Has anyone tried righting a Hobie with a jib halyard? We tried to help a couple on a distressed Hobie but weren't too sure how to tackle the problem. A Bayliner came along with lots of horsepower to 'flip' it upright so we never tried the mast lift. Maybe someone can explain the technique so sailors can help sailors and not depend on horsepower alone? Ken S/V WouffHong
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Barry
Righting A Hobie
You need about 225 lbs or crew and 12 feet of line to right a Hobie 14,16 or 18. Tie the line to the forward cross bar, go around the upwind side hull, stand on the downwind hull and lean back. The mast will come up slowly pointing into the wind. As soon as the mast tip gets above the water the wind will help lift it the rest of the way. Hold on because the boat starts sailing as soon as it gets up. I wouldn't be pulling on a mast with a powerboat since you may break something. I have helped folks pull on a righting line attached to the hull using another vessel but it's not necessary if the crew knows what they are doing. Barry
You need about 225 lbs or crew and 12 feet of line to right a Hobie 14,16 or 18. Tie the line to the forward cross bar, go around the upwind side hull, stand on the downwind hull and lean back. The mast will come up slowly pointing into the wind. As soon as the mast tip gets above the water the wind will help lift it the rest of the way. Hold on because the boat starts sailing as soon as it gets up. I wouldn't be pulling on a mast with a powerboat since you may break something. I have helped folks pull on a righting line attached to the hull using another vessel but it's not necessary if the crew knows what they are doing. Barry
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Steve O.
Barry's advice...
Is good advice, but I would add one thing: dive under the boat and release the main and jib sheets first. This keeps the sails from scooping up water, making it easier to right, and should keep the boat from sailing away once righted.
Is good advice, but I would add one thing: dive under the boat and release the main and jib sheets first. This keeps the sails from scooping up water, making it easier to right, and should keep the boat from sailing away once righted.
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Bruce
Flipped Hobbie
Interesting problem, righting a flipped Hobbie - but, some years ago sailing my Beneteau 30E off the Connecticut shore, I did just that in a howling 30 knot wind. Here is how I did it. Two Hobbies were flying out of Bridgeport Harbor. Suddenly, there was only one. Checking it out, sure enuf, the second Hobbie had flipped. Two crew were in the water, holding onto the windward sponson. Pulling along side we discussed "call the Coast Guard" or "Set them upright". We and the Hobbie crew opted for "Set them upright". I floated a seat cushion on a 1/2" 200 foot line. Circling the Hobbie, one crew retrieved the cushion, untied it and following our mutual plan, tied it around the center of the leward sponson. Both crew moved - still in the water - hand over hand to the forward end the deck netting of the windward sponson. I positioned "Ticino" with the 200 foot line secured to a stern cleat, to windward. The line now lay across the bottom of both sponsons crossing over the inverted mast (on the centerline). Taking a slight strain, the leward sponson lifted a foot or so clear of the water. I held it there for a minute or so as the swimming crew poisitined themselves to climb aboard the netting at the bow of the windward sponson. Taking more strain, we succeeded to set the Hobbie vertical on the water-side (windward) sponson, the mast lying horizontal with the water. We had agreed that the crew would, at this point, climb aboard, lower the main and hold on as I pulled the leward sponson through the wind to set the Hobbie upright. Magical as it seemed, both crew reboarded and were reaching for the main haulyard as the wind suddenly let up, placing too much strain on the line. The Hobbie, like a leaf, settled upright on both sponsons, crew in the center of the deck netting, when the wind filled the main. I saw it coming - the main was not coming down !!. I quickly released the slack line from my cleat just as the Hobbie shot away on a broad reach, the tiller in the crew's hands. We watched the Hobbie as it headed back inshore at a blistering speed, trailing my 200 foot line (never saw it again). Radioed the Coast Guard and Bridgport Harbormaster, advising of our righting the Hobbie and that the crew might need further assistance. We did not follow-up. Never did receive any acknowledgment or report of our adventure. In retrospect, I would NOT pull that stunt again.
