Coming back ashore when there is no beach

Hi!
I would like to ask for your opinions on how to handle an H16 when you are coming back from sail under moderate winds but there is no beach. Please note I have never sailed a Hobie before - I'm a dinghy sailor.

The lake shores where I'm going to sail mine are covered with rocks and there is a concrete ramp. This is the only place where to put the boat in and take it out.

On my dinghy, in any air - moderate or heavy, I would sail to the ramp and at the last second I would just turn into the wind (it is like a half-second maneuver), jump off, grab the bow and then lower the sails and do all the rest standing in the water.

Now the H16 is bigger, sail area is bigger, I'm not sure I will be as agile with my cat as I'm with my dinghy in the cramped area of the ramp and two docks on both sides of it. How do you all do this? How do you handle your boats in such condition? When do you drop sails? What do you do with the boom which goes down with the sail? Do boom and sails just lay on the trampoline getting wet?

Thank you for advice and opinions!
Yuri

Well you can use my technique, as I have a similar situation. As I approach the ramp, I pretty much just freak out and run the boat up on the rocks. Its a bit hard on the Hobie, but the power-boats seem to get a kick out of it. Besides, what else do I have to do this winter except replace half an inch of glass on the bottom of my hulls.

It all depends on which way the wind is blowing.

Beach wheels and extra hands make all the difference.

In anything but a following breeze, it's fairly easy - just do as you've done in the past. Head the boat into the wind, loosen the sheets and traveller. Get your help to retrieve the wheels, then put the boat on the wheels, roll it up the ramp (sails up) and park it where it'll be easy to de-rig.

In a following breeze, you'll need to practice backing up (it's really not that hard). Several yards from shore, go head to wind and back into the ramp/dock. Make sure to get your rudders up so you don't back over them. Then proceed as before - wheels to the boat, up the ramp (stern first) to the de-rigging area.

If there's a dock you can tie to while you get the main down, it'll make it a little more controllable. Just roll the main up after it comes down and use the sheet to tie it down before you go up the ramp.

Doc Thirst - I forgot to mention that yes, freaking out factor is almost always present when launching and coming back. But, no I will try not to entertain powerboats.

Mbounds - thanks for advice. I will try that. I guess the problem is that everything is so big now. Plus it is getting colder here so as I personally sail around the year, I can't really count on much help to get wheels or do something else until April. So it is solo sailing, solo backing up, etc. until the water becomes warm.

Yuri

Get a small anchor & 15' of line. Anchor off the shore, lower the sails, paddle over to the ramp. You can do most of the work from the tramp if your careful.

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

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

I had this same problem with a lake that my family lives on. After a few attempts I finally gave up and started driving the extra distance to a better lake. The difficulty with this lake was...

A. The same situation you described existed.
B. My rocks were boulder sized granite and could chew through fiberglass like crazy.
C. The predominate local winds blew straight into the boat ramp.
D. If I sailed anywhere close to the wind I would immediately hit the docks on the left or I would immediately drive into shore on the right.
E. The height of the dock was exactly the same height of my sails; therefore they would rub against the sailcloth.

Here are a few of my tricks and ideas though…

I used the cooler holder on my dolphin striker and fashioned a way to mount a trolling motor. The cooler mount held the car battery. This provided numerous complications during tacking, setup and other areas. However, with the motor I was able to head up wind to the other side of the lake and then shut off and hoist the sails.

I also thought of laying some sort of heavy rug, the ones with rubber bottoms and fabric tops, over the rocks were I was planning on beaching.

I have noticed where other sailors have made ladder like rigs out of PVC pipes to set and launch their boats from.

Now that I read this post I realize that the anchor idea listed above would probably work well along with some paddling.

This was a private lake so it cost a mint to register and insure the boat. I wish the folks over looking the lake had made some sort of landing beside the ramp. I am sure that the jet skiing and paddling crowd would appreciate it too.

Good luck and let us know if you come across any ideas, I am sure a lot of southeast, inland sailors experience the same difficulties.

_________________
"Breach hull all die"
'83 H16
'90 Hobie One 12

He's got my old, (if you can call an 06' old), boat. I would seriously get a little teary eyed if that happened.

Ha!

I've shed tears over my hobie and is nearly as old as I am. A '06 might very well kill me.

Localizer,
I see you've listed your location as upstate South Carolina. What lake do you sail in South Carolina. I live outside of Fayetteville, NC. It's like "downstate" "central" North Carolina. I"m only like a thirty minute drive from the border and always looking for new places to sail, including during the winter. The lakes that I sail near my area are rather small.

_________________
James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Yep, I like the idea of an anchor and a paddle. Will look into this for sure.

I'm in Greenville and sail on lake Robinson - 3 mile long lake. It is close to the house and only $30 per year. But there is no way to find a beach there unless you buy a water front lot. Although I don't think it is worth it driving down from Fayetteville, NC for that. With my dinghy the lake becomes very small when it blows, so with a cat it will be even smaller.

The other one I go sometimes is Lake Hartwell on SC and GA border. I guess this is where I will be practicing because there is plenty of beach there.
And then there is always Charleston. It is just a blast there!

Probably lake Marion (I-26 and I-95) or Murray (near Columbia) will be closer to NC.

Yuri

I would get teary eyes myself if that happened. No, no, no. this is why the freaking out factor is almost always present - how not to put a scratch on my boat while launching and coming back.

Yuri

I have the same problem, I just turn the boat into the wind and take the mainsail down, then I sail to the ramp with just the jib up, if the wind comes from the "wrong" direction I have to paddle back.

Works pretty good, also singlehand no problem.

Chriss

_________________
1994 HC16

On the anchor idea, use a folding anchor & strap it to the front of the boat with velcro straps while sailing, or use a port & bag. The other option if it won't get stolen is to use a 15lb river anchor with a bleach bottle. Position the anchor & leave it just ofshore while your sailing. Come back from sailing, hook onto the anchor, de-rig, set the anchor on the tramp & go to the ramp.

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

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net