Maneuvering in tight spaces

I am having quite a bit of trouble maneuvering my h16 in and out of the marina, especially in upwind situations. I was wondering if anyone has any tips on on maneuvering in tight spaces.

i f your going upwind its going to be hard no matter what but you could always get a tow in from somebody or hobie sells these really nice extending paddles....

i usually keep a cheap extending emergency paddle bunjeed between the dolphin striker and the base of the mast. keep it as high up as you can and angled to deflect waves.

The previous respondees are right. I always bungee a paddle underneath my tramp. I also try to pick a boat ramp where I can turn the boat off the trailer and point her into the wind. I try to stay away from the "motor" marinas when choosing a launch point.

Sometimes this can be difficult.

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Eric
H16
Sail# 11500

No kidding. I've had several close calls in the past. There have been one or two times where I was seriously concerned about not being able to alter my path and avoid a boat. I remember getting stuck in irons between a moored sailboat, 25-30 footer, and a motorboat that wouldn't give me room. I had to fall back on a starboard tack to have any wind that would help me move around a bunch of moored boats. Then, I realized I didn't have the room. I literally walked out to the tip of the bows to get the rudders out of the water so that the current took me back onto an appropriate tack. I was having a conversation with this family on their sailboat as I drifted by about a foot away from collision while asking them to shove me off should I get too close. Sorry, no real tips for you. Maybe this is more appropriate in the topic about motor boaters being inconsiderate of sail-powered craft. But, I did learn, turn into the wind and walk on the tip of the bow and she'll back up a little.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Yeah I have been weaving a paddle in the lacing on my tramp. However, Paddling can be an issue in strong wind a trough the rollers coming into the marina. Usually I result to going through one of rows of the marina and building speed on the way out and blasting out of the maria. Unfortunately, the boat owners in the row don't seem to appreciate this practice seeing as they all run to the back of their boat with a boat hook when I attempt it. No faith in catamarans I guess...

Thanks for your responses,
Kris

Hey, if you ever need to back up, (and it does happen), there is great value in practicing that skill out on the open water. Set up next to a crab pot or bouy to judge your progress.

In my experience, to back up, sail close hauled, then tack. Don't change the jib position ( it wil be backwinded). Push the main traveller all the way out on the new windward side , and sheet in hard to keep it bound up out there.. in lighter air, you can push it out with your hands.. The 16 sails backwards pretty fast. Need to be REALLY fast on tiller adjustments, or it will back down solidly onto on tack or the other. Helps to have 2 boats try it side by side, it adds to the comepetitiveness and comraderie,.

Like Tiger Woods, who just goes out and plays around with really weird shots, trying bizzare things like this really helps your boat handling.
Best of luck to you.

Another great fun feat of boat handling in light air on a reach is to have crew stand on leeward hull, behind the tramp, then skipper tries to do the same. Use balance / sail pressure to keep from going over backwards, but see how far back you can get.. Amaze your friends!

Rock

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Raced extensively as a kid (against Matt Bounds!!), just bought a 20 year old 16 and am refurbishing it.

Sail # 21888

Failing all that, a paddle is a great idea

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Raced extensively as a kid (against Matt Bounds!!), just bought a 20 year old 16 and am refurbishing it.

Sail # 21888