Greetings all! Introduction and questions...

Hello all,
I'm new to the forum and it looks like a lot of neat people and neat stuff going on and I'm glad to be a part of it! Anyway, I've got some questions so if you want to skip down past this stuff to just below the youtube links, that's cool

I bought a Hobie 16 ('86) mid-summer of 09, so this past summer was my first full one with the boat. It's been a wonderful experience so far! And I finally got out on the trapeze by myself for a few tacks! I managed to wipe out, and even turtle it (oops!), Anyway, it was all I could do to get it upright and eventually needed help.

I have the boat on Lake Ontario, just before it meets the St. Lawrence in Cape Vincent, NY at my folks house. The wind and waves there, coming off the lake, are nothing short of ocean-like quite a bit of the time. That makes righting the boat very difficult and I've found that I'm unable to do it myself even at 185 pounds or so, probably because of the wave action. On the other hand, it's nice because if you get into trouble, the prevailing SW winds will blow you into the bay, as opposed to out in the lake or shipping channel. Still, I'm considering another place where the waves aren't so ridiculous...

Here's a video of the rollers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYn8FsiETDI

Here's kind of a fun "landing" into the cove (go to 2/3rds the way into the video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEh1EEjDU6k

I have a better video camera now so I'm looking forward to making some fun videos this coming summer!

Anyway, onto the questions!

Probably the most annoying thing so far is, when there's a lot of wind and I'm close hauled, the aft edge of the foresail flutters quite a bit. You can actually see/hear it in the "Rollers..." video at about 9 seconds into the video. Does anyone know what's going on with that?

The Trampoline straps have ripped off... I've read about some attempts to punch wholes, use a grommet kit, etc... or should I just buy a new tramp? Are they hard to install? I saw someone just got one off eBay for $170 or so brand new but is that what I could expect to pay?

Should it be so difficult for just one person at 185 lbs to right the boat? I come pretty close but can't quite do it. Plus, its a lot easier to flip with only one person and heavy wave action so I'm going to try to stick with two people or more this summer.... Although I can never seem to convince my wife to go out with me when the waves make the lake look like an ocean

The mast was such a pain to get up at the beginning of the summer, I have left it up for the winter. I was orignally hoping to keep the boat in a boathouse but there wasn't room. Is that bad? Should I be taking the mast down for the winter? Putting a tarp over the boat, etc? The sails are in the non-heated boathouse (suspended from the rafters so that rodents don't try to build another nest with them).

Anyway, thanks in advance for everyone's help. And if anyone is in the area, let me know! It would be fun to do some sailing this summer.

Jon

Hi! Welcome to the forums!

I'm not expert like some of the guys on here, but I'll try answer a few questions for you.

First, with regard to the flapping on the back of the jib, it could be that the sail is blown out, or it could be a rigging issue. Which hole have you got the jib sheet in? Perhaps for the age of the sail you are not getting enough tension in the luff? You could try to put more tension in the jib halyard and play with which hole you have the jib sheet in. However the jib could just be blown out and needs to be replaced. (Which would be too bad as they a pretty sail colors)

With regard to the tramp, I would just replace it with the newer mesh style tramp, however, if that's not an option any good canvass shop could sew the straps back on for you. I don't think I would trust straps that were only held on with a grommet, but that's just me.

Then I wonder why you had so much difficulty with the mast? I keep my boat at home and take it to the beach every weekend. It takes 2 people 5 minutes to step and un-step the mast. It really shouldn't be difficult. Do you have a mast stepper? It's a stainless steel hinge that helps hold the mast base as you bring the mast up.

Then if it's just a question of the mast that is preventing you from keeping the boat indoors during winter, I would say figure out the technique for getting your mast up and down and keep the boat inside. Inside or under cover always trumps outside.

_________________
2011 H16... Have a Hobie Day!
1983 H14 Turbo...

As far as righting the boat. Do you have a righting line, like the hawaiian system or some way to lean out when standing on the lower hull? Also, do you swim the bows around into the wind. That is an absolute necessity. Otherwise you are trying to lift the sail out of the water with either the wind pushing down on the sail or pushing against you on the tramp. Also make sure and un-sheet the main and jib or you will be trying to lift a lot of water with the sails. Keep trying. I am 200 lbs and when the wind is blowing don't have any problems getting the boat up by myself.
When you have turtled the boat I have found that going aft and sinking the back until the bows are tits up and then rapidly moving forward. It will bring the mast to the surface many times. Anyway, look at it all as an adventure.
I am currently watching the water temp in the Great Salt Lake. When it gets to 50 I'll be out there with you righting my boat wearing my wetsuit.

Welcome to the forum...
Firstly make sure your mast is as water tight as you can make it ... if you go over all the rivet heads with a silicon sealer this will help to keep the mast afloat long enough for you to work on righting the boat.
You need to play around with different ways to get the boat back on its feet if you sail a lot by your self. There are many ways to right a Hobie 16 and it is just a matter of trying different ways to accomplish this. As Ft Lauderdale mentioned ... you can use the stern or the bow to recover from a turtle position and as well you can also use a similar technique to get the boat back to vertical. It just requires some practice ... and as mentioned ... make sure that the mast is pointing more or less towards the direction of the wind. You can also use the jib to lift the mast clear of the water by cleating it to the upper most cleat ... must remember to un cleat the jib as the boat begins to come over or it will most likely continue to rotate 180 degrees and you are right back where you started.
I have found that time on the water practicing is the best (and only) way to improve your Hobie 16 righting experience.
Good Luck.

_________________
John A. Webster
Mariner Sails Inc.
http://www.mariner-sails.com

All,
Thanks for all your comments and feedback. I'm really looking forward to this year's season! I bought a wet suit (short sleeve and short leg - shorty?) at a garage sale for 5 bucks! I'm not sure how much sooner I'll be able to get out there, since it still looks like the water temp is about 46 degrees!

I also bought a new trampoline that has hiking straps, so I'm pretty excited about getting that on.

As for righting the boat, I guess I'm in for some practice... I'll probably try in shallower water without waves so I can get a feel for it, then bring it out... Also, hopefully I'll be with another person - I expect it to be very easy with two people since I came so close by myself. Again, thanks everyone for your comments and feedback.

Now I just have to figure out what is making the leech of my jib sail sort of luff at higher speeds. Someone mentioned that it may be "blown out"... is there any way to tell for sure? How would I get more tension in the leech?

Thanks & fair winds...