the Windsong

can anyone explain to me what the makes the buzzing/humming noise while riding just above the waterline

theres no other song like the wind song

Likely the rudders, but it can also be wires.

See this Tech note on rudder shaping:

http://www.hobiecat.com/support/tech/hum.html

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

Short answer is rudder cavitation.

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Nick

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

The actual answer is sailor elves!

These elves live in the hollow space, inside your hulls. Once they move in, they're nearly impossible to evict. They not only humm they're annoying elf songs, THEY STEAL BEER! I've put down numerous beer cans on my tramp, for just a moment while I adjust some equipment, then find the beer is gone! They also like to sneak up behind you and knock your hat off into the lake, all without being seen.

I've called Orkin, but the girl that answers the phone there, says they can't help.

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Jeff Peterson
H-16 Sail #23721
Big Marine Lake, MN

Actually they are called mannequilla. Mannequilla are little bears that live in the river, they are about the size of an otter and locate their food (small children) through echo location which is what causes rudder hum on hobies and daggerboard hum on sunfish. The only way to prevent this problem is to put bottom paint on the boat. If the mannequilla is close enough to cause a rudder hum he is close enough to the boat to attack any unsuspecting children who fall in the water before they have a chance to escape. The only way to see a manequilla for any length of time is to spotlight them on the river bank at night, they can also occasionally be spotted surfacing for air on the river during the day but only in rare instances. While mannequilla love to eat small children the only real danger adults face from these illusive creatures is the loss of boat speed. the loss of hats is due to operator error and the loss of beer is usually caused by the prior consumption of too many. I have spent two summers researching the behavior of manequilla so if you have any questions please dont hessitate to ask.

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The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails.

How does mantequilla (which means "butter" in Spanish) get to be little bears?

I think it's the chupacabra!


Either that or it's xanderwess after a heavy meal.

Mannequilla have not been discovered in Spain, they only live in the coastal region of the Carolinas, somewhat like Venus Fly traps. Mannequilla evolved from the bears that used to be dominant in the coastal regions of nc, when humans started moving into the area and converting the forests into farms, the bears were forced out of their natural habitat, and through many years of adaptation they developed gills and slicked back, oily fur that lets them glide easily through the water. I have done some research trying to figure out if there was indeed a connection between spanish butter and our beloved bears of the river and discovered that there is a difference in the pronunciation as well as spelling evidentally in spanish mantequilla is pronounced mant-ay-key-ya and in Eastern NC, Mannequilla is pronounced man-a-kwil-a. obviously there is no connection.

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The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails.

I also have heard that the humm attracts dolphins when in the ocean, i wouldn't know for sure because I am currentyl limited a lake. Is this true.

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when your batons start to snap and the wind is at your back, you see a white cap, and your on a hobie cat, pull in your lines and you see it start to rise
does
your jib hang low

I have also heard that porpises are attracted to vibrations in the water and have seen them swimming around the boat while I was beating on the side, however I dont think they were attracted by the noise. just to clarify, Mannequilla are not necessarilyattracted by the vibrations, they are the cause of them, however, it is possible that mannequilla are attracted by the echo location of others, but due to their illusive nature it is difficult to directly observe their actions.

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The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails.

Could this go to the FAQ please?

It appears that there are two, unrelated causes of humm. In the Nordic climates, it is elf humming. In the southern temperate areas, there may be other additional causes.

Does Europe have the same problems? And what about South Africa and Australia?

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Jeff Peterson
H-16 Sail #23721
Big Marine Lake, MN

Wow, the northern sailors are bored, and the southern ones thinks its too cold. Too much time at work, not enough beer and socializing can also cause the hum, not from water & boats but in your head.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

I always thought that the humming was from the Humpback Whales swimming under my boat.

Sorry, I was bored and I have to revive this old topic.

As for the last post, I like the idea of whales swimming under me but for some reason I feel that there may be limited whales in the lake I sail on considering that is is only about 100 feet deep and the food source of giant squid is very limited.

I think it is the elves!!!

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

In West Maui the humpbacks cause the humming from November to April. Menehune riding sea turtles cause it the rest of the year.

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