2015 AI Capsize

I have not used anything at the bottom of my rudder pin for almost two years now, ever since I broke my last one. The rudder up/down lines fit in the groove at the top of the pin, and do a perfect job holding the pin in place. Replacing anything in the bottom of the new pin is simply not worth doing.

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Tony:
I agree with that one, As I said earlier I have a serious affliction called fat fingeritus and have a heck of a time with those stainless rings, I have broken aka sheer bolts, stopped to make repairs, but couldn't get the spare sheer bolt off because I either dropped the pliers or forgot to bring them along. I have the same exact problem when I break a rudder pin. I used to store the spare rudder pin in the rearmost twist and stow hatch dangling on one of those rings in the hatch. At the time it seemed like the best place ever to store extra rudder pins. Well it was a great idea until I actually broke a rudder pin out in rough chop. I opened the rear hatch to retrieve the pin but couldn't get the spare pin out (forgot the pliers). Ever since then I keep a spare rudder pin in my life vest pocket's (I alway carry two spares).
Actually I have another cool safety feature that actually works. I tied a loose loop of spectra string around the rudder gudgeon, wrapped around the bottom of the rudder pin, then put one of Tony's pull ties thru the rudder pin hole. This way if the rudder pin does break the boat is still stearable (though very sloppy). You only need a string loop at the bottom, because if it breaks at the top, the rudder lines seem to keep it in place. It's pretty easy to feel if your rudder pin is half broke because the steering all of a sudden gets very hard even if you have it cleated down properly. Just like all my other safety gizmos, they don't prevent the sheer pins from breaking, they only delay the inevitable until you can safely stop to make repairs. None of my gizmos will help you if you actually ram into something, or smack the bottom hard or oops forgot to uncleat the rudder times when beaching kind of stuff.
My worst nightmares would be ripping the gudgeon off the back of the boat, or breaking that ball off the hull that holds that aka brace. I call my gizmos redundent safety features, all are all very simple and cheap and only need to be made once (ten minutes of your time), I try not to over think stuff.
Everyone keep in mind my TI is heavily modded and cruises double/triple normal TI cruise speeds (way beyond design specs), I'm just sharing where I have had failures (all mostly because the force of the water on the components (like powerboat wakes and chop)), just in case somethin happens like what happened to keith (can happen to any of us)
Hope this helps
FE

I have sailed every week for 3 years now without anything but the rudder lines holding the rudder pin in and I have compleate confidence that I don't need a split ring or anything else. I did this to prove to myself that in a crisis I can just lip the pin in and go.

Vetgam

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Greg

2016 AI - Spinn & Jib

“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.”
– Charles G. Davis

When recovering from my "accident," I removed the spare sheer bolt split ring with my fingers and Leatherman tool. The split ring on the spare sheer bolt is a good Hobie idea, because, at least in theory, you don't need any tools to use it. I carry my Leatherman on my PFD, along with my SPOT, and VHF radio. They are with me on all my sails, whether it is a day sail or a week camping trip.

At risk of producing an arms race, how many spare sheer bolts and how many spare rudder pins do people carry? At the time of my "accident" I had 4 spare sheer bolts in my parts kit + 1 on each aka for a total of 6. I recently broke a rudder pin, which I did not replace in my parts box, yet, but I had 3 spare rudder pins at the time of my accident. I believe I have a couple more shear pins and rudder pins currently on order...they are cheap, why not?

Also, I never go on any sail, even a day sail, without taking my 5L dry bag with tools box, spare parts box, small duct tape, electrical wraps, seam sealer, & very small WD40 can. So far, I've been able to fix every problem I've had, plus a few other people have had--knock on wood.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Great thread.

I had a look at my boat this morning to better plan for my first capsize. I sail with a harness when offshore and realize that I can use it if capsized to...

Stay connected to the boat.
Use it as a leverage line to right the boat.
Use it to make a water ladder To get back aboard.

This may be an option for others.
Here is a demonstration of the ladder concept.

Uses of Sailing Harness with Hobe Adventure Island: https://youtu.be/qLfJuMHy_G4

Vetgam

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Greg

2016 AI - Spinn & Jib

“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.”
– Charles G. Davis

This part was interesting!
Though my english is not good enough and my lack of fantasy doesn't help.
If your swedish is as bad as my english, perhaps you can contribute with a photo or two?

best regards
thomas

FE, I know in this topic you described how you setup a line to prevent amas from folding when nylon bolt breaks, it would be nice if you can show this in photo or video. Whatever is convenient for you. Actually interested to see all your mods, additions. Thank you.

