thinking hard about getting a used getaway... a few???s

Hi all,

I am thinking very seriously about buying a local (Tennessee) used 2010 getaway. The boat seems to be well cared for and in good shape.

I do have a few questions though.

1. How best to winterize the boat? It is currently stored on its trailer at marina in gated area. They also have beach docking available. Do people tend to just leave them out? Cover with a tarp? Taking it home is not an option. Should I consider indoor boat storage, either at a speciality place or a simple self storage unit?

2. It does not have the trapeze installed, which I think would be fun after me and my family get accustomed to the boat. Is that an easy install for me?

3. If I choose to beach dock it, esp. during the summer, and decide to single hand it, will I be able to get it in and out of the water by myself? Seems awfully big. Normally it will be me, wife, 3 little kids, maybe some friends too...

Anything else I should be considering?

Cheers,

1. winterize if you want the trampoline to last 20 years instead of 10.

2. yes, it's easy.

3. launching solo is possible if you have beach wheels (Cat Trax). Otherwise, it's too heavy. Find a local sailing club where they will store it and help you launch, and perhaps help you on the water.

HTH

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1985 Hobie 14T
2014 Hobie T2

If you store it outside with a tarp on it, either tent the tarp so water runs off, or cut slits in the tarp, otherwise you will have hundreds of gallons of water caught causing your tramps to sag alarmingly.

Yes, you can launch by yourself. I do it all the time off my trailer. I have a mast stepper III to safely step and lower the mast.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

If your thinking of scaling back to a Dinghy, consider the Wave. It's a 'self movable' version of the Getaway. That is, if the surface is safe to drag it over. If not, you need wheels or gadgets irregardless of it being a Wave or a Getaway. The Bravo is a fun, super easy to move, dinghy version of a Hobie as well, but the Wave would give you the option of a few friends tagging along now and then.

Nothing wrong with a good dinghy either. Just throwing out some Hobie alternatives if solo-movable is the key.

thanks Murph. I am not interested in scaling the getaway smaller, as my main use will be my family and friends too. If single handing proves too difficult I would consider adding a second small vessel, but sounds like going solo not too difficult.

Would you all have a strong recommendation between beach storage (and then find a place for the trailer) or on marina trailer+boat storage?

Would launching just by pushing it down the beach be much easier than driving the boat in the trailer maybe 50 feet and trailer launching? Would trailer launching perhaps actually be easier solo? In both cases the boat will be stored mast up, rigging all attached.

Sorry if these seem silly questions, I have only sailed keelboats permanently berthed in marinas. Never launched from trailer.

Is it possible to right a Getaway after flipping on it's side with one person? Where should you stand to pull on the rope (forward, aft, center on the mast)?

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island
Ivory Dune
Trampolines, Spinnaker Kit, Lowrance Hook4, Vantage Seat Accessory Bags, GoPro Hero3+, RTIC SoftPak 30, WaterPORT Day Tank

Yes it is, although depending on weight of sailor a righting bag is probably needed.

I used to store mine in a marina on the trailer, mast up, rudders on. I still strapped it to the trailer because I was afraid of wind flipping it. It's easy to launch and recover off the trailer.
Oh, I didn't understand you meant to drag it across a sand beach by yourself. Might be hard. If you search this forum, you'll see clever solutions to that, like roller beds made of pvc pipes so you can more easily move the boat.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

I have the advantage of living by the shore (I Totally lucked out on that) so one of the reasons I find myself sailing so often is the fact that I can drag it into the water without having to use a vehicle and trailer. I'm on the water in minutes.

If I had to mess with a trailer and slip, I probably would have skipped a lot of otherwise nice evenings where I went for an hour or so just to relax after work. Of course I realize not everyone has that advantage. Since you will be driving to the marina anyways, it wouldn't be that much extra effort to hook the boat on and launch it. Assuming it can be stored safely, mast up.

Getaway or Wave or other, I'd say the extra couple of hundred dollars to invest in beach wheels will be well worth it in your case. Gives you much more freedom and if you are like me, you will find yourself sailing a lot more often because you won't get a mental block from anticipating a trailer launch and possibly rigging work. It might get you out more for short casual sails that you might otherwise skip.

well.... I got the boat!

many thanks for all your suggestions. I am sure you will be getting more inquires from me soon.

nick

Congratz!!!! The fun begins!