H16 Transport

Hello all I'm hoping to get some advice on transporting a 1980s H16 that I am purchasing.

I have a 2 hour highway drive to get it back home, and will be using a 2010 Mastercraft trailer. I plan to use ratchet straps to secure the hulls to the carpeted boards on the trailer, and use the trailer boat hook somewhere to the front of the Hobie bow crossbar. I am a little worried about the trampoline catching wind, but it should be well enough protected behind the truck and as long as the boat isn't tilted backwards on the trailer so I don't see that being too much of a problem. I should be able to fit most of the extra rigging in the truck, but am most concerned about the mast and boom. I have photos of how it's currently sitting on the sellers trailer, but I can't figure out how to put them in this post.

I'm sure I could strap the boom tight along the bottom of the trailer, but I'm worried about bending or breaking it with the amount of tension I would need to feel comfortable towing it so far. I'm sure it won't be a fast trip, but I'd love to feel comfortable doing 65 mph that nothing is going to fly off or break.

Any advice welcome!

TLDR: Looking for any advice on securing H16 hull, mast, and boom to a Mastercraft trailer for a 2 hour car ride

The boat will be fine travelling with the trampoline installed. This is done all the time.

The mast is typically transported over the boat with a forward support that raises the front end above the tow vehicle and the rear end secured to the center of the boat’s rear crossbar. If the mast sticks out more than about 3 feet beyond the trailer lights, you should tie a flag on the end for visibility.

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As SRM says, the trampoline is no problem. I routinely go 60 - 65 mph with the tramp on. Wind is blowing basically across the tramp so pressure is close to being equal on both sides. Best place for the straps is around the pylons so that the downward pressure on the boat is minimized while the straps are exerting a lot of pressure to hold the boat in place.

The mast should be ideally at a downward angle on the trailer. By looping a strap around the mast so that there's a full wrap around the mast and fastening towards the front side of the mast loop on the trailer, you'll have a loop that will exert force if the mast wants to slide backwards. The more the mast slides, the more force the loop will have. Make sure the end that's down has enough clearance so that it won't hit the road.

Remember that you always want a minimum of two attachment points to any object.

I usually trailer with the shrouds and trapeze lines attached, but coiled and secured with wire ties. A Hobie 16 is relatively easy on trailering. It's wide, which effects vision and means the hulls will provide some wind resistance, but other than that, it slips rather cleanly through the air. It's not like trailering a load covered with a tarp.

Jim Clark-Dawe