Flying a hull?

Finished our first summer and fall with out flying a hull, so that is a goal for '08. Was in some heavy wind with 3 adults and 2 under 100 pounders on board (probably 700 #'s total) and backed off when I saw water breaking over the top of the bow on the down wind hull. Any body know how much weight you can have on board and safely fly a hull with out fear of stuffing the bow? I know we're going to have to get the weight back, but advise would be welcome.

You have 2 seperate issues. Keeping the bow pointed up, and not stuffing, is all a matter of keeping weight back (way back). The more weight the easier to maintain the bow up position. To fly a hull you need to get down to 1 or 2 people. See the Smok'n Getaway vid post. The Getaway is reluctant to fly and is also unstable on 1 hull. I guess it is a combination of hull weight and shape. The more crew weight you have the harder it will be to keep everyone at the balance point. If you get 1 hull up everyone shifts to the high side and down you go. The Getaway is quite stable with 1 hull just touching the water. Once you get higher I find that I either get it back down or it rolls up so high that I have to release the main to keep fom going over. The Hobie 16 and Prindles in contrast will sail along on one hull in a steady hull flying position without wanting to rock up or down.

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Bob

I'm weitgh 240 lbs and have flown the hull with one other person around 170 lbs. on several occasions.

With practice you cab fly the hull easily for extended periods. I agree that it is hard to maintain the hull flying without dropping or starting to flip once the hull is more the 6 inches or so off the water.

Pardon my ignorance but what the heck is "cab fly"

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

I think it's either flying a hull with a glass of cabernet in one hand or a typo because the b is next to the n!

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The ox is slow but the earth is patient