Forward Tramp: to be or not to be

Getting close to completing this restoration and getting the boat to the water this upcoming sailing season. What I haven't pulled the trigger on yet is tramp replacement. The wing tramps have to be replaced for sure and they are already in the recycle bin. The white vinyl original main tramp is rip free and cleaned up fairly well but is 20+ years old. The forward tramp is very sun faded and has a few tears. I'v been working with Slo Sails and Canvas to plan replacements (they will give a small discount to order multiple tramps). My question is whether or not to use the front tramp on the boat. Slo's front tramp material is supposed to be way more UV resistant but it also has a much less open weave. Where I will be sailing on the Lake Michigan, two adult no kids, the waves could pitch the boat a bit and I'm wondering if the bows get buried in the next wave will this front tramp act like a water scoop, especially with the more solid fabric, and suddenly arrest our forward movement. Anybody out there with some experience/thoughts about this maybe/maybe not issue. Sail without the front tramp or is it indispensable?

My first catamaran after many mono's, windsurfers etc...

Timmy J

Sol Sails offers different tramp fabrics....one is more open.... so that would reduce that issue.

_________________
Bill 404 21SE

They really only offer one: bias cut mesh.
Their other materials which do have a more open pattern also have a "much higher cost" according to them. They didn't even quote it;) I didn't pursue it because they more than once steered me away from these.
Thanks, Bill

T J

I would be very careful choosing an alternate vendor. The material is critical and must be a very open weave like the standard tramp forward trampoline. A standard mesh (tighter weave like the bias cut they use) can easily cause a pitch pole. Been there... done that... I had the factory change to the wide mesh after sticking the bow deep and almost going over when demo sailing the original boat in Miami during a USA road show when we first introduced the boat. The wide open netting is very forgiving and drains rapidly.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt, are you suggesting the factory tramp is available? I was under the impression that all the tramps for the Sport Cruiser are out of stock? Would be great if that was incorrect...

The boat is looking good!

Tim

White main tramp and the forward mesh are still offered.

The main is on a special order basis. We don't stock them, but we have 2 forward tramps in stock right now.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Excellent, I'll call my dealer today.

Did you sail yours without the front tramp at all? Not sure if I want it all the time if I don't have kinder playing around up there.

Yes, after that experience in Miami. I took it off. Short duration, steep chop going down wind... Waves over the bow... all good reasons for taking the forward tramp off.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Since no tramp up front may be a good idea, how about a pole out there off the 18/20/21 for a headsail. Gennaker kit doesn't exist anymore anyway, so a re-thinking or leave as originally designed?? Would have to work around or go through the cat cabin for the inboard end of the pole. That little storage area up there in the cabin would be a good home to launch and retrieve from/to. Little bored up here during winter, mind wanders...

This is what I fitted to my 18. Had it custom made and is still there 10years on. Like Matt says : chose a wide mesh. Good luck !
Michel


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPad met Tapatalk

_________________
Michel

Better detail I think
Michel


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPad met Tapatalk

_________________
Michel