Lou’s Blog:
2018 marks the 50 year anniversary of the Hobie Cat 14 and if it were not for the Hobie Cat and it’s influences on many of us Reef long timers, our little corner of Lake Erie may not have become the great sailing spot we know today.
You may be asking yourself, why should I be interested in the Hobie Cat’s 50 year anniversary?
In the mid-twentieth century, the beach cat became a widespread category of sailing catamarans, owing to their ease of launching and mass production. In California, a maker of surfboards, Hobie Alter, produced the 250-pound (110 kg) Hobie 14 in 1967, {1st sold in the fall of 1968} and two years later the larger and even more successful Hobie 16. As of 2016, the Hobie 16 was still being produced with more than 100,000 having been manufactured. (from Wikipedia)
Hobie Cats are not the fastest cats around, Tornado’s and Nacra’s may hold that distinction. Hobies are the most fun cat around though, easy to pull off or onto the beach, sailing single-handed or with a crew on the trapeze, the wind in your face, these boats created a life style, a sense of community rarely shared in the sailing world at the time. Have a Hobie Day! was the greeting, a secret password, and the motto to many sailors. It was a promise of a fun day. You felt you were part of something special, a brethren who spoke a language all their own, yet welcoming to anyone who showed any interest in sailing, crewing, or just had a question to ask. This time honored way of life thrives here at Da’ Reef. While there are not the great number of Hobie sailors there used to be, the waterman culture has grown and spawned its own version of community.
Back in the late ’70’s through the early ’90’s many Hobies came to the shore of Lake Erie to sail. Most weekends we had between 10 – 15 regulars and this number could double on any given weekend, but that story is for another post.
With all the interest in DNA self testing, finding out family history and searching one’s family tree, I wish to share my DNA with you all, and I believe you will soon see how we are all related!
I once wrote these words: We live the hang loose life style of Hawaii. We have a reggae groove, with some Caribbean soul.
https://reefwarriors.wordpress.com/the-legend-of-the-reef-warriors/about-the-reef-warriors/
But in retrospect our true DNA comes from the shores of southern California. We are the offspring of Hobie Alter.
Hobie Alter passed away in March of 2014, leaving behind a legacy that few truly knew or appreciated. From surfboards to skateboards, catamarans to kayaks, Hobie impacted all who consider themselves watermen or waterwomen in some way.
So pour a rum, sit back, learn a little history, and help me celebrate 50 years of Hobie Cats, and Have A Hobie Day!
In 1968 the Hobie cat 14 was set free upon the waters of North America and soon “The cat that flies” would be seen worldwide.
Hobie Alter “flies” his invention, the Hobie Cat sail boat. The boat was one of Alter’s many creations that helped to change the face of surfing, sailing and other action sports.
Hobie Alter was more than a builder of sailboats, he was an innovator in the world of surfing, as a board builder, shaper, and visionary. Yes, the late 1950’s had many surf legends but Hobie may have had the biggest impact on the watermen of then as well as the watermen of today.
Robert August, Corkey Carroll, Greg Noll, Gerry Lopez, Mickey Munoz, Phil Edwards, Joyce Hoffman are a few of the better known surfers of the time and all rode for team Hobie during their careers.
Hobie Alter had a simple motto, “If it’s fun, it’s never work. And if it isn’t fun, it’ll never work.”
If you have surfed on a fiberglass board, you have Hobie DNA!
Hobie was among the 1st to switch from heavy balsa wood boards to the use of fiberglass wrap with foam blanks.
If you ever had a board with a through the hull fin screw, you have Hobie in your DNA!
Hobie was the 1st surf board maker to implement the through the board fin screw.
Watched “Endless Summer”? Hobie DNA!
A Hobie surfboard was used in the original movie, and Hobie along with Bruce Brown & the cast drove a motor home around the country to promote the film.
Hobie helped arrange an east coast tour for the Endless Summer. Pictured left to right: Mike Hynson, Bruce Brown, Joey Cabell, Pat Brown, Corky Carroll, Hobie Alter, Susan Alter, Heidi Edwards, and Phil Edwards. (from http://www.surfingheritage.org/2014/02/the-endless-summer-photos.html )
Later Bruce Brown help Hobie with promo videos for the Hobie cat line of products
Alpha sailboard? Hobie DNA!The Hobie cat company owned Alpha sailboards in the mid 1980’s. Scroll down to page 64 in this link to The Hobie Hotline for some Alpha board knowledge. Hotline 1987.
Love Robbie Naish & all his contributions to watersports? Hobie DNA.
While his path into the National Sailing Hall of Fame may have been far from traditional, Robby has always considered himself a sailor with his childhood roots in racing Hobie Cats before transitioning his skills to windsurfing.
“I was a sailor at heart. I loved tactics, I loved feeling the shifts and reading the wind and catching the bumps, that feeling that you get from sailing that you don’t find anywhere else in life. As sailors, we’re very lucky to be out there in the wind and the waves,” said Robby during his acceptance speech during the ceremony.
Robbie grew up sailing Hobie cats with his family, (Dad Rick Naish was the 1st Hobie dealer in Hawaii). As legend has it Robbie used an old hobie trapeze harness
to secure him to the boom of his sailboard, which led the way to today’s modern windsurf/kite surf harnesses.
Have you ever ridden a Skateboard? You may have Hobie DNA!Hobie was a leader in the growth of the skateboard industry during the mid 1960’s.
How many beer drinking folks were inspired to learn to sail because of these 2 beer ads & how many sailors were inspired to drink more beer due these 2 sailing ads!?!?
I have been part of the Hobie way of Life for over 40 years and have owned or sailed just about every boat in the Hobie family. The lessons I learned while sailing and the people I shared them with helped make me who I am today. I am happy to know I share my DNA with such a wonderful group of friends, both past, present, and future. The Reef Warriors would not be who we are today with out each and every one of you.
Thank you readers, for helping me wish Happy Anniversary to the Hobie 14. My hope is to create a series of posts to honor the heritage and legacy which brings us to where we are today.
Please check some other Hobie links I have listed below.
other hobie links Hobie, Master of Water , Wind and Waves the hobie way of life tribute to hobie alter Hobie hotline magazine archive Hobie History Sharing the wind https://www.hobie.com/about-us/ Hobie Alters obit Cat sailor hall of fame Hobie Kayaks
The Reef Warriors and Casey's Hit the Lip Blog 
I’ve always relied on da Reef Warriors for stoke and inspiration, but now I can rely on them for knowledge.
Brian, Thanks for reading, glad you picked up a few things. It was a fun post to write.
Interesting history, thanks for posting.
Bryn, Happy to hear you enjoyed the post. It was fun to put together.
Even being a long time Hobie guy, there was a lot I learned too!
Thanks
Nice bit of history. I sailed a Hobie Wave this past July when we vacationed in Cancun – it was a blast! Took my wife and two other ladies for a quick sail and they all had a great time. Fun and simple sailboats.