Handling big swells on a H16

What's the best way to take on swells on a Hobie 16?

_________________
Floyd
00 Tiger
http://www.HobieFleet33.com
10 Mile Surfside, Texas
Join us on our Facebook group: Surfside Sailing

Surf!

You are talking about open ocean swells? Not steep and or breaking?

Depends on the direction of travel and wave height, but most open ocean swells don't require any special technique.

Steep ones may require rounding up a bit and hitting at 45 degrees or less.

Open ocean surfing swells is a blast!

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

Going the same direction as the swell is a blast (as long as it's a swell, not a cresting, breaking wave). If you're racing downwind towards a race mark (gate marks), try taking your mainsheet block off of the ratcheting mode and into freewheel mode. As the swell gets close to you, there should be an increase in wind speed. When you start to feel the sterns lift up try sheeting in the main just a little to pick up some boat speed. With practice you'll get really good at this. And, by having the ratchet turned off nobody around you (if racing) will hear you sheeting in. If on the other hand you have a large breaking wave coming up behind you, forget what I just said and get your butt on top of the transoms steer straight & hang on.

Yes 5-6 feet open ocean swells is it possible to flip the boat backwards or does it just feel like it. I have had my crew move forward as we pass over the top but then the bow slaps the back side pretty hard.

_________________
Floyd
00 Tiger
http://www.HobieFleet33.com
10 Mile Surfside, Texas
Join us on our Facebook group: Surfside Sailing

Weight forward is good.

You can go over backwards, but not likely except when tacking and the boat gets pushed back by a wave. I had that happen when the swell lifted the bows and the 3 on board tumbled aft... the rudders also turned hard like a brake and over aft we went.

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

Would a Hobie 18 be better or more stable for these conditions?

_________________
Floyd
00 Tiger
http://www.HobieFleet33.com
10 Mile Surfside, Texas
Join us on our Facebook group: Surfside Sailing

Yes. You will find the H18 more stable in most any situation. That is not to say that the H16 can not handle it. It is a great ride and the most popular cat ever built.

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