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Hobie 17
Designer: John Wake  ·  Builder: Hobie Cat  ·  First built: 1985
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About the Hobie 17

Built during Hobie Cat's golden era of catamaran development, this sport catamaran represents the company's expertise in creating high-performance beach cats for recreational sailing. The design follows Hobie's proven formula of combining accessible handling characteristics with exciting performance potential. This catamaran excels in coastal waters and protected bays, where its shallow draft and beach-launching capability make it ideal for exploring areas inaccessible to deeper-draft vessels. The boat's twin-hull configuration provides excellent stability and speed, particularly in moderate to fresh winds where catamarans truly shine. Its responsive handling makes it well-suited for recreational day sailing, sailing instruction, and informal racing among similar boats. The design incorporates classic Hobie construction techniques, featuring rotomolded polyethylene hulls known for their durability and resistance to beach launching impacts. The simple rigging system and straightforward sail plan make it approachable for intermediate sailors while still offering enough performance to keep experienced sailors engaged. Like other boats in Hobie's fleet, it benefits from the company's extensive dealer network and parts availability, important considerations for long-term ownership. This catamaran represents solid value for sailors seeking an exciting, manageable boat for coastal adventures.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$1,000 – $1,000
typical asking price
Median $1,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$1,000 – $1,000 1
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
Beam 7.92 ft / 2.41 m
Max Draft 1.50 ft / 0.46 m
Min Draft 0.42 ft / 0.13 m
Displacement 315.00 lb / 143 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 168.00 ft² / 15.61 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Twin Cbrd.
Rigging Type Cat (rotating spar)
Construction FG
Designer John Wake
Builder Hobie Cat
First Built 1985
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
58.12
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