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Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: BrianK] #80665
07/21/06 09:10 AM
07/21/06 09:10 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
_flatlander_ Offline
old hand
_flatlander_  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
The original incident involved high voltage distirbution lines well below minimum code requirements, OVER A LAKE!

On shore, my contention is knowing that most local Electric Codes only require 18 foot clearance over vehicular pathways of any kind, in most cases, the comp-tip, will be well above this height. I hope having a comp-tip doesn't "lull" someone in to forgetting to look for overhead lines!!!

Oh well, it's a HCANA rule and have to live with it.

I don't understand peoples belief that you must cover a comp-tip. We apply wax or 303 to ours. Other than the color it's no different than your hulls.


John H16, H14
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: _flatlander_] #80666
07/21/06 09:33 AM
07/21/06 09:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 45
Commerce Twp, MI
tigerboy Offline
newbie
tigerboy  Offline
newbie

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 45
Commerce Twp, MI
The BLACK comptip absorbs the sun's rays faster. WHITE hulls reflect. Wax does not prevent damage...just makes it look nice. But the sun's UV rays WILL weaken/damage your boat over time. Keep it all covered if you want it to last.


Tiger Sailor
Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: hobie541] #80667
07/21/06 10:34 AM
07/21/06 10:34 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 283
hobie541 Offline OP
enthusiast
hobie541  Offline OP
enthusiast

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 283
I stand by my original contention that mast with a comptip is not as bouyant, and more prone to turtling, and trapping a sailor, even if it doesn't leak.

On the other hand, I will agree based on what's in this thread, that lives have been spared from electrocution. But the fact remains that under similar circumstances, you're more apt to turtle a Hobie 20 than a Nacra F18 for example.

I have friends in our club who ditched the H20 for Nacra F18, and were absolutely dumbfounded by the fact that the mast didn't sink when they tipped over. Unbelievable! Sure, they'll have to make sure the rivets are always sealed, etc., but that is amazing.

I've heard hairy stories of people drowning under turtled cats. I almost got caught under mine a few years ago, and was delighted that the water was shallower than the mast was tall. I now make sure that my crew and I carry knives. I recently heard the retelling of a horrific drowning under a Hobie 18 with a comptip in Canada. Apparently that boat turtled immediately. There may have been other circumstances in that case, but the fact remains: a boat with a comptip will turtle faster than an equivalent boat without a comptip. Prediction: thanks to another lawsuit, someday all Hobies will be required to have a bob to make them class legal.

This weekend, I'm going to pressurize my mast and find the leaks. Then I'm going to make damn sure I don't tip again. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Tim


Tim D. Johnson Hobie 20 #690 Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52 www.beyc.org
Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: hobie541] #80668
07/21/06 10:43 AM
07/21/06 10:43 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 256
North Europe, Sweden, Uppsala
Hakan Frojdh Offline
enthusiast
Hakan Frojdh  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 256
North Europe, Sweden, Uppsala
It seems that USA has a different way of handling power lines, unisolated live wires at low height! I have NEVER seen this kind of safety hazard at any sailing club I've been at in Europe. I guess you really need those comp tips.

/håkan

Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: hobie541] #80669
07/21/06 10:54 AM
07/21/06 10:54 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,459
Annapolis,MD
Keith Offline
veteran
Keith  Offline
veteran

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,459
Annapolis,MD
Quote
I stand by my original contention that mast with a comptip is not as bouyant, and more prone to turtling, and trapping a sailor, even if it doesn't leak.

On the other hand, I will agree based on what's in this thread, that lives have been spared from electrocution. But the fact remains that under similar circumstances, you're more apt to turtle a Hobie 20 than a Nacra F18 for example.

I have friends in our club who ditched the H20 for Nacra F18, and were absolutely dumbfounded by the fact that the mast didn't sink when they tipped over. Unbelievable! Sure, they'll have to make sure the rivets are always sealed, etc., but that is amazing.

I've heard hairy stories of people drowning under turtled cats. I almost got caught under mine a few years ago, and was delighted that the water was shallower than the mast was tall. I now make sure that my crew and I carry knives. I recently heard the retelling of a horrific drowning under a Hobie 18 with a comptip in Canada. Apparently that boat turtled immediately. There may have been other circumstances in that case, but the fact remains: a boat with a comptip will turtle faster than an equivalent boat without a comptip. Prediction: thanks to another lawsuit, someday all Hobies will be required to have a bob to make them class legal.

This weekend, I'm going to pressurize my mast and find the leaks. Then I'm going to make damn sure I don't tip again. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Tim


I think the problem with bouyancy and comptips has more to do with the tapered shape, not the material. The taper just doesn't give enough displacement at the end of the mast to keep the boat floating solidly on its side. Of the cats I've had, the H-20 did want to sink the mast fast, and even when I got the boat the advice I was given by quite a few was that in a capsize somebody had to get on the righting line immediately to keep the boat from going turtle. My 18 with an all metal mast with no taper floated fine.

The 18 and 20 comptips with the taper give less displacement at the end of mast when in the water.

So far my 6.0na and the Inter-20 have seemed to be the most rock solid after a capsize as far as resistance to turtling, and both boats are far easier to right than the Hobies I've had.

Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: hobie541] #80670
07/21/06 11:21 AM
07/21/06 11:21 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 45
Commerce Twp, MI
tigerboy Offline
newbie
tigerboy  Offline
newbie

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 45
Commerce Twp, MI
Quote

I have friends in our club who ditched the H20 for Nacra F18, and were absolutely dumbfounded by the fact that the mast didn't sink when they tipped over. Unbelievable! Sure, they'll have to make sure the rivets are always sealed, etc., but that is amazing.


All cats that do not have some type of floatation aide at the mast tip will turtle if the conditions are right (heavy air) Yeah, your friends might be impressed that a NF18 won't turtle but I'll bet you it wasn't very windy when they did flip over. I've put my HF18 upside down several times in extreme conditions. But I find it easier to right from a turtled position. At least you can pick which side the wind will help you with instead of trying to "walk" the boat into the proper righting position.


Tiger Sailor
Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: Hakan Frojdh] #80671
07/21/06 11:45 AM
07/21/06 11:45 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037
Central California
ejpoulsen Offline
old hand
ejpoulsen  Offline
old hand

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037
Central California
Quote
My first Hobie 16 was a brand new US build boat from 1989. I started racing with it but had speed problems. After changing the comptip mast to a 1 kg lighter aluminium mast and a new Hobie cat europe sail the speed was ok. I later changed to a French build Hobie 16 (1991) and are now sailing my third Hobie 16 (2005). My choice right now would be an Australian built Hobie 16, but it is a bit expensive to import it.


Interesting commentary on a "one design." <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />


Eric Poulsen
A-class USA 203
Ultimate 20
Central California
Re: Comptips are dangerous and high maintenance! [Re: ejpoulsen] #80672
07/23/06 02:12 PM
07/23/06 02:12 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 307
maui
jollyrodgers Offline
enthusiast
jollyrodgers  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 307
maui
One Designs can be built by many builders. Factory One Design is the concept that would lead one to believe that every boat shout be identical.
we broke our comptip off at he bottom. i fixed it with epoxy.
stuffed 2 windsurfer mast tips in there and made a socket to fit the alu at the hounds. the new tip is 6" shorter and stiffer than original. still too soft in my opinion tho. Had to modify the saill as well- no rules to follow out here. it's tapered so when i tip over i quickly point the mast tip to windward and have plenty time to rig the righting pole. i don't do the power righting and believe the first priority is swimming the bows around, getting the mast tip into the wind.

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