Interesting problem, righting a flipped Hobbie - but, some years ago sailing my Beneteau 30E off the Connecticut shore, I did just that in a howling 30 knot wind. Here is how I did it. Two Hobbies were flying out of Bridgeport Harbor. Suddenly, there was only one. Checking it out, sure enuf, the second Hobbie had flipped. Two crew were in the water, holding onto the windward sponson. Pulling along side we discussed "call the Coast Guard" or "Set them upright". We and the Hobbie crew opted for "Set them upright". I floated a seat cushion on a 1/2" 200 foot line. Circling the Hobbie, one crew retrieved the cushion, untied it and following our mutual plan, tied it around the center of the leward sponson. Both crew moved - still in the water - hand over hand to the forward end the deck netting of the windward sponson. I positioned "Ticino" with the 200 foot line secured to a stern cleat, to windward. The line now lay across the bottom of both sponsons crossing over the inverted mast (on the centerline). Taking a slight strain, the leward sponson lifted a foot or so clear of the water. I held it there for a minute or so as the swimming crew poisitined themselves to climb aboard the netting at the bow of the windward sponson. Taking more strain, we succeeded to set the Hobbie vertical on the water-side (windward) sponson, the mast lying horizontal with the water. We had agreed that the crew would, at this point, climb aboard, lower the main and hold on as I pulled the leward sponson through the wind to set the Hobbie upright. Magical as it seemed, both crew reboarded and were reaching for the main haulyard as the wind suddenly let up, placing too much strain on the line. The Hobbie, like a leaf, settled upright on both sponsons, crew in the center of the deck netting, when the wind filled the main. I saw it coming - the main was not coming down !!. I quickly released the slack line from my cleat just as the Hobbie shot away on a broad reach, the tiller in the crew's hands. We watched the Hobbie as it headed back inshore at a blistering speed, trailing my 200 foot line (never saw it again). Radioed the Coast Guard and Bridgport Harbormaster, advising of our righting the Hobbie and that the crew might need further assistance. We did not follow-up. Never did receive any acknowledgment or report of our adventure. In retrospect, I would NOT pull that stunt again.
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Rob
Even Easier
Most Catamarans have one or two trapese lines attached to them. My Prindle has two. When the Cat flips (or turtles), take the righting line out of its bag. It should have a large bowline/monkey fist on one end. Take the loose end and run it through the "dogbone" harness attachment point on the trapese wire (forward wire, preferably. Throw line over windward hull, and stand on leeward hull to right boat. So, what's so different about this technique? Good question. If the righting line is attached to the trapese wire, the pull of the crew's weight is moved from the base of the mast to a point roughly three-quarters of the way up the mast. This effects a LEVER, and we all know leverage is a good thing in this circumstance. You will be using your weight to greater advantage. I way 190lbs, and can right my Prindle 16 immediately when using this technique. I have found that I cannot right it easily when the righting line is attached to the base of the mast, as the owner's manual dictates. Hope this helps! Best Regards, Rob
Most Catamarans have one or two trapese lines attached to them. My Prindle has two. When the Cat flips (or turtles), take the righting line out of its bag. It should have a large bowline/monkey fist on one end. Take the loose end and run it through the "dogbone" harness attachment point on the trapese wire (forward wire, preferably. Throw line over windward hull, and stand on leeward hull to right boat. So, what's so different about this technique? Good question. If the righting line is attached to the trapese wire, the pull of the crew's weight is moved from the base of the mast to a point roughly three-quarters of the way up the mast. This effects a LEVER, and we all know leverage is a good thing in this circumstance. You will be using your weight to greater advantage. I way 190lbs, and can right my Prindle 16 immediately when using this technique. I have found that I cannot right it easily when the righting line is attached to the base of the mast, as the owner's manual dictates. Hope this helps! Best Regards, Rob
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Andy Falls
Mast Leak
I had gone turtle a few times and always righted using "righting line" until one day "it" happened. We went turtle and the mast had developed a leak! It took a 160 hp of Glastron to right the Hobie!. Once righted, I discovered why! When the mast leaks and fills with water, it creates immense "negative" leverage! I drained the mast and had the upper pulleys replaced and sealed after that day!
I had gone turtle a few times and always righted using "righting line" until one day "it" happened. We went turtle and the mast had developed a leak! It took a 160 hp of Glastron to right the Hobie!. Once righted, I discovered why! When the mast leaks and fills with water, it creates immense "negative" leverage! I drained the mast and had the upper pulleys replaced and sealed after that day!
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markv
as a former hobot
where i started my tenure in the marine industry i strongly agree with andy on sealing the mast and while your at it rebed ALL the hull fittings especially the older boats where we used silicone to seal eveything we bolted on at the assembly line. no sikaflex or 5200 for us at the time! drill out the rivets on the end cap of the mast and shoot some foam in there to seal the bottom end the leaking mast happend on my dinghy and it was a bummer to right the boat again
where i started my tenure in the marine industry i strongly agree with andy on sealing the mast and while your at it rebed ALL the hull fittings especially the older boats where we used silicone to seal eveything we bolted on at the assembly line. no sikaflex or 5200 for us at the time! drill out the rivets on the end cap of the mast and shoot some foam in there to seal the bottom end the leaking mast happend on my dinghy and it was a bummer to right the boat again
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