What Is the Best Righting System

From your guys personal experience, what is the best (effective and cost effective) righting system out of a:
Righting Pole
Righting Bucket
Or any of the other lines based righting systems like the hawaiin righting system or stretch righting system??

Ive been thinking about building myself a righting pole. Seems like i coould make a really good one for cheap from home depot

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1971 H16 (sail #1768)

To all of you on the Hobie Forum... I love you guys!!!
thanks for all the help!

If you search the forum, you will find many threads on this topic. The general opinion seems to be that if you solo sail the way to go is with a righting bag and a righting line or system. It's cheap and straight forward. There is a thread w/ photos of a guy who made his own. They are available on ebay from Colorado Bag co.
I started a thead on making my own righting pole for solo righting and no one seems to think you can get enough force with just one person on it.
there are also shroud extenders that let the top hull tip over and help with the righting, but they get pretty mixed reviews.
Hope this helps.

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Alfred
'87 H16 Sail 89907
If you aren't sailing on the edge, you're taking up too much room.

A proper righting pole will work just fine. There are 2 guys in our fleet that can solo right their 18s with a pole. That is not to say a righting bag is not easier, just that a pole will work fine if the design is right.

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Sail Like you Have a Pair
Bluish gray 73 - 83 H16
Super Nice Yellow 84 H18

By far the most cost effective righting system is a 15ft piece of hollow braid rope maybe 3/4" diameter- which is what Hobie supplies with the boats. Tie one end to the dolphin striker, throw the free end over the hull, loop the line around your harness hook and lean back. Stuff it in a pocket or tie up under the tramp when not in use.

I'm not a fan of the hawaiian/snap back systems. The ones I've used didn't seem to have enough line and I never liked trying to balance against a bungie cord- a solid rope is much easier.

I've never used a righting pole. I'm sure they can work well (though I'm not sure if they can be used when the boat is turtled), but I'd make sure you put some thought into it if you design your own. There is a lot of leverage there you're dealing with and if something lets go or fails, I could see you doing serious damage to the boat.

sm

SRM, I'm not sure what you are saying about the Hawaiin system. If rigged properly you are leaning back against a solid rope. The only thing the bungie does in the system is return the righting line once you are back upright.
I sail solo, weight about 190 lbs. and don't have any problems getting the boat back on it's feet. The only time I had any problems was the first time and I hadn't paid any attention to getting the bows into the wind. Once I did, it was no problem.
I have heard that if the wind is not blowing, it can be hard to get the boat back up, but if the wind isn't blowing, how did you get it to go over in the first place.

Random question, to practice righting how would you get it to safely go over without pitching or flying hull too high? My brain just isn't working this afternoon; I know the answer is obvious. Grab the leeward shroud and lean out maybe? Then you would end up under mast and sail, can't think that would be good either.

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Brian C.
H14
H16

I have to agree with srm as I have used the Hawiian and it is too short, hard to hang on to when stretched. The rope Hobie supplies with a new boat, tied on the dolphin striker and stuffed in the tramp pouch is pretty hard to beat. I am 200 and with no wind I can't right the boat by myself. When windy and choppy conditions its fairly easy to right.
To tip the boat over just hang out on the trap line from the handle, once it goes past the balance point it continues pretty slow which allows you to get clear of the mast. Good luck.

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07 H16
Sail No. 110387

Soccerguy,
One way I can think of, if the wind is blowing pretty steady, is to over-backwind the jib during a tack. When you tack, don't uncleat the jib. I've done this a few times on accident in heavy wind where I simply didn't time the tack right, but I think if you let the jib remain cleated and keep your weight in the back of the leward hull the boat will essentially roll over backwards. If your practicing righting for the first time I would definately have someone else on the boat with you or another boat on the water, and definately let people on shore know of your plans.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Righting is easier when it is windy. The wind on the tramp and under the sail helps to right the boat. Don't try and practice righting when it isn't windy. Way too hard.

The reality is the simple piece of rope that comes with the boat is the best for righting. If you're sailing alone you may need help. A hobie cat lying on it's side seems to bring people out of the woodwork. So usually by the time yo are getting your fancy single person righting system out you may have shoo boats and well meaning people away.

Sail it.

cheers
Bill