Hobie Nick wrote:
I installed 4" ports in my H16 and stuffed a soft sided cooler in each port. This way I could take my food and drink with me even in rough water and not worry about it getting yanked off the boat. It takes a little work to get the cooler in there, but I thought it was well worth it. Don't expect to get more than one season out of the cooler. I find them for around $10 at Target or Wal-Mart.
The ports also allow you to get a look inside the hulls and help in drying them out.
Plus, the boat doesn't look as cool with a cooler hanging off the front of the tramp.
Hey gang, listen to Nick - I never thought of stuffing a soft cooler thru the hatch- but I do know that a FAT CAT BAG from the Hobie catalog and a five inch port also from the Hobie catalog can hold a LOT of oat sodas and ice. And if you put in 4 total (bow and stern on each side) you have a regular party going on!!
Hanging stuff around the Hobie is just asking for something to fall off. Besides, if you sail through the ocean surf you REALLY DON"T want any resistance on the striker. A cooler on the striker hit by a head on wave can flip a boat over on it's backside, break a rudder and rip off a gudgeon. Don't ask how I know this
The hatches, when removed, also allow great airflow through the hull when you are towing it. Remember, a dry hull is a fast hull
Besides they're easy to install - if I can do it, ANYBODY can do it
Sail smarter, not harder -
Stephen