Storing my boat on the beach - Looking for advice

I'm about to buy a Hobie 16 that I will be storing on the beach. I was wondering what advice the community could give me on doing so. Specifically, I'm wondering about how I should cover up the boat and secure the parts. Do I need to cover up the boat? Do you take your sails and other parts with you when you leave or can you suggest a solution for locking things up with the boat (such as a locker underneath the tramp or something)?

Any advice you could give would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Bloome

I've also wondered what you guys do about the comp tip. Is there any problem with leaving it uncovered for the summer? I have a friend that has his 18 set up on Lake Michigan and hasn't taken his mast down for years.

Adam

I keep my boat on the beach in front of my house and I still get people who seem to think it's ok to screw with it.I've had my tiller and main sheet quick release pins taken from under the heavy duty tarp that I cover the tramp with.(no one else owns a Hobie for 10 miles around me,so what they do with these pins I don't know.)
I've had people sit or play (horizontal bop maybe) on the trampoline a few times.(trap wires are pushed out to the ends of the tramp)
My advice is to take everything with you and safety wire all your standing rigging.There's alot of weird people out there.

Use SS bolts with locking SS nuts on all standing rigging. Someone removed a pin on my 21SE and the mast fell
Get a small anchor and bury under the dolphin striker to keep the boat from blowing over in wind storms. Remove and store sails blocks tiller off the boat
Try the poly glow product on the comp tip for sun protection and you can also use it on the hulls. color hulls will fade in the beach sun
Children playing on the boat jumping on the hulls can really cause BIG problems

Don't forget to secure wires and ropes to prevent the clang sound on the mast

I have also seen a mast comp tip painted light grey/silver to protect from UV damage.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Most boats on the beach are older. I would never park a newer boat on a beach unless it was real private.

Get two earth anchors and put one under the dolfin striker and the other under the back main beam. Tie it down in two places and lock with a cable in two places. Remove everything that is easy to take. (lost a quick pin this year). Use bolts & lock nuts and or tape all pins. Some people cover the boat but most don't where I am at. Depending on your area you might get away with a tube for storage but lock it to the anchors and lock it closed. Make it difficult to move or get into.

If they want something they will get it. One guy had his mainsheet line taken, blocks were hanging there, no line, no sailing. Carry minor spare parts in your car, and know where to get other parts fast. Good news is I sail more when the boat is on the beach.

_________________
1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net