Hobie on Ohio River..... Gone Bad

http://www.wlky.com/video/24332791/ This is news chopper video of my cousins hobie 16 in the ohio river turtled. His nephews took the boat out and flipped it. Not sure of damage but i would guess that the fireman didnt worry too much about the mast when they drug her to shore. Its sad to see a really nice boat ruined because they didnt know how to un-turtle a 16 and get it righted. The damn wasnt far away, currents and barges are too much for an inexperienced crew.

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1978 Hobie 16 31743

Not gone bad,,,, gone lucky more like it,,,lucky the kids got out of that mess alive. If the owner let them take the craft for a joy ride he should be liable for the funds required of the rescue. If they took it without permission then their parents bare it and the repair cost. No adult/trained supervision?. Ridiculous.

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http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/gsammy925/

its a long story... the boys were in there early twenties. Not sure who is going to pay bill, but im sure there will be one. Im glad boys were safe... its just a waste.

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1978 Hobie 16 31743

Um... wow I'm glad we don't have news helicopters around here.

I did exactly that Sunday in the Columbia, although the water was a lot rougher. Fortunately, the shipping channel was more than a mile wide at that point, so the tow boats had plenty of room to go around.

So what IS the "correct" way to unturtle a hobie? Once the sheriff's boat arrived, I uncleated the main halyard, tied it onto a line from their boat, then stood on their boat to haul up the mast. It seemed to work OK. (The deputy didn't believe it would work.) All of the pylons were loose after being pounded upside down in the chop for three hours, and a couple of batten pockets were sprung, so I accepted a tow, rather than trying to sail it back.

BTW, trying to tow the hobie from a bridle line strung between the front pylons didn't work - it skied out to the side and tried to pass the tow boat. We ended up tying it along side with a couple of fenders between.

So... mast bob on the shopping list, although I'm not sure it would have helped. I stood on the stern of the floating hull to "sail" the mast into the wind, but a gust threw the bows straight up and the mast went straight down. Mast didn't seem to have leaked any water. Also, will finally spring for the VHS radio to talk with the tow boat drivers. Maybe get the zodiac motor fixed and keep it rigged for a "private" rescue next time.

From Turtle, put all of your weight on the leward back corner of the boat and it will lift the bows out of the water and roll onto its side. Then you right the boat like you normaly would.

Put your weight forward on the bow when it is on its side to get the bow into the wind.

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1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

The correct way to un turtle is to practice practice and more is calm water checl uour righting system seal your mast

never let a motor boat hook up unless you are in a bad safety condition