Maiden voyage (w/pics)

I gave my recently acquired '86 HC 16 a sea trial this past weekend. While there is still work to do, it sails wel, plus I got some air time. The hulls (rudders) really sing!!! (see items (4) and (5) below). The boat is in really great shape. The hulls are sound and solid with only two cosmetic repairs. Not a drop of water from the drains.

I still have a number of things I want to do:

(1) replace a few lines including upgrading to Aussie jib halyard, and shorten jib sheet.
(2) install trap wires
(3) install new cunningham and main sheet blocks
(4) install new cams, stiffeners, and other misc. rudder parts
(5) work on rudder shape- flatten trailing edge, etc. to reduce singing..
(6) tighten frame to eliminated annoying creaking at the castings.
(7) build a folding extension on the trailer's mast support to ease stepping the mast.

Unfortunately the hull flying wind was few and far between. It was also really tough to get out of the protected cove where the dock was located (gonna buy a folding paddle.)

I need to work on my sailing skills also:
(1) learn to tack better so I don't decel as much
(2) figure out the best way to handle tiller stick when tacking
(3) work on overall sailing technique


Headed out of the cove. Not quite becalmed.




On the beach, waiting for some wind.

Nice and Nice!

I got my 16 last year and did breath life back into it! I hope you have as much fun the first year as I did! I decided to wait till year two to mess with traps.. I put on 2 wires this year when I stepped it, I have a dock spot at the local cat dock which is super nice.

Anyways, in regards to learning how to tack without decel... I'm not really sure that's possible.. heh.. It's just the way the 16 works, when you tack, you basically stop until you've come all the way across the wind and have pulled in your lines on your new tack. Some of the experts here have mixed thoughts regarding tacking a 16, but what I've found that works the best for me in a solo situation is to leave the jib alone.. even leave it locked while tacking. I turn the rudders and as I start to come around, unlock the main, jump to the other side while at the same time flipping the tiller around the main... once on the other side, usually the main sail needs a little shake from me to "pop"... and then I sheet in the main.. as I'm doing that, the jib has back filled usually and actually helped me come around.. loosen it and it will pop by itself most the time.. then sheet the jib in on the new side and away you go like a rocket ship.

I had cam issues my first day in heavy winds last year, after doing some investigating, I realized my cams were locked.. I bought new ones but haven't actually put them in.. when I tried, I started drilling out the old, original ones that are riveted instead of screwed like the new ones, in the process.. I loosened them up and they are working again.. heh.. Also, I didn't have a big enough bit to properly drill them out.. I am missing the size bit that I need. Anyways.. some marine grease and spinning it with a drill seemed to fix my issues.. but I still have hum and what not, but I don't mind it. I should buy a new rudder assembly as one of my tiller things is bent slightly and it sort of annoying to deal with when putting it on the dock because it can come down and hit the hull on top.

Hey aschaffter,

I'm with Barren . . . . nice boat. I also noticed that you wanted to install a cunningham. I've never seen a cunningham on a H16. I'm a newby but I'd surely be interested if the setup was available.

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Happy Sailing,

David