Structural modification to make a Getaway point better.

OK, let's think out of the box. I love my Getaway, but it really labors going upwind. What if it had a center board? Where would you mount it? Throw your ideas out there. I wonder if Hobie has any plans to build a roto boat with better upwind performance?
No worries
Paul

Yes Paul, it is very frustrating trying to sail the Getaway upwind. And it was made particularly clear when I tried to race against the Hobie 16 last week in Santa Cruz.
Centerboard ? Hummm....

May be a little more mast rake will help you point better.

I raked the mast back, but still kinda disappointing. Plastic roto kayaks have skegs and rudders. I am tossing the idea around of picking up an old Lido 14 centerboard. I am still working on how to mount it,. It should be in the up position for launch, which would also make it beach able when not locked in place. I think it should mount right behind the center cross member. The trick will be to mount it so the side to side play is somewhat minimal.
No Worries
Paul

I agree about the getaway not pointing very well, but will putting a center board help enough to offset the cost and hassle of doing it? After all you may end up destroying one hull. Maybe you could rig something between the two hulls with a line to raise or lower the thing. I don't understand from an engineering stand point why during the testing of this boat something couldn't have been done to make it point better??? I sailed my 16 for many years and I don't see a lot of difference between the two boats.

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

My idea was to rig a center board between the hulls. I have access to a center board from a lido. It would be raised and lowered with a line just like the Lido or for that matter, many other boats. It's not that easy. I am trying to figure out how to stop the side to side play. Just something I am kicking around. I think a Getaway with retractable center boards would be the bomb.

Google images for "leeboard".
I built a boat with a leeboard one time. Might give you some inspiration.

J

Paul, are you sure the lack or centerboard or daggerboards on the Getaway is really the problem ?
Or does it more have to do with the shape of the sails ? or volume of the hulls ?

Crobiecat,
You are right. The sail shape has a little to do with it. The hull shape and hull volume have a lot to do with it. The molded keel simply does not have enough resistance to forces pushing the boat sideways. We tried tracking behind several types of boats last Saturday. We watched as we got pushed off course. The high volume of the hulls only makes the problem worse . I can't change the hull shape or volume, so that's why I am looking at the board solution. I am glad to hear from Jeremy and will be looking at the lee board idea.
No Worries
Paul

Ok, the simple solution is to hire some really skinny kid for say 5 bucks a day, give him a paddle and he can sit on the leeward side of the boat and just stick the blade of the paddle into the water beside the hull. When you tack he just changes sides.

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

Alright , that's funny!
This is just a exercise, but you never know when someone will stumble along with a great idea.
No worries
Paul

has anyone tried weight forward ti get the front of the hulls to dig in. A stronger downhaul and moving the jib leads inboard

Gone forward , brought the jib sheets in. The boat could use a down haul and I am going to look into installing one. I want to make it clear that I still like the boat, but it's about a mile up a channel until I reach a turning basin that really is fun. I would just like to get here faster.
No worries
Paul

is there any simple way to increase the depth of the skegs? If I understand it correctly the problem is the lateral drift of the boat while underway, is that correct? I'm thinking of a girdle type contraption that would increase the depth of the skegs about mid section. Hmm something to think about.

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

Roy,
That is exactly the problem and exactly the solution I am looking at. I think it would be possible to strap something around the hulls with a dagger board look. I worry about what the fastening system would do the the flow of water around the hulls. Imagine if the Getaway hulls had an indentation to accept a flush mount system.
No worries
Paul

i was thinking of somthing like this along the lines of a center board. why not mount it with a hinge bolted to the bottem of the mast stand bolt, then use a strong bumgee cord tied to the forward crossbar to hold it down, and a line running aft through the tramp seam to tie it up. it would kick up on its own like the rudders when u hit the beach, or you could tie it up. it would be in the same place as the dolphin strikers are on the h-16s.

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Sail.fast

470, 08 Getaway