Rooster Tailing

Good Morning,

Started sailing this summer, managed to get out 4 or 5 days a week for a few hours.

We had some wild times on our new h16 to be certain.

Here is my question: Two days we had optimum conditions and we really got the speed cranked up.

We were ripping along and were going fast enough that the wakes from the two rudders met in the middle and were throwing a rooster tail up in the middle.

We were keeping the windward hull just out or skimming the water at the time. If we got the hull to much higher we would start to actually slow down.

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Dale Guthormsen

Where to be, On the Edge
2008 hobie 16

Hummm... sure the rudders are in alignment? Usually pretty smooth through the water. Even at high speed.

Lock both down (while on the trailer) and measure the rudders from centerline to centerline (about 4-6 inches below the hull) in the front of the blade and again at the same height in the aft. They should be about 1/8" to 1/4" closer together in the front.

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

I believe that you are correct. Flying High is not the fastest way to sail a H16. You have at least two things working against you. Your leeward hull will bury and increase the wetted surface area (drag) to the point that it is more than when just skimming with the windward hull. Also, when you heel, the mast and thus the sail is at an angle greater than 90 degrees to the wind. This dumps air and decreases force and you are not getting everything you could out of the breeze.
I get rooster tail right off the rudders, but not in the wake like you describe. wah hoo!!!

Check that the rudders are on the right sides. The top castings bend inward when you look at them from behind.

Are you sure its the rudders? I have had some large rooter tails with my 16 but they are coming off the inside of the 2 hulls meeting the middle somewhere out behind the boat.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.