Keeping H16 in a wet slip?

Hey gang, I'm stuck in West TX for a few months and there is nowhere on the local lake that I can keep my H16 with the mast up. All the boat storage areas are covered around here and there are power lines everywhere. Clearly not designed with sailors in mind. (Don't get me started on the low bridge that neatly cuts the lake in half.)

Anyway, I can store my boat near where I work (covered in an RV parking lot) for $10/mo. Then on Fridays I could bring it to the marina and pay for two nights' "transient" slip fees so that I could just step the mast and leave it in the water for Sat/Sun and then bring the boat back to work on Monday.

My main concern is keeping the boat in the water for 48 hours or so. Probably wouldn't be *every* weekend but depending on the wind forecasts, you know. I'm concerned about saturating the fiberglass and accelerating the delamination process. I haven't noticed any softness *yet* and I'd just as soon keep it that way. Can anyone speak to this?

Thanks!

Jim

Simple answer get two 4" X 4"s to span the slip and put the boat out of the water. I do it and works great! Keeping it in the water is not a good thing.

Cool, I'll talk to the girl at the marina about that and see if she says it's okay. Did you build any sort of cradle on the lumber for the hulls?

Just carpet is cool. Do not over think it Just get the boat out of the water! In a marina the polution from the power boat exaust stains the hulls no to mention the rigging is always rocking.

Yeah, the real trick is going to be the "getting it out of the water" part. I expect getting the bows up on the front board shouldn't be too bad but then the one in the back will be interesting. I'll have to push it down under one hull and then put the end of that board on the dock... then maybe loop a rope under the other end and haul it up? Could be difficult. Any more advice here? TIA.

Two people not hard my dock is very high out of the water and we each take a side while standing on the 4X4 so it will not move. Lift, grab the front pylon pull, grunt, grunt, grab the shrouds, one more umpapa and poof your over the hump, slide the boat over the front 4X4 and start drinking!

I see. What about going out single-handed?

Just yell free beer!

Heh - I checked with the people at the marina and at first they were skeptical. They countered with a suggestion that I use racheting tie-downs streched under the hulls between dock cleats and tighten them, thus lifting the boat. I said I really liked that idea, but I didn't think the cleats were strong enough to hold that kind of load, especially since I could wiggle them with my hand. They then relented and agreed to the 4x4+carpet idea so I may work on that tomorrow or some time next week.

Then I rented a Sunfish (wind ~10mph) and putted around the lake for about a half hour and started to drive home when I saw a H16 out on the lake. So I drove back to the boat ramp it appeared he was using and waited for a bit. When he came in I struck up a conversation. He has a 1984 boat he just bought last week, "upgrading" from an H17 so he could take his family out. We chatted for a bit and he let me take it out with 2 of his kids. One boy had just taken a sailing class so I had him man the jib and we sailed around for about 10 minutes, then we talked a bit more and I decided to head out so he could spend time with the family.

All in all, a fine afternoon! I'll take pics of my make-shift "dry slip" when I get it done.

Thanks for the advice!

What about using your mainsheet to haul it up onto the carpeted boards? By the way, that is a really ingenious idea.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting here with the main sheet, but I got the carpeted boards installed, in spite of (a) my brand new Black & Decker reciprocating saw self-destructing and (b) a severe storm coming through the area. Once they were in I stepped the mast (with a little help), put the boat down the boat ramp, and then swam it around to my slip where the same helper and I pulled it up onto the boards. Works great! $50/mo. is kind of a lot but if it stays as windy as it's been the last few days it'll be worth it. (I like getting out of work at 4:30 or so and having my apartment 5 minutes from the marina. )

I'll post pics in a few days when I get around to taking them. Thanks for the idea, broly!

Here are the pics of my work from the last few days:










I'm really pleased with it. Now I need to get like, a 12x20 tarp and some duct tape and custom-make a tarp that will cover the whole thing and go around the mast.

Hey! I see that you have your 16 at lake Nasworthy. I am guessing that you have it docked at the Air Force rec camp. That is great! I currently reside in south central Texas, but I am originally from San Angelo. You will pretty much always have great winds. They typically average 15 to 20 every day. However, be really cautious about keeping your hobie outside. The temperatures are really hot in San Angelo and placing your boat in the somewhat cool water may cause problems (extreme temperature change on the hulls). You may want to consider splashing them down before dunking them straight in. Also, watch the weather carefully. San Angelo can, and very often, have severe storms with large hail. The winds will take a toll on your standing rigging. The sun will take a toll on your hulls. Finally, the storms may destroy your boat with it being outside. You may really want to consider putting it inside some type of storage. There is a storage place on Knickerbocker road near the turn onto Red Bluff road that is decent in price. You may need to check to see if your mast will fit though. I am going to be in San Angelo on the 28th of August and if you have questions, or might have the time to sail, let me know and I will bring my boat. Not too many people sail in San Angelo so I know when they see you they are probably taking pictures and possibly shooting video of you like they do me when I am there.
Also, you may want to consider getting a hobie mast bob. Nasworthy is only 29 feet deep next to the dam, considerably shallower in the middle, and if you go turtle you might damage something. Hope this helps,
Mike

Hey! I see that you have your 16 at lake Nasworthy. I am guessing that you have it docked at the Air Force rec camp. That is great! I currently reside in south central Texas, but I am originally from San Angelo. You will pretty much always have great winds. They typically average 15 to 20 every day. However, be really cautious about keeping your hobie outside. The temperatures are really hot in San Angelo and placing your boat in the somewhat cool water may cause problems (extreme temperature change on the hulls). You may want to consider splashing them down before dunking them straight in. Also, watch the weather carefully. San Angelo can, and very often, have severe storms with large hail. The winds will take a toll on your standing rigging. The sun will take a toll on your hulls. Finally, the storms may destroy your boat with it being outside. You may really want to consider putting it inside some type of storage. There is a storage place on Knickerbocker road near the turn onto Red Bluff road that is decent in price. You may need to check to see if your mast will fit though. I am going to be in San Angelo on the 28th of August and if you have questions, or might have the time to sail, let me know and I will bring my boat. Not too many people sail in San Angelo so I know when they see you they are probably taking pictures and possibly shooting video of you like they do me when I am there.
Also, you may want to consider getting a hobie mast bob. Nasworthy is only 29 feet deep next to the dam, considerably shallower in the middle, and if you go turtle you might damage something. Hope this helps,
Mike

Heh... lemme break this down.


You guessed right.



Mostly I've been seeing "5-10" reported but whenever I come outside after school and see the flags straight out I head over to the lake now; figure I can study after the sun goes down.


Hmm... good call, although I hope the tarp helps with that.


Suggestions there? Maybe use more docking line to pull down a bit on the forestay to increase the tension?

See note above on the tarp.


I looked at some of the storage places but they wanted $70+/month whereas I'm paying $50/mo here + another $10/mo on base to park the trailer, and I really wanted to have the mast up.


The 28th is a Saturday I see. If there's wind I'll definately be sailing then.

Heh. Dunno, I heard when O.C. Fisher was full lots of people went sailing up there but it's mostly empty now so everyone goes to Amistad I guess?

I have considered that but I really don't like the looks of that thing. I'd rather run up a gallon jug with the sail. LOL What I *did* mean to do the other day but forgot is test my mast for leaks; I'll have to drop it one of these days and do that.

Thanks for the suggestions, broly!

Jim