Getaway Mods

This thread started as an extension to a thread on the AI, but evolved to include the Getaway (I own both).

Here is the earlier thread:

I haven't done many mods to the Getaway aside from breaking the mast base while trying to rig a lever system so that my wife can raise the mast by herself if I'm incapacitated. This actually happened last year when I broke a toe and had to lower the mast to bring the boat back home. While I can raise and lower the mast in normal conditions, the mast is much too heavy for her, and ever since I've been trying to rig a system with a winch.

Because the Getaway mast must rotate on its way up and down, you can't easily use the forestay to pull with a winch. I have since bought an EZ-Step system where the gin pole forces the mast to stay sideways. However, due to the inclement weather and the holidays, I haven't tried it yet.

Other than that, I mounted a Cheata bracket and Minn Kota 30 electric motor, with a small 32Ah battery strapped on the starboard hull. It moves the boat nicely when the wind fails completely.

I attached a small block and tackle with a jam cleat to the tack of the main so that when I raise the main I only have to snap the bottom pulley to the mast cleat and cinch the main down. The additional purchase provided by the block and tackle make it much easier to adjust the tension on the main luff.

I was using a solar-powered garden light stuck in the hole through the mast float to provide some navigation light at night. However, the amount of light is minimal, and I'll probably abandon this idea. A flash light shining on the sail (assuming there is wind) is much more visible.

I'm still looking for the perfect cup holder to attach either at the end or on the outside of the wings. Most holders I've found use the tapered slot system common on larger boats, but I fear this is much too fragile on a boat like the Getaway. If anyone has found a good solution, please let us know.

I'd love it if Hobie developed a spi for the Getaway. I don't feel safe or competent jury-rigging such a system considering the very significant forces at play when flying a spi. I've gotten in enough troubles with professionally-made spi system (albeit on much larger boats), and I guess I'm getting less foolish as years accumulate!

Oh, one cute thing I added to my boat for cases when land-lubbers or clueless friends want to help rig it are bands of green and red electrical tape at the bottom of the shrouds, on the tillers and tiller cross-bar and everywhere else where differentiating between port and starboard is important. With these color coding tapes, all they need to do is match the colors! This is especially handy to keep them from reversing the rudders.

Hope this helps you increase your enjoyment of this great boat.

Xavier

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drgatsea
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the info

I have your barber hauler ready to go on my AI. Can't wait to try it out. It's just what that boat needed.

Regarding your Getaway, I'll be interested in how that EZ Stepper works out. So many of those systems are not suited for the Getaway's sideways lift position.

Also liked your "Red and Green tape" It's so much easier and faster to set up the boat all by myself. But sometimes friends want to help and the colored tape will make it a lot easier for them to not mess up.

What is your method of choice for righting solo? Bag, pole, shroud extenders or something else? Just curious as to what you are using.

Really appreciate you sharing all that you've done with your boats. You make it easier for the rest of us to get it right - and to get more out of our boats.

Thanks again Xavier -

David

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I'll post again once I've tried the EZ Step. The gin pole is assymetrical to fit on the side of the mast. But I'm still planning on using both the forestay and the main halyard in an effort to balance the pull equally on both the front and aft side of the mast.

The red and green tape trick has saved me a lot of explaining, and helps friends feel that they can contribute to the work rather than watch me rig the whole boat.

As for righting the boat, I haven't planned anything special. I'm 6'2" 200lbs, and I figure this should be enough. I used to right my H16 without problem. I know the Getaway is heavier, but with the mast float and the free-footed main, I should be able to handle it. I' been lucky enough to have not had the pleasure of capsize on this boat yet I hope I'm not too cocky about my abilities!

I may "practice" this year and if I have problems I'm probably going to look at the Power Pole Righting System (see http://murrays.com/archive/36-37.pdf I haven't seen in it the Hobie catalog).

Xavier

just in case these forums are a form of market research, I too would love to see a chute for the Getaway.

http://steve.skybeach.org/sailing_files/sailing2.htm

Looks like the H16 kit can be modified to fit. Still no Getaway-specific kit though.

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Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
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Yep, I've seen Steeve's mods, but it's a custom spi (even though it's not clear whether the customization is simply the color scheme -- I would be OK with the "wrong" colors -- or whether its the spi dimensions), and it requires some adjusting of the hardware. I'll try to find out some more about it and figure out whether I want to make the jump.

