Hobie in Flight Pics

I won't argue initial strength with you, however, after wear occurs to the keels of the newer clamshell designs they are weak and will fail. In comparison you can sail an 18 with wear thru holes in the keel without fear of the hull collapsing. I make these statements with experience from both sides, which is why I now sail a H18 that is converted to F18 specs except for crossbar curvature. I don't trust clamshell designs, especially not Hobie Europes' assembly. If they are so strong why is the warranty period so short?

Great pics !!!

I've had a few 16's over the past 30 years, and they've all been very hardy. Lost one off the beach in a storm, and it ended up on the rocks south of here. Not a piece much bigger than a rudder.

Another caught some wind, during an unexpected Northeaster, and flipped backwards into a 40 foot deep (Condo under construction) hole being dug behind her. Landed on the top of the mast !!! That split the hulls loose.

Otherwise, I've sailed off the beach for over 20 years, and never broken anything, except those stupid nylon rudder pins !!!

BTW - most of those 20 years were with a Turbo 14 - what a blast !!!

I just gave up trying to keep a boat on the beach, cause the condo people don't want it... but that's a whole other story...

Soooo, I bought a Bravo !!! I'll let you know how it sails when it warms up a little. I was just down at the beach, and the water was about 68 - too cold for me...

Thanks buzzman,

And remember the commercial with the couple screaming along on the cat

"You only go 'round once in life...so you gotta grab all the gusto you can"

What beer was it? Find that one, too

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

Or the parody: "You're only reincarnated 9 or 10 times in life, so you gotta grab all the gusto you can! So, grab a Willer!" starring some Hari Krishnas, from The Kentucky Fried Movie. So, I'm guessing it was Miller in the original.

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Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

Juno Jim Wrote: "I was just down at the beach, and the water was about 68 - too cold for me..."

Not sure you would ever make it in Michigan.... Thats warm for the Great Lakes.... However I keep telling my girls, "The older I get, the colder I get"

I guess its how you dress & what you get used to . I hope to get out more than four days this year by paying $$ to put the boat on a beach somewhere.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

68??? are you kidding to cold?

I went ou this morning, the air was about 45 degrees and the water was about 42. I had a wet suite on and booties but it wasn't really that bad? I guess that is some thing that I get for being young.

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

Hey, it just depends on what you're used to...

You had a 14T too ??? I just had to sell mine - I'll miss her too

I actually was about to sell it and even posted so adds about it. After I started talking to people about them buying the boat I started thinking....can I really let this boat go. Turns out I couldn't, I basically loaned it to the woman friend. She is just the perfect size and likes to solo it. I think I have a keeper!

But they are a great little boat, when I start stepping the huge mast on the Nacra 5.2 and while watching my 100 pound g/f solo stepping the mast on the 14 I miss the little Hobie.

But back to the cold water, buy a wet suite and get out there. It is a blast and will make you feel like you have accomplished something.

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

When I had my 14, I tipped it on it's side to step the mast - easy and safe - I can give you details...

Glad your's is still around - mine's down the beach, but I haven't seen it out yet...

I was just down at the beach again - 81 deg out, but cold surf, then it started to rain - geez...

Maybe I'll think about a wetsuit.

However, since the days are getting longer now, I consider this is the "beginning of summer" - LOL

Dammit JunoJim, I don't think the engines can stand it much longer!!

I hope your enjoying this 'cause all this talk of 81 degree air and 68 degree water AND now "THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER"??? I'm feeling very ill.

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

OK - sorry you guys !!!

If it'll make you feel better, it's been raining almost every day for a month !!!

My wife let me store my mast under the eaves of the back porch - that's the best news I have lately... (we don't have much space here...)

Juno Jim,
I"ve been looking on this forum for a while about stepping the mast solo and your post about stepping the mast while the boat is on it's side is very interesting. I would be interested to know how you do this. I sail a 16 but I believe the rigging is almost identical, correct? Thanks.

Well, I had this posted before, now it's gone ???

Anyway, the 14 & 16 work the same way, except the 16 would take more strength than I have to lift.

The whole process is much easier with two people, but especially with worn or missing stepping parts, this method is safer...

The hard part is lifting the boat to balance on one side. If the wind isn't too variable, and you're in sand, it'll stay put.

Starting at the beginning: the boat is on the (preferably) sand. Hook up the forestay, and one shroud line (of course, all lines have to be untangled, and sorted out, ready for a "lift").

Extend the mast as far as it will go in the direction of the hooked up shroud. This should allow you to place the bottom of the mast in front of the step, lying on a hull.

Now, lift the boat up with the other hull (the one not hooked up), and balance it, which isn't too hard in soft sand. About now, you're standing within reach of the mast, which you can extend further (you'll pick up some sand).

With the boat still balanced, pull the mast as far as it will go against the forestay and the hooked up shroud, and place the bottom of the mast into the step (don't forget the mast bearing).

At this point, the rig is stable, resting on the mast, with the forestay and shroud tight.

With the 14, I'm able to stand on the bottom hull, and reach the fastener to connect the loose shroud, but with the 16, it might be easier to leave the shroud loose at the mast, and fasten it there, which would be trickier (hadn't thought about that...).

Anyway, it's finished - just tip the boat back to vertical (I hang onto a trap line, to slow it down). Demasting is the reverse...

Of course, you have to keep all the trap lines, etc under control, so you don't "loose" anything up in the air - LOL

Thanks for the reply. I've never heard of it being done that way before. I think its good to know a few different ways to step the mast, especially solo. I'll have to try that out one day.

Northern has an electric winch made by Masterlock for about 50 bucks. I just got one. I installed it on my mast stand. It has a wired remote which allows me to step the mast to the rear crossbar and then use the winch to pull it the rest of the way. You must raise it some to get the right angle for pulling. I unhook the trailer from the tow vehicle so the bow is down, leave the sidestays loose. Once the mast is up I can unhook the winch from the forestay and because the nose is down the mast will stand. Hook the forestay to the furler and hook the trailer back to the vehicle. Unload the boat and tension the rig. The boat remains strapped to the trailer during the mast raise. I had a similar system before with a manual winch but it required 2 people. Seems easier than laying the boat on its side.