Overview
The Hobie 33 is an ultralight with a lifting keel from the Hobie company in California, built from 1982 to 1987, with 187 built according to sailboatdata.com. Its place in this catalog rests on its ocean racing record: 5 different boats of the design have finished the Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii or the Newport Bermuda Race in the official results.
Design and Construction
sailboatdata.com lists the underbody as lifting keel, 33 ft overall on a 30.5 ft waterline, with 8 ft of beam and 5.5 ft of draft. Displacement is about 4,000 lb with 1,900 lb of ballast, and the fractional sloop carries about 428 sq ft. Practical Sailor reports that Hobie Alter recalled the hulls being laid up with alternating layers of fiberglass around a 3/4-inch urethane foam core. The boat was priced at about $50,000 when new, and the retractable keel was expensive to produce, so the last boats were built with a fixed keel. Belowdecks there is only a narrow cabin with a half-height bulkhead forward of the V-berth, a space for a porta-potty, and a table mounted on top of the keel trunk. Owners complain that the cockpit seats are too narrow.
Ocean Racing Record
Por Favor (John Denny) finished the Pacific Cup (2010, 2012). Superior (Rod Virzi) finished the Pacific Cup (1986). Celerity (Peter Cosman) finished the Pacific Cup (2006). Sleeping Dragon (Dean Daniels) finished the Pacific Cup (2008). Other finishers include Stretch.
Practical Sailor says the boat suffers sailing to weather in a chop because she displaces only 4,000 pounds, and that owners call her tender but well-mannered with a full crew on the rail and a balanced traveler. Owners there rate her excellent on flat water and fast on a close reach, and say that in a blow off the wind she leaves the Express 34 and Olson 34 behind. One owner who sailed the 380-mile San Francisco to Santa Barbara race reported hitting 25 knots on the speedo.
