Mesh or Vinyl Tramp what do you prefer?

At some point I'm gonna replace my mesh tramp. Of the 3 boats that I've had, they have all had mesh. Does anyone prefer the vinyl ones? Ive never even sailed on a boat with one so I dont know if they have any different feel or benefits/problems compared to the mesh ones.

Thanks for the input!

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It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

86 H16

Hi Fender,

I really like the solid tramps. Why? It extends our sailing season. Keeps us drier when the water is cold.

Other than that there is no good reason. When the wind starts howling, a solid tramp can be like having a third sail, it'll catch air and blow you over in a heartbeat. Also, the wave tops will go through the mesh possibly allowing you to maintain a bit more speed on the run.

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

Frankly, if the water is cold, I'l be wearing a wetsuit in which case I'd rather be wetted down (dry in a wetsuit is a good way to pull out every hair in your legs), or a drysuit in which case I don't care.

At least for me, I'd rather have the mesh for less wind-catchability. On the other hand, we just patched our 1980 vintage blue vinyl which had been sitting in the sun for 20 years - the only reason it had holes was that some kid took a sharp stick to it once - and it's good to go. White vinyl would probably last even longer...

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Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

I kinda preffer the solid tramps. I like to stay dry. You can't get clours any more which is a bummer. I have a new white solid tramp on my 14 and it is really bright when the sun is shining. I had a solid orange tramp on my old 16 and I thought it was very cool looking. My new 16 has a mesh one, and my girlfriend comments that she needs to get knee pads for when she is on the new boat. They are a little more abrasive than the vinyl ones. I've heard people say that you can get the mesh ones tighter too but I don't know if there is any truth to that.

I have an old vinyl tramp that I turned over this year and it is still a nice yellow. Last week the wind was slight and my son was off the trap and laying on his stomach and the trap hook pooked a hole in the tramp. Does anyone have an idea about how to patch this hole. It is not tearing out yet, but I would like to stop it before it starts. Any ideas? Thanks.

We had ours patched by a sailmaker - a piece of Sunbrella on top and bottom witha zig-zag stitch around cost $35 includign labor and took them like 5 mins. Haven't tested it out too much yet but it seems really solid!

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Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

The vinyl tramp on my 16 came with two hole repairs done with grommets. It looks like the grommets were shoved through the hole and crimped in place. This repair has held up well.

Hi Fender. I have used both the solid white vinyl which was on my "81" 16 and liked it just fine. I purchased a new boat this year with the mesh tramp and so far I really like it as well. As for trying to stay dry with the solid it does not really keep you much drier. As you know with any wind at all the spray, boat wakes will get the tramp wet and after the first tack you will be sitting in the water. With the solid when you sit on it there will be puddles that stay where the most weight is, which does not happen with the mesh. Also another unfortunate result of the solid is if you sail with a female partner as I do (my wife) those little puddles can play hell with the female anatomy from alway sitting in water resulting in frequent yeast infections throughout the summer months! I am not sure it this is true with all but it was for us. We also wear the appropriate clothing when sailing in cold water so that issue really does not apply to using either tramp. Well there you have it and hope its helps.

We had a solid blue vinyl tramp on our 16 when we first bought the boat that was in poor condition. Sailed it a few years before replacing with a new black mesh one. We did not find it really to be any drier than the mesh. Lets face it, a Hobie 16 like all beach cats are wet when the breeze is up. And in light air the mesh is just as dry as the solid. We did find the solid vinyl easier on the rug burns on the knees but that is it’s only advantage. We even found the solid blue to be much hotter in the sun than the black mesh. Probably the white vinyl is much better in that regard. And the mesh has all the other advantages as described, no puddles, wave go through and don’t slap and less wind resistance.

One of my sailing friends claims that the mesh tramp is better when you fly a hull. The solid tramp catches the wind (more), and over you go! He says he capsizes far less often with the mesh tramp.

Can't verify it, because I have the vinyl tramp.

I need to have someone go under the boat with a leaf blower and see how much wind actually goes throught the mesh one. The mesh is so tight I can't imagine that much actually makes it through.

Maybe Matt can answer this. Which is more durable? My new boat has a mesh tramp and its already starting to show wear and it was assembled in the end of July last year.

I feel quite a bit of airflow through the mesh. I personally like the water splashing through too.

One big difference I think is that the vinyl would gather more dirt... the original vinyl was on my cat when I bought it last year and it was nasty! I took it off immediately.

Vinyl you stay way dryer and they last longer.

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1979 Hobie 16

Don't forget that the solid tramps are about $100 less.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Thankfully I'm sailing on insland lakes.. so the water is warm.. I want to get wet!