Launching cats

I have an a 14t and an 18 I sail, sometimes solo sometimes with crew. I'm pretty new to sailing and don't have anyone around to learn from so im kind of teaching myself as I go. The question I have is about launching my cats. What ive been doing is rigging everything, backing the boat in the water, pushing off from the dock, and then raising the main. In lighter wind it's no big deal, but if there is decent wind I sometimes end up in a panic trying to get the sail up, stay off of the dock, and not end up on the rocky shore. I'm concerned about doing this when the winds eventually get blowing good. Also tips on the reverse of this process, coming back in to the dock. I've been dropping the sails and paddling back in.

Any tips on how you launch would be greatly appreciated.

Sailing a H18 is a blast solo.
Rig the boat, do NOT secure the tack of the mainsail to the outhaul car assembly.
Let the mainsail flap around.
Keep the jib furled.
Once the boat is in the water, cat trax safely ashore, and you are ready to roll, secure the rear corner of the mainsail to the outhaul car with a quick-pin, and start sailing.
As soon as practical, lower and lock the rudders, and drop the daggerboards. Then unfurl the jib by tightening the jib sheets. (Remember to first loosen the jib furler line, we usually let it droop down as we climb on board.)
All of this can happen within 30 seconds once you are used to the Hobie 18.
That's the beauty of this wonderful craft.

Coming back in, raise D-boards to half way, furl the jib, unclick the rudders from the locked down position, and as you come to shore, turn head-to-wind so as to stall the boat. Then unclick the quickpin on the mainsail, so as to release it from the outhaul car, fully raise the rudders and the d-boards, and step onto the beach.
Once we've stalled the boat, we usually step off into the shallow water, and grab the H18 by the bridle. Then the crew (or beach helpers) give assistance by raising the rudders etc.
When the wind is from the south, I can sail directly onto an old car tire I leave in 9" of water....that's where I'll park the Hobie, on two or three tires, while we gobble a burger or grab an oat soda.

I recall sailing a H16 in Pompano Beach one year, the rental guy told us to unlock the rudders and to sail the Hobie right onto the beach.

What do other H18 sailors do?

_________________
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.'

I raised the main, leaving it unpinned once. While I was backing it in the wind blew from the back of the boat wrapping the sail around the shrouds. I was worried the battens were going to break.

I use a public boat ramp and have to back in with my truck, no beach really. Trying to figure a way to park it in front of my house during the summers. I have a VERY small rocky beach. It's not even big enough to drag my boat on when the lake is at normal level..

I hope you don't mind a bit of editing, because loose parts find their way into the drink.

My quick pin is tied to my boom with a short piece if string so I don't lose it.

I have always launched with the sail rolled on the tramp until I got it on a beach or shore area to raise it. I'm not sure If I could even do it while floating.

If I could not do it on the beach I might try raising it on the trailer but probably after backing it but on the trailer and not if there was much wind.

I am never shy about accepting good advice, especially sailing, cooking and editing advice.

Thank you

_________________
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.'

Can you put in a dock with a kind of wooden ramp you could pull it up on? The ramp would have to be well maintained but with properly treated wood might be doable.

Or ever just 2 long planks separated just wider than the hulls with with PVC pipe connecting them back and forth along the length then you can kind of push/roll the boat up. You would make one for each hull and one end on your beach the other attached down in the water in front to something heavy. Depends on how steep the grade is I guess. You could incorporate some beach tie down by then so you could just leave it there.

Question: How deep is the water off that "rocky" beach???? Knee deep???

If it's shallow, anchor your boat ... it will swing head to wind ... raise the mainsail ... untie the anchor rode (tie a float to it!!!!) and cast-off ... head off the wind and awaaaay you go .....

The jib can be raised and furled on land before hand ...

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

Would something like this be an option? This is the Fleet 401 setup at Shreveport Yacht Club.

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Mark Van Doren
H16 Seabreeze #112205 (Richard Petty Signature Edition)
H14T Fantasia #47787
San Juan 28

That's a very nice set-up ....

Questions: How deep is the water at the in of the ramp and what's that step like??? What keeps it in place??? Also what material is used for the "strips" on top of the wooden planks???

I also see a couple of H18's and a early production P19 (identical to mine) in the background ...... sweeeeeeet .......

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11