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flying a hull
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Author:  Josefk [ Tue May 07, 2013 11:53 pm ]
Post subject:  flying a hull

I know this is dependent on many factors but was wondering at what sort of windspeeds you can start to fly a hull on a H14 ?

still haven't managed it even when out in steady 16 knots with gusts up to 20 knots...I'm 85kg (190lbs?) which I guess is on the heavy side which doesn't help. That and the hulls must be quite a bit heavier than standard due to the resin pumped into the soft decks (hey maybe I shouldn't be trying lest one of the hulls implodes!)

Author:  MVD [ Wed May 08, 2013 3:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: flying a hull

I weigh in at 200lbs, so I can attest that you and I are a bit on the heavy side for a Hobie 14. I typically have no idea what the actual wind speed is when I go out to sail beyond how it feels on my face and how the white caps look. However, the other day I went out and The Weather Channel website said that the wind in my area was blowing 17, but it didn't quite feel like that much. I could just get a hull out of the water in the stronger puffs. At 20 you should be able to sheet in, put the wind on your beam, and fly a hull at will. You may have a point about the resin making your boat heavy, but I would think it would take a whole lot of it to make a noticeable difference. From the picture, it appears that the top of your sail is cut a bit too narrow, it looks a bit too "pointy". If it's an aftermarket sail (not original Hobie), perhaps it's cut a bit differently. Look at my sail in the "H-14 Restoration Complete" thread. It looks as though it's cut a bit wider at the top. Less force at the top of the sail, at the end of a 23' lever, would make a difference. Just some thoughts.

Author:  Josefk [ Wed May 08, 2013 5:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: flying a hull

Thanks MVD, I'd never really noticed that about the sail but you're right. It is an after market sail and does look to be cut differently. The battens are too long in a couple of pockets (as much as a foot) and wondered whether they were spares mixed up but could also be that thy were from a differently cut sail too. Will add that to the list of other suspects. I'm in the situation where I inherited the boat for free and revived it from the dead so am only willing to spend so much on whatever I do with it beyond the essentials. While I'd like to add a dolphin striker and make it a turbo I don't think that would be a smart move to sink that much money into it - I'll just keep it as is, sail the hell out of it and at some point hopefully a 16 will come up locally reasonably priced and I'll go for that to have the option of sailing with crew and also hopefully getting out on a trapeze. I do love the 14 though and as you say it's great to solo in a blow - I am having plenty of fun regardless of flying hulls or not but was just curious as to what others' experiences were. Next time my skinny sailing buddy is up this way I'll send him out and see how he goes with it!

Author:  fastcat [ Fri May 10, 2013 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: flying a hull

Along with weight and wind speed, sail shape can make all the difference as to when your boat will fly a hull. If the sail is shaped right for the conditions (batten tension, down haul, out haul and main sheet tension) then you will fly at a lower wind speed than when not. Older, blown out sails do not shape as well as new crisp ones. My 180 lb friend can fly his H14Turbo (with Whirlwind SuperR square top sail) at wind speeds below that necessary to produce whitecaps (standing fresh water). 8)

Author:  MVD [ Fri May 10, 2013 1:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: flying a hull

Just for reference, my sail is a Hobie-built six-batten sail, I don't have a jib.

Author:  Josefk [ Sun May 26, 2013 4:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: flying a hull

Well I finally managed to get one hull out of the water (though not for long - 4/5 seconds at most). It was blowing 22 knots with gusts up to 26 (according to the reports) it was definitely the highest winds I've been out in. Had some nice speeds up and got a little rudder hum just about the point where I got the hull up. I had quite a bit of chop to contend with - onshore - and had a hell of a time tacking. I can usually crawl through tacks on most days by staying aft and moving over after I pass through the wind but the chop was killing my tacks dead. I had trouble backwinding the main sometimes too and had to gybe a few times when I'd rather not have...all good experience. Still my first year on the 14 and I don't go out in offshore winds above around 15 knots (next stop China) so I guess for now all my hull flying will have the chop to contend with.

I take on board what you say fastcat- I've been going through the Rick White 'Cat Racing for the 90s ' book esp the chapters on the main and battens. Lots of good straight advice there. I just need to get out there and experiment.

New sail and losing 20 pounds wouldn't hurt either!

Author:  Darknotes [ Mon Nov 04, 2013 11:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: flying a hull

I weigh about 190 (a bit heavy for the 14) and I sail on lake michigan(it's a bumpy ride usually), so we aren't always talking about flat water... so... when sailing unirig, I need to have about 15 mph of wind to get any action and that's just sitting on the tramp normally, not hiking out much and certainly not trapping.

I then upgraded to the 14 Turbo rig and the speed kicked up significantly! 15 mph of wind (and i'm just talking about what the weather channel says) will always give me a wild ride. So i'll have my harness on and have the extension all the way out on the tiller. If you have the chance, upgrade, you'll have so much fun!

My 105 pound girlfriend can fly a hull in like 7-10 mph winds. Its wild to watch!

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