I took a minimalist approach. My safety diagonal line simply passes in front of the mast base (but actually fits aft of the mast) and reaches both amas. At each end, I have a snap-shackle. My logic is that there is no need to tie off at the centre, as the line will be held taut by its connection to the other ama.

As I have a 2012 TI, I have a padeye near the handle on each ama, but owners of later models can simply add a small loop of line that the snap-shackle can connect to. For storage and travel, I bring each line back and stuff it into the front mesh pocket

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Tony, is it going to be difficult to unshackle or detach the line when we have to fold the Amas in times where go out without Amas and Hakas?

You gave me an idea though. I think I can have one continuous line starting from mast base passing left aka , SS bow pad eye , and right aka and ends at mast base basically forming a pyramid and both ends tied up to a rope tightener. I can zip tie a block at end of left and right aka in between the button where we place the bungee to hold the Ama. The line will cross to these blocks. I'll test this tonight.
http://www.gemplers.com/product/173113/ ... e-Figure-9

Here's what I was thinking. Tomorrow I'll spread the wings, cut the line to the right length and test. If it meets my expectations then I'll start looking for ways to secure the line on transport and maybe find a better rope tightener.

http://s374.photobucket.com/user/napwha ... u.mp4.html

Thanks so much for the rundown Keith. Glad you’re still with us to tell the tale. 99% of us haven’t capsized either unintentionally or intentionally. We probably should do it intentionally at some stage so we can prepare for if it does happen. But I suppose it’s one of those ‘I’ll do it later’ type operations.

I’m sure your years of kayaking experience helped you survive it all, relatively unscathed. All the gear can be replaced mate, you can’t.

I practice a thing called systema breathing. It’s a breathing method designed by a Russia matial arts trainer Vladimir Vasiliev to lower your pulse rate to keep you calm. A friend of ours was recently in a car accident and as soon as she hit the tree and realised she couldn’t get out due to her legs being trapped, she started systema breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. The car was fuelled by liquid petroleum gas and 2 blokes dragged her from the car just before it burst exploded in flames. Just like in the movies. Everyone was shaken except her. She never even had one hint of shock. Very extreme case I know but in stressful situations I can testify that this method of breathing really can be life saving.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Vetgam
I've been curious about whether anyone uses a harness to stay attached to the boat.
What do you clip it to on your body ?
Do you have any concern about being able to disconnect it if you fall in the water while underway ?
I have seen a shackle used on sailboats that has a side release and can be released under tension. I was thinking that would be a good piece of hardware to use on the end that goes on your body. They make them in various sizes.

That's a dog leash right ? What a great source of leashes of every imaginable size.

Thanks

Chris

Talking about dog leashes, I had one for a while on my boat, it was one of those 16 ft long leashes that coils up, I was using it for my spinnaker furling line, since spinnakers are so big the furler uses a lot of line (many turns) and I hate to have all that loose line laying around from the 3 furlers (main, jib, and spinnaker). In theory it was a great idea but in practice not so smart. The salt water got to it and it only lasted one outing then had to be thrown away. The line they use is too light to be used as any safety line. I suppose if you replaced the line with spectra line and only used it in fresh water it might work. I have a 6 ft paracord safety line tied to my rear aka brace that I clip to my Pfd if it gets really rough out there. I normally don't use it, but it's there in the mesh pocket if I start getting scared. Being much older and wiser now, I only go out when the wind is 2-7 mph anymore, unfortunately around here with the wind there is always nasty washing machine chop and breakers which because of my back I can no longer take well.
FE

Chris, that is an actual sailing tether that I clip to a sailing harness that you can buy on ebay. I use a quick release snap shackle. A dog leash might work but I don't want my life depending on it. Sailing harnesses and thethers are very heavy duty and the clips hand the saltwater well.

I believe that you could get tangled upn thus the quick release. Still think its better than the alternative.

Vetgam

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Greg

2016 AI - Spinn & Jib

“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.”
– Charles G. Davis

Chris, a lot of people who sail from their hakas use a leash.

If you would fall from your boat, probably from a tramp or haka, you boat is going to sail away from you if you are not tethered. No question about it. When I capsized, I was next to the boat, and it was not a problem staying with it. I did instantly think about lines around that I might get tangled with, but that was not a problem. I keep my boat very simple on purpose.

I don't sail from the hakas for fear of falling off when I'm alone. If I did sail from the hakas, I would definitely be tethered to the boat.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon