Getaway set uo and mast stepping

How long does it take for 2 adults to go from trailer to water? I am picking up my new Getaway in a week and want to know if I should reserve a dry sail stall at the lake. If it doesn't take to long to go from trailer to sailing, I would just as soon not dry sail it. Any thoughts on this? I'm a newbie to Hobie Cats.

My normal procedure is to raise mast while on the trailer, unstrap boat from trailer and the store all my gear from the cat box ie rudders, life vests and sails and lines. The paddles get fastened under the wing seats. Cat trax removed from trailer and placed under boat and the boat pushed back and trax's tied on. Leisurley stroll to the beach where we rig the rudders, raise the main and rig the lines. The hole process takes maybe twenty minutes at most. Most of the time a bathroom break comes before the launch and rarely do we hurry

it'll take an hour ur first time...then you'll have it down to 20 minw ithing 3-4 times probably......thats how it was for my dad and I..however this was our first sailboat ever.

We

1. Raise the mast
get the jib all furled and ready to go
2.Attach rudders
3.unstrap
4. store gear
5. attach the main block on the back so we dont loose the little pin in the water..
6. throw the main on the tramp
7.launch the boat (on a launching ramp)
8. raise main and off we go!

I find dry sailing (storing the boat near the water with the mast up) a real plus. I won't question the 20 minute set up time. I can't do it that fast. Depending on your age and physical condition raising the mast does take some significant effort. Every mast raising and lowering does have some risk. It can get awy from you. Reversing the procedure will take more time than settting up. Securing the rigging and the jib takes longer than freeing them for set up. That means 40 minutes to more realisticaly an extra hour of time total for each sailing session. Do the math, 20 sailing sessions, means 20 hours more sailing if you leave it near the water versus trailering.

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Bob

Thanks for the input. I went and checked out the only place on the lake left where I could dry sail it and I'm not too keen on it. I think I will trailer it. This is my first boat so perhaps repeating the process every time I go out will be a helpful lesson.

you will have it down to 20-30min in no time at all, however the 1st few times allow yourself plently of time and watch that video that comes with the boat!

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Brad Stephens
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Bob is right...taking it down does take a little extra time...

however in a situation like mine where u sail with the same person every single time u develope a system that for yourself is bulletproof my dad and i know exactly what has to be done..in what order....first we cooperate on bringing the mast down...we get it done fast...i climb on the boat dad cranks the winch down..and i guide the mast down....i only feel its full weight the last i dunno 4 feet...nce the mast is done we both go our separte ways checking to make sure everything gets done...each of us do different things...as we go around the boat doing things we see some things done and some arnt...it's kind've a system of checks and balances for us that works really well and FAST when mom and the sister come along they just stand to the side because our system works....youd think adding an extra person would speed up the process..but since we work so well together doing it it just complicates things and slows us....so they just do their thing while we finish up.



Same goes for setting up the boat...

I still would rather leave it on the beach though hehe....this has its problems too though major ones in my opinion....we sail on salt water....so we trailer it and this gives us the oppportunity to give the boat a full wash down of everything after every sail....really keeps the corrosion down.

If I'm setting it up with another person, I can do the whole process in under 15 minutes both in and out of the water. I am tall and big, however, and can put the mast up fairly easily.

--Doug

Well, I took it out for the first time and it took me only 30 minutes to go from trailer to water. Not bad for setup time but I may dry sail it after all since I don't like putting it away after an exhausting sail.

I am a new sailer and new Getaway owner. After taking it out half a dozen times previously with company, I soloed for the first time yesterday. It went sooooo smoothly. Stepped the mast using the halyard (extended whith a short line) around the front cross bar and back to the base of the mast so once I lift the mast I can tie it secure as a temporary forward stay line while I secure the Jib. (I just canceled my order for the Hobie EZ Mast Stepper III) I did everything myself for the first time and was in the water about 35 minutes later. It was great!!! The more I sail this Getaway the more I love it!!!

You old men need to get faster, the getaway doesn't have to many strings to rig and it still takes you that long.

Alone I can rig my 5.2 in 20 minutes and the is stepping the mast alone.

I am just giving you all a hard time but I am interested in knowing why you all all seem to use some winch to step the mast, is the getaway mast thay heavy>

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

It may not be" that" heavy, but it has to be raised sideways. I use a small line to the down haul cleat to keep it sideways and rest the mast on the stb wing then winch.
Bill
p.s.-come to think of it, it ain't that lite either.

The Getaway is my first cat so I cannot compare mast weights but I do wish it was lighter every time I lift it up or get it down.

I don't have a winch, so when I solo I pass a Jib sheet under the front crossbar and attach to the bottom of the jib. Once I have lifted the mast into place I simply need to reach down to my feet and tighten up the jib sheet. Attaching the bridle and furler assembly is then a breeze.

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2007 Getaway

How tall is the getaways mast?

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

The mast is only 25', but with the Bob at the top it can become a pain in a breeze. My 17 has to go up sideways and is a longer mast, but gives less trouble. A good place for specifics:
[url]www.hobiecat.com/sailing/images/all_models/comparemodels.html
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Bill