Motors & Beach wheels

Concerning my H16, I'd like opinions on 2 things. The winter is coming and the cat has been put away, it's time to shop for goodies. Before next spring I'd like to get a motor set up to be able to make use of more launch areas. I see 2 choices. Gas, with a cheata motor mount, and electric with a dolphin striker mount. In my opinion so far I'm leaning towards the dolphin striker mount. I think it would be less of a hassle and looks like it would be easier to remove and attach.
I see there are 2 types of beach wheels. Hard plastic and balloon type. Which ones are better, and why?

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1981 H16.
1993 Macgregor 26S

As For beach wheels the hard plastic ones are ok on hard surfaced beaches, never go flat, and are generally cheaper (you can even build a setfyourself for ~$120, do a search on this site for homemade beach wheels...I did).
The disadvantage w/ them is that they tend to sink in rather than 'float' in soft sand, and don't roll well on rocky or bumpy beaches. The ballon types work better on those surfaces. But either will get the job done.
I don't have any experience w/ motor mounts.

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Jim

2007 Hobie Wave

spend the money on real cat-trax. They're worth the little extra

I would have to agree. especially if you depend on them for every sailing outing, even more if they are needed for salt water launches. I only need my homemade jobbies like 2x a season at the local lake.

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Jim

2007 Hobie Wave

Regarding the beach wheels: I recommend the balloon tires unless you are launching from areas with sharp rock or glass. (Then I’d recommend a new launching area ). I have the Cat-Trax (inflated balloon tires) and I can move my HC-18 with great ease over, sand, rocks, rough concrete launch ramps, almost anything. I’ve moved the boat easily by myself in my yard, on flat beaches and even ground. You really should have two people when using the Cat-Trax, especially over dunes or uneven ground.

As for the motor mount: I believe the Cheata mount requires drilling holes in the rear cross bar. I prefer not to do that. A 2HP electric motor is light, inexpensive, and does not require maintenance of a Gas motor. The Hobie dolphin striker mount looks good (But won’t work for my HC-18 ). I’ve been trying to get details of the Wave Electric Motor mount. It looks like it would clamp to the crossbar. I do not know if it would fit over the a HC-16 or HC-18 crossbar. (Hopefully someone else knows).

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John Latimer
'79 Hobie18 - Magnum
Sail#4854

Since the topic of motors came up, I was wondering if anyone seen or tried a gas weed-whacker conversion for Hobie power?

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Jeff
Hobie 18 "Blue Jeanne"

I wouldn't want a weedwacker motor on my boat. While something like that may work for others, I just want the best for my boat. I think the dolphin striker/electric motor is the way we'll go.

Still up in the air about the beach wheels. Now intead of just the hard vs. soft wheels, I'm considering that homemade set up. As far as what conditions I'd be using them in...I have no idea! I'm still searching out different launch sites so any conditions are possible.

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1981 H16.
1993 Macgregor 26S

What are the models of electric motors do you guys use? What batteries? How do you store them?

I was talking to a dealer and he said that electric motors did not do very well in salt water. He also mentioned that early this year a new motor showed up on the market which was truly for salt water, but that thing was expensive. 2HP would cost you $1500 or something like this.

I don't think I need a motor, it is more of a curiosity question.

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Yuri
Hobie 16
Laser Vago

I would say that no motor on a cat is going to like salt water. The electric makes the most sense but run time is very limited without a large deep cycle battery. Look for the max power in the smallest case.

We knew a guy who put a motor on his 20. He hated it. Just get the wheels. The balloon wheels are the way to go...you can pop them over sticks rocks pretty much anything where the hard ones aren't quite so versatile.

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Tiger 947/2364

I'd only be using the motor to leave canals and long narrow slipways where for some reason they place many of the private ramp$ around here. I don't plan on cruising with a motor, just widening my choices for launch sites. On most of the ramps I've looked at I could launch and then motor over to a sandy or some non cemented area and set up, remove the motor, throw it in the truck and sail away.

It's a shame around here in Anne Arundel County Md. We have THOUSANDS of miles of shoreline and 2 county ramps!
Fredrick county which is totally land locked has the same amount!!! My tax dollars are used for more important things like county supplemented golf courses, supplemented suburban housing for people who have ruined the city housing, and the light rail (We call it the "Loot Rail").
Ahhh, life in the Peoples Republic Of Maryland! Well I'm going off on a tangent...sorry.

If the balloon tires hold up to rough terrain then thats reassuring. Like I stated I could come across ANY conditions.

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1981 H16.
1993 Macgregor 26S

Is just using a paddle out of the question?

You could always just get one of these
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BlzRDvfGs2c

I promise I wont make fun

I think they should use those instead of the Tornados in Olympics

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Tiger 947/2364

Let's seeeeeee . . . . beach catamaran motor! Isn't that an oxymoron ???

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Happy Sailing,

David

Swampcreek, fear not. With the Dems back in control of our State, it will surely get better!

I, too, am looking for a small motor combo for my Gateway. I have a great location that has a tight channel for about 75'. The channel is between two houses. No matter the direction of the wind, it is coming straight down the channel. Paddleing against 15-20 is no small task.

I like the cheata mount but am looking for a cheaper option.

I have no idea how well this works.

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Jeff
Hobie 18 "Blue Jeanne"