Surfing and Sailing Pioneer Dead At 80

Hobie Alter Is Dead

Hobie Alter Is Dead

Hobart Alter, the man who revolutionized surfing and sailing with the first polyurethane surf boards and the small catamaran known as the Hobie Cat, died over the weekend at his home in Palm Desert, California at age 80, his family said.

Although the cause of his death was not given, the Los Angeles Times said it was cancer. Alter who is popularly known as ‘Hobie’, started making surf boards and ended up fashioning an entire culture.

He started designing boards in the 1950s, at the time the material used was balsawood. Along with his friend Gordon Clark, he invented the first boards made of polyurethane foam. They were lighter and easier to handle and became an immediate hit.

Related News

His shop Hobie in Dana Point south of Los Angeles became a hub for surfing culture in southern California. He did not stop there, going on to design small leisure catamarans called the Hobie Cat.

Unveiled in 1967, the Hobie Cat 14 soon became the standard because it was so light and easy to maneuver. The Hobie Cat 16 came a few years later and it is still manufactured today.

A statement on his website read: “He introduced the world to an outdoor lifestyle and collection of products that made things just a bit more fun for all of us.”

Load more