which is better a snap-back or Hawaiian righting system?

I just bought my hobie cat yesterday. I'm looking ahead in advance of what I might need before I take it out on the water. A righting system is one of them. Whats the difference between a snap-back and hawaiian. How are they installed and used? and whats a preventing line(since the hawaiin system doubles as a preventing line) I have looked all over the internet and other forms, no one has answered the above question yet. I hope someones up to the challenge.

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1984 H16

"Snap-back" and "Hawaiian" systems are two slightly different versions of the same thing - an automatic retracting righting line.

Since both are attached to the transom, they can both be used as a preventer (chicken line) by the crew. They grab on to it with their aft hand and with the jib sheet in their forward hand, it helps keep them in place on the trapeze.

The Hawaiian system has more bits and pieces, including as many as four single blocks. The righting line is often a recycled mainsheet; the return shock cord is under the center of the tramp.

The Snap-back system relies on a bulky hollow core line (usually blue and white) or a 1" nylon tubular webbing. The return shock cord runs internally in the line or the webbing.

Actually the Hawaiian system has a the 4 pulleys and works very well, I have it on my 79'. I've been told by others that the snap back can hurt your fingers if you're struggling to right the boat because of the smaller diameter of the inner shock cord. My new boat came with a rope to tie to each front pylon and bungee the slack around the dolphin striker, then you untie it from the bottom pylon and throw it over the hull in the air, it also works well but you do have to put it back when righted.

Happy sailing

Buxton

You're right Bux - I changed my original post to correct. Brain fade on my part.

I've used both systems over the years. The snap back system I used was the one with the nylon tubular webbing. My complaint with it was that it was too short.

I now use a single 14' line (class legal minimum length) tied to the dolphin striker and stashed in the tramp pocket.

So, the cheap recreational sailor that I am could stick with the 20 feet tow line I have tied to the dolphin striker, fed through through the tramp lacing.

I'll probably need to tie the loose end of the tow line to the rear pylon that's up in the air.


On my old rig, I only have 2 blocks, one on each front pylon, but it came with a very stiff old rope as a righting line attached to one righting pylon, wrapped around the 2 front pylons and back to the opposite righting pylon. From the instructions and various successful rightings on youtube, I can't see how that stiff piece of sh... rope will work as a righting line.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Another thing to consider is that the Hawaiian has a lower profile on the deck and, in my opinion, stays out of your way better. The snap-back system (aka "Easy Right") is a big line, and it gets wet and heavy. I prefer having a small unobtrusive line over that big honking blue and white parade going around the boat.

Best,

Chuck

Thanks for all the help! looks like im not going with the easy right. It's between the UNIVERSAL RIGHTING and HAWAIIAN RIGHTING system. Both look like they will do the job well. Does any one know the exact difference and the positive/negatives of both. I'm looking for a low profile righting system and in the near future will purchase a bucket system to assist me more. From what I've seen it looks like both of these systems require to un-hook/untie it and throw it over over the hull. If that's the case, how does it retract back when the boat flips over?

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1984 H16