The boat in the video¹Following a chain of YouTube videos starting with my prior post resulted in this Hobie 14 video. reminds me of the 14 I used to have and the customizations I did to it: double-grommeted trampoline with larger diameter shock cord, dolphin striker, trapeze, and non-skid on the side rails. It was awesome!

The pitchpole reminds me of a beautiful morning many years ago, screaming across Eagle Lake on the trapeze in freshening winds before the chop had built up. Increasing winds must have pushed the leeward bow under the water because the next thing I knew, I was swinging out in front of the mast, my mass pulling the cat turtle in no time flat. And it was then that I was glad my trapeze hook had the opening at the bottom.

I’ll never understand why Hobie stopped selling the 14. It’s the first catamaran Hobart designed and his best. RIP, Hobie.

• 1
  Following a chain of YouTube videos starting with my prior post resulted in this Hobie 14 video.