H18 righting system consensus

I can't wait for the 08' season to start up. I'll be sailing in Brigantine, NJ and March Creek, PA.
I will mostly go solo on my H18 and wanted to check the consensus of others for the best righting system. I'm 195 lbs and have the Hawaiin righting system rope, but obviously that's not going to cut it. I'm considering the big-bag from Murrays or a power righting pole.
I like the Big Bag because it looks fairly simple and light wieght.
I like the Power Righting pole because it looks like it could right the boat in an instant...but it's also added weight and one more mechanical "thing".

What are your thoughts and/or experiences?

Does anyone know the approximate weight needed to right the H18?

_________________
1982 Hobie 18

I use the "Stretch Righting System"

http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant.mvc ... re_Code=MS

It's a nice clean system that stays out of the way and doesn't drag in the water when not needed. Also allows you to use it as a "chicken line" when trapezing if needed. Some of the drawbacks of this system that I've noticed are;

* Once capsized, it is hard to reach up over the top of the airborn hull to reach the line.

* I sail an 18 magnum. The line seems to hang up easily on the forward wing mounting tang when trying to pull all of the stretch out of the line in preparation of righting the boat (does anybody out there know of a fix for this?).

I weigh 220 lbs and in my H16 sailing days, could easily right the boat by myself. Not true with the H18! I took a friend out on the boat, purposely capsized and then had him tread water while I attempted to self right. No luck. It's possible I might have had a better chance if there was more wind blowing to "help me out".

I plan on buying a righting bag from Murray's before the season starts which would probably give me the edge I need to self right. My only question is where do you store it?

Hope this helps!

thundley
88 H18 Magnum (Windraider)

I have no experience with either, but I have heard on other forums that the pole works best with two people and the bag better with one. Again this not from personal experience so it is worth what you have paid for it.

i liked the line in the tranp pocket arround the dolphin striker. if you need the weight go with the bag much easier and faster in the long run

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

I suggest that you not turn over. I would be very hesitant to believe my 18 could be solo righted with a bag or not. I suggest a chase/crew boat always be available. In a big blow you could solo right it, but why would you go out solo in a big blow? Its more fun to share the excitement of a good pitchpole at 20kts or so.

I built my own righting pole but haven't used it yet. I know two people could right the 18 with it but solo........I'll have to try that when the water warms up. (its in a solid state now)

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

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

If I never turned her over what fun would that be?

I'll always sail with precaution and have others for support, but I'd really like to be able to right the boat by myself if at all possible. My thoughts are that with the right system it's possible - even in light winds. Who knows; maybe I'll need a bob, a pole, and a bag. If that's what it takes...

What systems are most people using? I know some have posted. How about others? Righting line alone, some sort of added weight (water bag), a pole system, or a combination?

_________________
1982 Hobie 18

with the righting line on the dolphin and im about 250lbs i can right it solo. the major problem i had with the under tramp system is its verry hard to use that system from a full turtle.the dolphin system works very well from turtle.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Rick...could you explain the dolphin striker system?

_________________
1982 Hobie 18

its really simple tie a line to the dolphin striker and put it over the front cross bar and in to the tramp pocket. After you flip craw back on pul the rope out of the pocket over the top hull and grab and lean. this is actually how my new tiger came. its in the manual for this system.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

I have used both.Right now Ive got the under tramp with shockcord (hawiian) setup,but I also keep the bag and a 15ft length of 7/16 line with a snap shackle on one end.If I have trouble with a light crew I just grab the extra line out of tramp pocket and snap it to the dolphin stricker .If I need more help I grab the bag which I keep bunged under tramp bag and hook it to the end of the extra line ,throw it over my shoulder and up she comes.Seems to work finje and I am 195 my crew is 115.
Hope this helps.
Shawn
82 H18 8211
div 3

Yesterday was the first time I've had my 18 out with

a) less than 3 big people and
b) more than 15 kt wind


Needless to say we dumped it a couple of times.

2 of us combined at about 380 couldn't bring it up. Fortunately some power boats stopped to help.

The dealer says i need shroud extenders. He says that will let me bring the top hull past 90 and give me the mechanical advantage i need. I doubt that alone will do it and secondly if I extend the top shroud what keeps the mast foot on the ball?

I'm thinking I'd need both a bag and a stick to right it solo (I go 210).

Ideas?

Also I had my cell in a dry box in one of the hulls but the box is now behind the dagger well and out of reach! Any ideas on that one? I'm thinking either I fill the hull with water and float it forward (but I'm leary of what that might do to the boat) or I install an inspection hatch aft of the dagger well.

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient

Requires a friend...flip the boat over, mast off of course, lift up aft end and shake. Stand boat on its side (phoned hull down), phone will now (hopefully) be closer to the rear of the trunk (use mirror and flashlight to check) [if not repeat step one], remove port and reach in with a handled object (squeege?) and drag it forward.

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

On your righting issues I think the issue is technique. There is now reason why you should not have been able to right the boat with that much weight unless either your technique is wrong or you mast has a leak and is filling with water. As for technique try this: Release main and jib sheet and traveler. Walk to the front of the boat on the inside of the hull. This will raise the transom out of the water and the wind will beging to rotate the boat, continue this until wind is at a 45 degree angle between the mast and hulls. Then move back to your righting position at the front cross bar. The shroud extenders do make it easier and while they loosen that shroud, it is not to the point that the mast will come off of its base.

As to your second problem with the cell phone what a pickle. Filling the hull with water will almost certainly lead to damage, it is not designed for that kind of load and you are talking alot of weight before the box becomes afloat. Have you tried to fish it out with coat hanger yet? I had a freind with a similar issue. He placed a small cam corder in the hull with it hooked up to a tv so he could see what he was doing. It seems a coat hanger would be long enought to manipulate just behind the dagger well. An alternative would be copper pipe with a hook taped to it. The best of luck.

I have a couple of thoughts on retrieving your cell phone out of the hull.

One would be to lay a flashlight in the bottom of the hull, aimed back towards the stern so you can illuminate the area you are working. Get a shop vac and feed the hose back alongside the daggerboard trunk while using a mirror to try and see where the end of the hose is going, and try and see if you can get it to contact the bag with the cell phone. The suction should allow you to pull it back within reach.

Another thought might be to go down to AutoZone, Checkers or NAPA and get a tool commonly referred to as "Mechanic's Fingers" that may allow you to extend your reach and get a bit of a grip on the bag and fish it back forward. That tool works very well on small items like nuts or bolts, but it will need to catch a corner or a strap to really work well on a bag.

Avoid putting a porthole behind the dagger board if at all possible. The only place I would recommend putting a porthole is behind the rear crossbar at least 6 to 8 inches and that isn't going to do you any good at all because the styrofoam flotation will block access to the area you need to get to.

Stephen