First let me me say thank you to all who offer their help and advice. I have watched endless YouTube’s but still find myself in need of some answers. If you would kindly share your thoughts it would be appreciated.
Questions as of my 2nd trip out in 2016 Hobie TI
Situation: I live in SW FLorida and mostly need to use boat pass(s) waterways to access the Gulf of Mexico. I took my wife and kids out the other day on “calm seas” 1-2 feet waves and 5-10knot winds. Boat was probably exceeding weight to be honest, which i won’t do again. The situation is this: We were heading back to the boat ramp, the waves were pushing us into the pass, but it was an outgoing tide. The water is very unstable in these passes based on the stronger currents and multiple boats coming in and out. We were having hard time making progress with turbo kick fins and torqueedo mirage drive motor. The waves were surfing us and driving nose and ama’s into the water which is a bad situation, then sort of stalling us, not uniform water and the worst kind based on my years fishing from an outback.. but i really couldn’t go at a 45 degree angle because we were in the pass (the highway of incoming and outgoing boats), basically have to go straight in and straight out. Waves were coming over the side of the boat and back and the front and sides as well depending on wave. The boat was full of water in the mirage drive area but probably not more than half gallon in the hull once we got home. Even if we hadn’t exceeded weight limit, the water would have pushed us around and been coming overboard.
Question:
1. I know we exceed weight which i wont do again but coming in and out of the passes seems sketchy with higher and stronger waves as solo or with someone else on boat. Any advice on how to do this? The water is all mixed underneath pushing or pulling, the current and waves pushing into the back water can create any kind of weird water.
2. Should I try to come into or exit pass faster or slower? It seemed if we slowed down the waves crashed over the back of TI and sides?
3. Will the Hobie TI sink if the seat and mirage areas are full of water but most of the water is staying outside boat? I couldn’t even bilge pump the water out because of the amount coming over the sides and back would fill the hull if i opened a hatch.
4. Should i pull rudder and mirage drives and use paddles that way there is no current underneath pushing and pulling the boat?
5. What about sailing in conditions where water is filling seat and mirage drive area, is the Hobie TI meant to do that ? Is it safe?
6. Is it necessary to rinse hobie sail after each outing? If yes can i put away wet or do i need to wait for it to dry? ALso, do I uncleat the sail from the mast? I am talking about the little rope used to keep the sail on the mast. I usually get home right before dark so unsure if I should wait for sail to dry?
Thanks so much