The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 vs Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 measures 21,4 feet overall (1987), giving it roughly 4,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 at 16,7 feet (1969). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 tips the scales at 639 lbs - 319 lbs less than the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 at 320 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 could be the deciding factor.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket - 320 lbs for the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 and 639 lbs for the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 draws 3,1 ft, compared to 2,0 ft for the Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969. That 1,1-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 uses fractional_rig_sloop rigging.
The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 is trailerable - a genuine advantage for sailors who prefer to keep their boat at home or explore multiple sailing venues.
Bottom line: The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 21 SE SE 1987 at 21,4 ft offers more living space, greater range, and a more substantial offshore capability. The Hobie Cat Hobie Cat 16 Easy Easy 1969 at 16,7 ft is the easier, lower-cost option - simpler to crew and a strong choice for coastal and day sailing.