Ricks is a pole attached to the front cross beam at the dolphin striker - permanently rigged on the boat.

Gary's design was a lever (modified, reinforced oar with a tab fastened to the end) you insterted into a dagger board well on the lower hull and had lines that clipped to the front and rear cross beams on the upper hull (upper and lower refer to the boat on it's side on the water). You walked up the lever, using the lines for balance.

I tried both once upon a time - and rated neither highly. The pole was a bit long and tended to drag in the water on a Hobie 18. The solo right (Gary's device) was a pain to store on the boat and more work to rig. Water bags seems easier to rig and store than either of these two options.

Chris.