Hobie Cat Company

USA Est. 1950

Hobie Alter started shaping surfboards in his parents' garage in Laguna Beach, California. He built the first Hobie 14 catamaran in 1967 because he wanted a fast sailboat he could launch from the beach. The Hobie 16, introduced in 1969, became the most popular catamaran ever made. Over 100,000 sold.

Heritage

Hobie Alter was a surfer who became a boat builder. That DNA shows — Hobie boats are designed for beaches, not yacht clubs. The company's culture of informality, performance, and accessibility changed recreational sailing forever. Hobie died in 2014, but the company continues to produce the boats that bear his name.

Vessels (1)

Hobie Cat 16

Hobie Alter was a surfer from Dana Point, California, who wanted a boat he could launch from the beach without a dock, a ramp, or a trailer. The Hobie 16 was his answer. Asymmetric hulls that could ride up on sand instead of grounding. No centerboards to break or jam. A trampoline deck instead of a cockpit. Light enough for two people to carry. It democratized sailing the way the Volkswagen Beetle democratized driving. Before the Hobie 16, sailing meant yacht clubs and dock fees and sailing lessons. After, it meant dragging a boat off a trailer, rigging it in twenty minutes, and flying a hull in your cutoffs. Over 100,000 have been sold. The Hobie 16 World Championship still draws hundreds of sailors from thirty countries.

1969-present · sailboat