MBounds wrote:
Boats that new really require no significant upgrades, especially if they were used for Pan Am Games training.
Take a hard look at the lines and replace any that are worn or stiff.
Spares would include mast chips (a consumable), clevis pins, ring dings, mast step link/pins, shackles, etc. Basically the little parts that always seem to get dropped in the sand when your putting the boat together.
The sails are very durable compared to a Laser's. You'll get at least a year or two out of jibs; 4 or more years out of mains - and that's for pointy end of the fleet racing. The sails will still be good, and can be sold off to recreational sailors.
There's a dealer finder on this website. I'd stick with one in CA who's got some familiarity with shipping to MEX.
The Hobie University book is a great place to start for instruction materials. (Google it.)
Thanks! Everyone we've talked to about this is pretty excited. We are lucky to have a good supplier for line etc. in Banderas Bay so keeping running rigging up will be easy. Hobie sells a spares kit that looks to have the right stuff on your list.
How about mast floats and righting systems? One of our goals is to keep kids in the sailing program after they age out and/or get to big to sail Opti's (age 15). We won't be having kids out without a chase boat, but safety is a big concern. We would like to see our adult members use the boats too so identical, easy to use, reliable righting is a pretty high priority.
If we store the boats rigged (masts up) what should we cover? How sensitive to UV are the comptips?
Is there any reason other than cost not to use Hobie sails?
Thanks for the feedback!
Randy