The Getaway combines a 7-foot 8-inch beam with a 180-square-foot sail plan. Hobie lists its weight as 390 pounds, while Sailing World measured 250 pounds, so the sources differ. Either way, the aim is fast, friendly sailing for families and club racers alike.
Design and Construction
The Getaway’s hulls are symmetrically shaped and built from impact-resistant rotomolded polyethylene. Hobie used this seamless construction method across its Wave, Getaway, and Bravo series.
Sailing World described the durable rotomolded hulls, with their built-in keels, as capable of taking most any abuse. Hobie says the material provides years’ worth of family fun without worry about impromptu raft-ups, beaching, or docking. The hulls shrug off groundings and dock contact that would scar a fiberglass layup.
At 17 feet long, with a 10-inch draft when the rudders are up and a 25-foot mast, the Getaway is genuinely beachable. Its 29.5-inch bow height and 17.5-inch stern height give the crew a stable, low platform. A capsize screening ratio of 4.2 and sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 53.95 place it firmly among light, lively dayboats rather than cruising multihulls.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Getaway carries a mainsail-driven fractional sloop rig with a roller-furling jib and 180 square feet of total sail area. Test sailors said the boat really moves and called it a kick to sail—fast sailing at its simplest. A nice upwind groove rewards any sailor of intermediate skill or above.
The wing seats allow the driver and crew to swap positions underway without drama. Period reviews noted that a wave slapping beneath the forward leeward trampoline could slow the boat, although it quickly gets back on pace. Another small layout quirk is that the jib-sheet tail can fall below the mast onto the forward beam.
The Getaway’s speed can bite. Testers buried the leeward hull up to the forward beam and tumbled into a three-quarter pitchpole, demonstrating the real capsize risk when the boat is pressed hard in a breeze.
Righting the boat after a capsize is straightforward. The crew leans back on righting lines led beneath the trampoline, while an anti-turtle ball at the masthead prevents a flip from becoming a full turtle. Reviewers watched the ball hit the water and stop the rotation very well.
Crew Space and Deck Layout
The Getaway is a day sailor, not a cabin boat. It has an open forward trampoline, with cooler and storage compartments set into both hulls. Optional wing seats increase the usable lounging and crew space, and buyers can choose the boat without the optional trapeze if they prefer simpler sailing.
Hobie lists a US crew capacity of one to six and a load limit of 1,000 pounds. Under EU ratings, those figures are reduced to 661 pounds and three to four crew. Sailing World measured a carrying capacity of 900 pounds and described the boat as loaded with sensible features.
Testers suggested adding windsurfer-style foot straps to the wings to keep crew from flying around the headstay during a sudden deceleration. They also recommended hiking straps on each hull where the crew sits.
Ownership and Suggested Upgrades
Owners and reviewers proposed a handful of light-touch upgrades rather than extensive rebuilds. Adding a couple more purchases to the Cunningham provides better luff control. Leading the jib sheets to the windward side—either shock-corded to the wings or attached to the trapeze wires—also helps keep the cockpit clear.
The boat’s appeal lies in its simplicity. Sailing World considered it a great family day sailor or local club racer, with enough versatility for sailors of all skill levels.
The Verdict
The Hobie Getaway is a quick, stable, and nearly indestructible little cat that delivers plenty of fun for its length. It’s best suited to lake and beach day sailing and informal club racing, rather than any offshore ambition.
Pros
- Impact-resistant rotomolded polyethylene hulls with built-in keels tolerate abuse and are easy to beach
- Mainsail-driven rig and roller-furling jib provide fast, approachable sailing for intermediate sailors
- Anti-turtle ball and under-trampoline righting lines simplify capsize recovery
- Wing layout adds useful deck space and allows the crew to swap positions underway
Cons
- Can bury a hull and pitchpole when pressed hard in a breeze
- Wave slap beneath the trampoline can briefly slow the boat
- No enclosed accommodation; this is strictly a dayboat
