"Solo Upright" System

Hey everyone,

What's the story behind the "solo upright" systems? I ran a search on them, but didn't come up with much. The Hobie catalog has some simple diagrams, but not much of an explaination.

From what I've seen, it looks like about a three-foot extension for each shroud that you let loose when you capsize. How does that help you get the boat back over? Seems to me that loosening the shroud will allow the tramp frame to fall down a bit more off vertical (assuming the mast and sail are roughly parallel to/floating on top of the water), which actually reduces your righting moment (your righting line is still attached at the same point, but that point is now closer to the surface of the water - force is the same, radius is smaller).

That might sound a bit confusing... Please let me know if a better explaination is needed, and I'll try again. But I'd appreciate an explaination from anyone who knows how the solo uprights are supposed to work.

Thanks everyone, as always!

_________________
-Bill

Conesus Lake, NY
1976 Hobie 14

That is pretty much right on, except that when the boat is capsized the upper hull is over center and on the mast side of the righting rotation. The solo system allows the upper hull and frame to rotate past center and onto the "righting weight" side of the rotation. Once there the hull and frame weight assists in countering the mast and sail weight making righting easier for light crews or solo sailors. There is also a small cable that holds the mast into the step cup.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks Matt - that makes sense.

So are you supposed to anticipate a pitch-pole and pull the pin to extend the shroud before going over? Or do you release the pin after the fact? (I'm only 5' 9", and I'm wondering if I'll be able to reach the pin afterwards...)?

Does the cable securing the mast to the stepcup stay in during normal sailing, or do you have to insert it before releasing the shroud? I'm guessing anything that would hold the mast in place would also interfere with rotation?

Thanks again.

_________________
-Bill

Conesus Lake, NY
1976 Hobie 14

email me privately at [email protected] or call me at work at 613-729-8681

We have mucho experience at recovery from capsizes. You share with me where to sail in the Finger Lakes, and I'll share with you recovery methods.

Still ice on the river.

cheers

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

It changes the fulcrum.

I sail off the coast of Florida and I usually sail alone. How difficult is it to re-connect the extended shroud on the Solo system once the boat is righted and you have wind and waves to contend with?

You better be thinking about saving it rather than trying to pull a pin! Actually, that would be pretty hard to do and devastating upon the actual pitch. A loose rig is not a good thing during a capsize.

After the boat settles down, you can scamper up the main and reach the pin. The captive cable at the base has to be in place at all times.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I'm still curious about how you recover once the boat is upright. How realistic is it that you'll be able to return the shroud to it's correct location once the boat is upright? Also I'm assuming that it's a quick pin connection, and per previous posts aren't quick pins on standing rigging a big no no?

Matt, how do where to you connect the small cable to in order to hold the mast into the base. I have one of these but have never used it.

The mast capture cable passes through the cleats and shackles. It helps to keep the mast in the cup when the rig is loose.

The mast will be hanging WAY aft when on a tack with the loose cable to weather.

Yes, the shroud extender pin is a quick pin. Best to sail back to a beach to re-set the pin, but on a 16 you can tack to get the loosened pin on the lee side, ease the jib halyard and re-pin. Tension the jib halyard and you are off. On other models you would have to re-pin as low as possible and sail to shore.

Here is a shot of a 21 Sport Cruiser with the shroud extended.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I have the shroud extenders on my 21SE and they are excellent and easy to retighten after loosening. They are hyfield levers that have a lever type mechanical advantage and allow you to tighten the rig with the push of a lever. They use a detent ball pin on a wire leash to secure .
The extenders came in real handy when the main got stuck all the way up. By extending the shroud I could easily pull the boat over in shallow water with the halyard, a static capsize, remembering to remove the side over wing. I fixed the main boltrope and pushed the mast back up by walking down the mast with arms overhead, then retensioned the shroud, all in about ten minutes.
BTW I also loosen them when stepping the mast, much easier.
These same hyfield levers are used on Farrier tri shrouds.

The smaller cats, H16, don't use Hyfield Levers on the upright system.

As for re-connecting the Shroud to the Chainplate....easy just get your crew to pull on the Trap wires while you pin the Shroud.

We use this upright system on all our H16's and practice righting in shallow water often....a new sailor must be able to demonstrate he/she can right the boat before being allowed to go out sailing.

Weaso use Hobie mast floats and take a lot of time and effort to make each mast airtight, therefore as bouyant as posible.

I use the extenders on my h-16 and they work well but in rough seas you dont always get it back in the same hole but one shy (loose) until you get back to the beach.A must is keeping the loose side leeward. I got it windward once couldnt come about Lately ive been searching for another set of the extenders but they seem to have disappeared from the catalogs????

Go toHobie catalog page 18....the H16 set id Part # 1263

To order Click on....

www.backyardboats.com/Shop/PartsLocator ... fault.aspx

Enter 1263 and the price comes up...then you can Checkout if you wish.

Nigel

[quote="mmiller"]The mast capture cable passes through the cleats and shackles. It helps to keep the mast in the cup when the rig is loose.

Matt,

I just bought a solo upright via Backyard. However the mast capture cable was not in the package. Can you tell / show me how it should look?

Thanks
Heribert