New Adventure handle design contributes to Wet Butt

Hi Matt -

re: Mirage Adventure Hull Handle Design contributes to Wet Butt

Can you please pass this along to your design engineers? Thanks.

Just received a new hull to replace one with a crack in the drive well. (Thank you very much.) This new hull has the redesigned handles. While the handles are wonderful, they contribute to the problem of wet butt big time.


In a small chop, you can see a wave crest start to progress down the hull. (see photo 1 above) None of the water splashes over the hull until it gets to the handle.



As the wave approaches the handle (see photo 2 above), the wave follows the indented contour and for some reason, the indented handle design promotes the water to shoot upward behind the handle higher than the rest of the wave flowing along the hull. It is like lowering the hull height by about three inches leading to an unnecessary wet butt.

In similar conditions in the 08 hull, I would not have had a wet butt. Now I have to design some sort of removable wedge to put in the handle area to plug the water from shooting up in small waves. Hopefully the engineers will confirm this and maybe stick the handle out further and not indent the hull around the handle. Thanks for listening.

Yeah... we are aware of that one. The handle works so well and is comfortable to use... We are considering a plug or flap of some kind for those who sail.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I agree with the above Matt and would love to see some retrofitted solution too...Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Please announce it if you manufacture a plug or flap. I can imagine water streaming up is even worse when sailing. Thanks.

+1 on a wet bum here. To the point, I don't bother putting in the two plugs (in the seat well).

With the plugs in, water just accumulates in the well. With them out, it at least drains water that comes through.

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H@mmer
"Intelligence is nothing without imagination"

Not wanting to suffer, I got out a pair of scissors on some foam pad like material, stuffed it in the crack, and the problem was solved. No wet butt today. See photos below.

Material from like a camping pad stuffed in behind the handle.

Side view of the cut pad.

Rnyster...you have just given me an idea I am going to try...let you know if it works...Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Some of the guys I sail with came up with a couple of fixes a month or so back:
1. Just stuff a car wash type foam pad in there - similar to the fix posted here by Rnykster.
2. A little unsightly but quite effective - use masking tape or similar to prevent the water from entering the handle cavity.

In strong wind conditions it really doesn't matter what you do - you're gonna take a bath whether you like it or not

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008

I've been out to the AI to try my idea. I simply unscrewed a handle and forced some lagging I had onto it. Unfortunately it split the foam so I just plastic tie-ed it to the handle for the sake of the test then screwed it back onto the hull. Voila....no gap to let the water past but still the handle can be grabbed as the foam compresses in the fingers, so no downside there. Looks fine too so next step to find some lagging with a little larger inside diameter whilst about the same outside diameter. I am thinking a set of foam bicycle handle grips may be the answer. I will try it out and let you know..Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'