Leaving H16 with comptip mast up for a long time

Hi everyone,
I have read a lot that Hobie recommends covering their comptip masts when storing the boat. Now this is fine when the mast is taken down.
What if I want to keep my boat with the mast up? I have an option of keeping my cat on a sailing club grounds. Natural choice will be to keep mast raised all the time or no? Do I really-really need to keep that comptip covered or not?
And another question. If I do need to keep it covered, then what to do if I install mast float? Take it on and off every time because regular mast cover does not fit on a mast float?
That "keep cover over comptip" requirement confuses me

Yuri
RS Feva, 2006
H16, 2006

this is always a heard one to answer. If you going to be sailing regularly then leave it off. If your going to be sailing on every few months tip the boat on its side and install a comptip cover. you will not be able to use the comptip cover with mast ball. make sure in the winter when the oat isn't in use to to cover it.

Are you going to make it to the "sweet" 16 regatta? http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewt ... highlight=

_________________
Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

Yuri, we'd love for you bring your boat to Raleigh for the Sweet 16 regatta on Nov. 3rd. There's a post about it in the Racing forum, or you can contact me directly at ddbrown (at) ncsu (dot) edu.

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Trey Brown
www.velocitysailing.com
2006 N20 1017
1998 H16 102698
www.sunjammers.com ftw!

We just bought a 1986 Hobie 16 in August after a 23 year absence. Our former Hobie was before the comptip mast.

At the cottage we leave the mast up for the summer. But we just brought it home for the winter and we put the Hobie in our pole barn. Is this enough protection? Do I really need to cover the top of the mast also?

if it's out of the sun it should be okay. However things are always better with a good cover on the to keep the elements off of it.

_________________
Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

I want my boat back if you're going to put a mast float on it.

As follow-up to my "Storpedo" I've got an idea for a comptip cover that can be installed on and removed from a boat with mast up and rigged. It is still in the design stage. Is anyone interested?

yup

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07 H16
Sail No. 110387

No offense guys, but that is part of the reason I bought a Hobie. So I don't have to do stuff like that.....there's a reason there is so many 16's around.

Yeah, right!


aschaffter,
yes, share the idea.

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Yuri
Hobie 16
Laser Vago

If your location prevents you from rolling the boat on its side to attach and remove a soft cover, you could make a semi rigid cover and hoist it.

Here's the idea- the cover would be a long, very lightweight, semi-rigid but flexible, hinged, plastic clamshell (think much smaller, lighter weight version of my storpedo) that could wrap around the comptip. (The hinge could be lightweight- plastic hinge, bungee or rope lacing, etc.)

In addition to the halves of the clamshell, some slide pieces would be attached to but stand off slightly from the hinge. You would insert the slide pieces in the track, attach the halyard to the clamshell, and haul it up. Once the cover is above the forestay/shrouds, you would grab two lightweight ropes that would be attached the top corners of the clamshell, and pull them forward around the stays to close the clamshell around the comp tip. Wrap the closer ropes around the mast and clamshell once or twice to keep it securely closed. You might need some small cleats or something at the bottom of the clamshell to keep the ropes from sliding off. I also have a couple of alternate ideas to close and secure the clamshell- some Velcro or a couple of rare earth magnets could be used to help keep it closed, hinge springs, etc. but are not nearly as simple as my initial idea.

To remove the cover- uncleat the halyard, and unwrap and pull down on the closer ropes. The bottom end of the clamshell could be shaped so that when it hits the forestay/shroud/tang it opens.

It should be relatively easy to make out of vinyl, plastic, etc. and inexpensive once manufacturing is set up.

Is there really a need and market for something like this?

Now that I have described my idea you guys will build your own or someone else will "design," patent, and market it!!!! Maybe Hobie will like it and give me a new boat in exchange for the rights to use my idea

This stuff works pretty good too. It's like sun screen for you boat.

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2003 Tiger - Don Atchley