Note that Steeve has some other interesting mods such as hiking straps (I'm somewhat concerned with the strength of the strap attachment to the hull -- I'm leery of using steel wall anchor because I sail mostly on salt water and standard steel doesn't last long), and dual hiking sticks (beats the $100 cat sticks!)

Thanks for the reminder about the H16 spi. I looked at it, disarded the idea hoping that Hobie would come up with a Getaway setp, but I might consider it again...

I am pretty sure it was just a stock 16 spin, but he may have sent it back to the factory to be recut, I vaguely remember when he was doing this. Contact Hobie they would be able to tell you for sure, matt may or may not see this post, he's got a lot of work to keep up with this site!

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Brad Stephens
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I have installed the H16 spinnaker kit on my 2005 getaway. I race alot and have no problems. Had to modify the the mounting but it works flawlessly. See http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=3592

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GSC - The Hobie Guy

This sounds great. Is the spin large enough? The Getaway is a much bigger boat than the H16.

Also, do you have some picture of the various fittings as implemented on your Getaway that you could post. This would help a lot avoiding mistake in doing something similar (especially if the original instructions are skimpy). I most interested in the various attachment points as well as any mods you may have made to the original equipment.

Does the system includes a snuffer, or do you bag the chute?

I still have a few projects to do on my boats and trailers, but the spin is likely to be next (if I can find the cash for the spin in the leftovers from the holiday season )

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

You will have to wait for pictures until I set the boat back up.

The getaway is bigger in width and not in length.
The spin is way big enough. I have flown it in 15 to 20. What a rush if you catch a puff. I needed a horn on the front of the boat to tell the monohulls to get out of the way.

My system has a snuffer and bag. I can sail the boat by myself. I can put up and down the spin by myself, just put the sheet under your knee while you let it down. When the spin gathers at the snuffer then lift your knee to release the sheet and the spin goes into the bag.

Aris at Mariner Sails helped me install the spin.

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GSC - The Hobie Guy

Hello Xavier,

I was reading your post and the Minn Kota 30 electric motor caught my interest. I’m buying a Getaway and considering mounting a small motor to assist in cases of no wind and getting the boat back to the loading area.

Are you still happy with it?

Do you happen to have any photos of the mounting system with the motor attached?


Cheers,

Kenny

Xavier and all: This is the ultimate solution for drink holders. I use them on my Laser, too. They are so cool it will change your life forever. I use the "insulated one" for cans.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:5U ... cd=9&gl=us

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+++amamama

Actually I use the "Classic" style. You do have to tack your beer, but it's great.

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+++amamama

For the Minn Kota mount, check the http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=4023&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=minnkota post

Xavier, your earlier dialogues discussed the stepper. What has been your experience? I ordered one and it's still on backorder...you're the only person I have seen who has one.
Thanks!

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Experienced monohull sailer, new to Hobies. I chose a Getaway to get started. Sailing in Northern Calif.

It still sits in the garage Doesn't work, at least for my purpose.

I wanted a way for my wife to raise the mast by herself; she cannot muscle it up as I do. I rigged a winch on the trailer match crutch, and was hoping to use the Stepper to "open up" the angle between the line and the mast to reduce the lateral compression on the ball when the mast is almost horizontal.

However, the fact that the mast MUST be sideways, instead of fore-aft when going up or down, is making things much too complicated, and the penalty for not being truly sideways is that you break the mast base, as I did

The forces at play are truly big. While the mast only weighs 50lbs, because of its length the stress when lifting it from the horizontal position is not to be toyed with. You must also make sure that there is absolutely no way the mast can start to move laterally, which means another couple of lines from the top of the mast to about where the wings attach to the hull.

I just wish Hobie went back to the old H16 mast hinge, or some improved version of it. The sideways mast business is awful Not a big deal for the folks who can keep their mast up for the entire season, but I have to take it up and down at least once a week during the sailing season.

So guess what? My Adventure Island has seen the water mush more than the Getaway this year. Maybe that Hobie's way to push us in buying more toys

I agree that the mast base design on the getaway was truly a bad one. What was hobie thinking. I really think they should be working on a new mast base where one can incorporate a regular type raising system rather than spending time trying to come up with a complicated expensive mast raising system.