solo recovery, a motor mount shared with other Hobie cats, and a universal 14-to-17-foot cover. A 6:1 downhaul system and gooseneck update kit represent rig-refresh parts worth verifying on an older boat. None are standard on resale examples, so each boat must be assessed on its own fitted gear.
What to Inspect
The key safety point is the boat's sail area relative to sailor weight leading to capsizing with the lone handler left to right it capsizing and the lone-sailor having to bring it up again. On a viewing hull, confirm a righting aid such as the Easy Rite is present or fitable, and check the mast float mounts for cracking at the beam. Verify the centerboard and spring action using the factory replacement guide as reference, and inspect the gooseneck for wear that the update kit would address. Confirm the assembly manual and parts guides match the variant offered, whether base 17, Sport, or Turbo.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Examples are typically found in the United States, Switzerland, Austria, and New Zealand.
- Confirm board and spring move freely without binding
- Check gooseneck for play or fatigue cracks
- Verify mast float or righting aid compatibility
- Match manuals and parts guide to hull variant
- Inspect centerboard trunk for impact damage
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hobie 17. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $750 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $867 | +15.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $1,364 | +57.3% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $4,879 | +257.7% |
Where they're listed
Hobie 17 listings appear across 3 countries. Austria has the most listings with 1 (33.3%), followed by Switzerland and New Zealand.
Country view
3 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | $4,879 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Switzerland | $867 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| New Zealand | $1,364 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
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 14 | 14' | $ 951 | 8 | 6 |
| Hobie 17You are here | — | $ 1,367 | 3 | 1 |