Swim noodle inside the mast?

Most of our Club Hobie's have Hobie Bobs. Gives a lot of comfort to the rookies and newbies, and also to our Harbour Master, as much of the Ottawa River is less than 30' deep. The older boats do not enjoy this level of sophistication, and their masts all leak.

Has anyone ever jammed a swim noodle INSIDE the top of a mast? As in, remove the top casting, jam it in, rivet the casting back on.

Over the years, we have experimented with Javex bottles and tether balls attached to the head of the mainsail, and swim noodles that ride up the shrouds as one raises the main. Obviously, the best anti-turtle solution (in our circumstances) is a Bob, however this may not be cost effective on our 1978 H16 nor on our 1981 H16.

Any comments or ideas?

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

While that's a novel approach, and would probably offer some additional floatation to a water logged mast; the best approach would be to seal the mast.
If the mast is water tight, then you'll have more floatation than the noodle would offer, with none of the weight.

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2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

Bleach bottle, tied up to the top of the sail. Anything else on that 78 would be taking time away from sailing.
BTW- I turtled a Wave the other day WITH a bob on it. The wind was a bit heavier than you'd usually go out on a wave in (20-25, gusts way past 30) and I flipped and scampered up on top of the high hull, and the wind was kicking so hard it drove the mast in and under. Good thing: I have NEVER righted a boat easier than the wave. Bad thing: No dolphin striker to grab when she comes over so she blows right over the other side.

Noodle in the mast won't provide bouancy until the mast is full of water. Sealing the mast totally is the best answer. The displacement of the mast is the initial flotation, the noodle would be secondary. A bob is also initial because of displacement, secondary as it doesn't absorb water.

CW- Last year when I bent the mast on my 85' it was so fricken windy that the boat immediatly went turtle then blew back up onto the other side ready to be flipped back on her feet. Nicest capsize I've ever had. Untill later when It blew over on the beach and bent my mast.

I have a 'fender' at the top of the mast along the mast for a float. You can see it on my web site picture http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected] ... _0151N.jpg
I find it works just fine (the one time I flipped the boat and it took more then 5 minutes to turn the mast into the wind and 'teach' the never before on a sail boat crew I had what was going to happen. yes it was a hot day and we were having fun in the water) and the mast did not go down. It is a very inexpensive fix and does not give that much more windage.

Adrio,
How did you mount the fender? It looks like a simple option.

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2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

That is how I have my old 14 rigged, it works wonders!

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

I mounted a "Baby Bob" to our 1981 H-16. It was no problem, just follow the included instructions. A 1978 mast should be the same (At least I think). The Baby Bob works great on our boat. We tested it the 3rd trip out and no problem! I highly recomend it. If you want to justify cost (This is how I do it from owning many power boats). Just think of the money you're saving by sailing and not burning up at least $100 worth of gas a day feeding a motor! Just a little over a day's sailing and it's payed for!!!...I can rationalize ANYTHING!

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1981 H16.
1993 Macgregor 26S

To be honest it was not my idea, it was there when I bought the boat. I will be putting the boat to bed for the winter this weekend and that means removing the mast. I can take some pictures and post them so you can see.

But if I remember well there is a small stainless "C" rivited to the mast then the 'fender' is attached to that with stainless carabiners or clips of some sort.

Again if you would like more details I can snap some shots and update my web site with them on the weekend (if the weather is good enough to put the boat away).

I tucked the H18 away for the winter but before I finished that took some pictures for you folks while the mast was down. Here are three close up shots for you to see how the float was attached.
http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected] ... _1072S.jpg
http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected] ... _1073S.jpg
http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected] ... _1074S.jpg

And to save you looking at my old post here is the rigged boat with the float seen at the top of the mast
http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected] ... _0151N.jpg

If you would like any more details, just ask.

Adrio

_________________
2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

_________________
2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

_________________
2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

Thanks for putting the pictures inline for me. After I posted it I thought it might be better to put them inline and I was about to edit my original post when I saw your posts go up there. Again, I hope these pictures give enough detail.

Only 7 or 8 more months to water sailing weather. Now ice sailing, that is an other story.