Wilson,
I sail my Nacra F18 solo most of the time. At 230+ pounds, I have a significant ballast advantage when righting over your trim 200+ pounds. I find I am able to right the boat in medium wind, so long as I take the time to get the mast to the same 45 degree angle to the wind as indicated in the Hobie literature. If I try and take a shortcut by trying to right the boat before I swim it to the proper angle, I can not right it because the tip of the mast stays in the water. Positioning the boat properly lets the wind get under the main sail and help lift up the mast out of the water, similar to a waterstart by a windsurfer.

I carry a waterbag connected to a block and pulley with me too. Carrying this gives me insurance that I can right the boat. The blocks allow me to easily scoop water and raise the water bag out of the water. Its much easier than trying to lift and hold onto a trash bag while doing everything else.

I previously purchased and installed a Power Righting System and was not impressed with it. While you were not using it, the pole was a lump you felt under the tramp at the rear. When I went to use it, the rivets attaching it to the front beam quickly popped out. A waterbag with pulleys is a much better option.

A note of caution regarding waterbags. The last time I flipped, I ended up using the waterbag to right the boat because I was drifting close to the beach. I uncleated the main, but did not uncleat the jib since it was not in the water. When I went to reboard the boat after righting it with a waterbag, I could not get aboard by the front beam because the boat was sailing so fast downwind. I don’t usually have trouble getting aboard here after righting, but it seems that with the power of the cleated jib, the waterbag acted similar to a kite’s tail to give the boat downwind stability. The water pressure made it impossible for me to get aboard. I ended up going under the tramp to the back of the boat, where I grabbed the tiller and steered upwind to stop. Next time I right using a waterbag, I will either furl or uncleat the jib, plus be ready to quickly get to the tiller to make sure the boat does not take off downwind.

I have never needed a mast float because my boat have never turtled. Remember that the weight of this float will work against you in righting the boat.

Steve