Capsizing a 170

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R

Rusty

I have read the current and past posts concerning Hobie mast floats. I do not have one and hope that I would not need one. I have never went over, but I would like to capsize my 170 and see if one is really needed and determine other options, such as using a life jacket or boat bumper, attached after the boat is over (as has been suggested...sounds like good ideas!). Also I need to practice righting the boat. What is the easiest way to get the 170 to tip? Does it have to happen in deep water (deeper than the mast is long)? What would happen if the mast was filled with expanding foam? Any suggestions or personal experiences would be appreciated. Thanks, Rusty
 
Aug 11, 2006
1,446
Hunter H260 Traverse City
Capsizing

I regularly tie a dock fender (5" x 18") to the top of the mast when under sail, now- It provides excellent floatation to the mast when on its side after a capsize and gives great peace of mind to sailing without worrying about turtling. They cost about $6 and are worth trying. Tie it off to the top of the mast and pull the boat (fully rigged) out into 4-5 feet of water, grab the topping lift (mainsheet should be holding the boom up, so the topping lift should be free) and jump over the side of the boat. You'll be suprised at how easy the boat turns on its side. Wade out to the top of the mast, and gently throw it up, or go to the centerboard and put a little down-pressure on it. Both methods will EASILY right the boat. I've done this several times just to see what would be necessary in the event of a real capsize.
 
R

Rusty

Thanks George

George, Thanks for the advise. I will give this a try on Saturday. After playing in shallow water, I think I'll give it a try in deeper water also. Rusty
 
Aug 11, 2006
1,446
Hunter H260 Traverse City
Capsize practice???

How did the pracice sessions go?? I'm looking forward to the Cold Fronts to start coming my way- (TEXAS) Before they get here, the south breeze really picks up and makes for some great sailing- Inland winds during July and August just don't happen around here.
 
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Jeremiah D. Canty

Centerboard action?

With a float attached and a capsized baot does the centerboard slam back into the up position or does it stay "down?"
 
R

Rusty

Capsize Practice and Centerboard Action

George and Jeremiah, First for George, I was at our lake cabin Friday afternoon and the breeze was perfect...the only problem was that I was staining a deck and put off putting the boat in the water. On Saturday the breeze was beautiful all afternoon (still completing the staining) right up to the point of pushing off. At that point the obvious, and expected happened, the wind died completely. With that said, I didn't sail at all this weekend. I did get alot of staining and painting done though. I will aim for next Saturday. I'll keep you posted!!! As for Jeremiah, the centerboard should have at tether or bungee that locks it into the down position, at least the 2003s come stock that way. My bungee connects to a v-strap on the "top" end of the centerboard and is intended to be attached to an eye-strap just fore of the mainsheet pulleys on the floor of the hull. I will admit that in shallow water I do not attach this as it precludes the centerboard from kicking up (I had a BAD experience...). I have never tipped the boat, but I would imagine that without it strapped, the board would indeed fall back into the recess. George, does it fall in when the boat is laying on its side in the water? How hard is it to get back out if it does retract? I'll post you next week. Rusty
 
Aug 11, 2006
1,446
Hunter H260 Traverse City
Centerboard Stays Down

The first time I capsized the boat (on purpose) I was in 3' of water and didn't even think to put the board down, as it will be in a real-life unexpected blow-down. I waded around to the bottom of the boat, and tried to pull the centerboard out. There's no way in hell you can get it out in the retracted position, especially if you were out in the middle of the lake, and the board is wet. No way to get a grip on it. With the board more than 1/4 of the way down, it easily is pulled out, (if it is uncleated!!). There are no forces on the centerboard to cause it to slide back into the retracted position. It is almost parallel to the surface of the water if your mast float is attached to the very top of the mast. If you just tie off one end of the float to the topping lift padeye, the top of the mast will dip below the surface of the water. I don't know if that would create enough of an angle for the board to retract... I doubt it. Anyway, I bought an extra padeye and located it on the mast opposite the one that is already there for the topping lift. I put the boat fender on top the mast and lash it tight via the two padeyes, it looks basically like a hobie float, except that it looks more like a cigar than a football! Even if the board does retract while you are capsized, just swim out to the end of the mast (first release the main sheet all the way, if the boom is sheeted in, it'll act like a big drag chute underwater) and throw the mast up in the air with your hands- If you have your PFD on, this isn't hard. Take all this advise as worth about two cents though!! Go out and try it in your boat for practice. That way when it does happen, you'll look like a pro getting it righted in less than 30 seconds. Interesting about the strap on the top of the centerboard.... My 2001 does not have this.
 
R

Rusty

Thanks George, I'll..

get you a digital of the strap arrangement, pretty simple but effective. As I said in an earlier post several weeks ago, I forgot to unhook this strap earlier this summer when coming to shore, wind at my back or there abouts, and hung up on the bottom with the centerboard. The wind was blowing in and the mud was preventing me from moving. Quite comical to those looking on as I was stuck several hundred yards from shore. Trust me, there was learning value there!!! Give me some time to get back to the boat to get you some images of the arrangement, probably late in the week. Rusty
 
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Jeremiah D. Canty

Damage prevention

Great gouge. When I talked to the guy at the Kaneohe Marina he said the mast floats prevented the centerboards going back into the boat. If the boat turteled he said the baord slams home so hard it damages the board.
 
B

Bart

Turn-off-- or turn on

I didn't know these boats would capsize. That is one thing I miss about my present boat. I used to have and still do have a Sunfish. I currently have a Hunter 240. I don't think it will turn over. Never really tried. What happens to the motor and all your junk when the happens? does the boat go completely turtle or only half way?
 
R

Rusty

Where does your junk go?

I think it would be incredibly difficult, if at all possible, to get a water ballast 240 or 260 to go over. No experience only my thoughts based on the ballast concept. As for any daysailor without additional ballast...some stuff floats, some sinks, some stays in the boat, some departs the boat... Many daysailors will have some type of compartment to store stuff in, which will help when they tip as well as keep your stuff dry. The 170 has a pseudo storage compartment which may help keep stuff in, if both the canvas is snapped on and the bag is clipped into place. I have not tipped mine yet, but if I know that stuff won't float, I either will put it in a water/air tight container (wet bag or plastic ammo can type container) or I tie it to something. A good example is that I always carry an assortment of shackles and pins, cotter pins and rings, and so forth. These are stored in a 1 liter Nalgene bottle. The bottle will sink with all the harware in it. I use another spare shackle to secure it to one of the eye-straps which secure the bag to fore end of the boat.
 
R

Randy

re 240

Trust me the 240 will capsize. I've had mine very near that point on a couple of ocassions. And the guy I bought it from had it capsize on him. He informed when it capsizes and it will to undo the topping lift to get it back up.
 
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