Thanks Stobbo. Go for it, there are plenty of days on the Hauraki gulf when you'd have a blast! 
I think the sheer weight of the boat helps to dampen the roll a bit, but you really do need that boom! The one time I tried it without one, the almost uncontrollable rolling downwind was mildly terrifying  And a simple boom is ridiculously easy to set up with no tools.
Apart from the plethora of Prusik knots, the bridle for the mainsheet as far back as possible and the carefully selected uncut assortment of 5m and 6m fibreglass fishing rod sections for the boom (epoxied together), the 2 key parts are some kind of sleeve around the mast base to stop the boom sliding down to the deck (I use multiple windings of very thick shock-cord) and self adhesive tape around the mast to stop the boom rubbing directly sgainst it when the boom is on the windward side. Fitting hiking straps just means you can ease the mainsheet a bit later 
You'll also want to fit plumbers tape to the mast joint and silicone sealant to the head and foot so that if you do can it, it'll have enough flotation so that the boat won't turn turtle (I tested this and it works).
I ditched the rear crossbar early on to shed weight from the wrong place - it also made it easier for me to slide my bum back onto the rear deck and/or lie back to keep my weight low when I need to.
I think the square topped Hobie sail plays a huge role in make this set up possible. The way that top section spills gusts is remarkable. With it fitted, I haven't been knocked down once. I use a 2 to 1 reduction on the mainsheet, which I run from the rear bridle up to a Prusik-knot-mounted block at the back of the boom, then along the boom to another Prusik-knot-mounted block near the mast, then down around a block mounted on a traveller that goes around/through the front cross bar, before the mainsheet comes back to my hand. The clew of the sail is also attached to the boom with a Prusik knot
Thanks Stobbo. Go for it, there are plenty of days on the Hauraki gulf when you'd have a blast!
I think the sheer weight of the boat helps to dampen the roll a bit, but you really do need that boom! The one time I tried it without one, the almost uncontrollable rolling downwind was mildly terrifying And a simple boom is ridiculously easy to set up with no tools.
Apart from the plethora of Prusik knots, the bridle for the mainsheet as far back as possible and the carefully selected uncut assortment of 5m and 6m fibreglass fishing rod sections for the boom (epoxied together), the 2 key parts are some kind of sleeve around the mast base to stop the boom sliding down to the deck (I use multiple windings of very thick shock-cord) and self adhesive tape around the mast to stop the boom rubbing directly sgainst it when the boom is on the windward side. Fitting hiking straps just means you can ease the mainsheet a bit later
You'll also want to fit plumbers tape to the mast joint and silicone sealant to the head and foot so that if you do can it, it'll have enough flotation so that the boat won't turn turtle (I tested this and it works).
I ditched the rear crossbar early on to shed weight from the wrong place - it also made it easier for me to slide my bum back onto the rear deck and/or lie back to keep my weight low when I need to.
I think the square topped Hobie sail plays a huge role in make this set up possible. The way that top section spills gusts is remarkable. With it fitted, I haven't been knocked down once. I use a 2 to 1 reduction on the mainsheet, which I run from the rear bridle up to a Prusik-knot-mounted block at the back of the boom, then along the boom to another Prusik-knot-mounted block near the mast, then down around a block mounted on a traveller that goes around/through the front cross bar, before the mainsheet comes back to my hand. The clew of the sail is also attached to the boom with a Prusik knot
Before fitting the big Hobie sail, I tried a 35 sq ft bermuda with a light alloy mast boom and vang, but it was too sensitive to gusts and kept knocking me down in the same windy gap as in the photo above. The Hobie set up's Achilles heel is when theres lot's of boat chop but no wind on the sail to stabilise the roll. That when you have to move your weight about most to stabilise it, but the centreboard of course helps here too.
Before fitting the big Hobie sail, I tried a 35 sq ft bermuda with a light alloy mast boom and vang, but it was too sensitive to gusts and kept knocking me down in the same windy gap as in the photo above. The Hobie set up's Achilles heel is when theres lot's of boat chop but no wind on the sail to stabilise the roll. That when you have to move your weight about most to stabilise it, but the centreboard of course helps here too.
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