After much delay, I finally got my 1980 Nacra 5.2 in the water. First time on a cat (couple years mono hull exp) and realized I was in for a ride! Winds on Lake Keystone, Northeast Oklahoma, were 12-18 with a lot of puffs!

I was doing so-so for about 30 minutes and then I obviously did something wrong and ended up on my side. The mast is pretty water tight as it never turtled. Try as I might (I weigh 205) and lacking technique, I never could right the cat by myself. Another sailor came over and it came right up with the two of us.

Question: I do a lot of single-handing and do not want to get in this situation again if I am out by myself. What about the Power Righter System http://www.catsailor.com/power_righter.html .
The system looks simple enough. Has anyone had any experience with a system like this or what would you recommend.

I believe I could become a better sailor and would be more aggressive if I didn't have to worry about righting the boat!

Thanks,

Terry

Try this recent thread--lot of tips that would be applicable to the N5.2--in fact boards may make it easier to right than a 5.0.

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/sho...ew=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Thanks, I should have checked the archives.....

Are the dagger boards & trunks strong enough for someone to stand on the end of the board to help raise the boat?

Someone with another kind of boat did that and damaged the trunk and caused a big leak.....

Terry

I solo an FX-One and have flipped a couple times....I stand out on the daggerboard and it comes right up no problem...at 230 I have had no problem with the boards....now if I could just from hitting reefs Id be ok...

You said:
"Are the dagger boards & trunks strong enough for someone to stand on the end of the board to help raise the boat?"

AAAAAAH! (Sorry about that.) Bet that sucka JUMPED on the board, not STOOD on the board. Or it was gonna fail anyway...

It's a surprisingly widely held misconception that people can't stand on the daggerboards to right a boat.

Oh, kaaaay..... Give this some thought:

How much force do you think is exerted by the sail and the forward motion of the boat through the water? Try this experiment: Sail upwind, doesn't have to be in a blow. Sheet hard, go well. Then, go and just try to pull your board up while underway. If you can pull it up, well, you're the Hulk and we damn sure don't need to be having this conversation. Or, you ain't sailin' the boat right.

Bottom line, this: There's a buttload more force than 200-odd lbs on that board, I promise. Go ahead and stand on it.

Now, that said, DO NOT think you can JUMP on or DIVE off the daggerboard, but just standing on it for leverage is ok.

At 205, you're plenty to raise that boat. But it's techniqu-ish. Didja stand opposite the mast, slightly behind (like at the 'board)? Didja UNCLEAT THE SAILS? Didja point the mast toward the wind? Didja hang in the water? Don't hang in the water; whatever's hanging in the water isn't leveraging the boat...

I can right my 18sq (11' beam, 31' stick) at 5'4" and less weight than you (it's a feminine thing, I ain't gonna give my weight ;-) with my homemade righting pole, you sure oughta be able to right your 5.2 at your size...

Have confidence! it'll make your sailing a lot more fun, been there done that. Practice flipping...

Sea ya
tami

Next time I capsize my 17, I'll go stand on the end of my boards, and when they break, can you buy me a new one.. because I'm really getting sick of glassing up my old one over and over again

I sailed my 5.2 solo from time to time and as long as there was at least 10-15knots of wind, I could right it solo at 170lbs. Although, I did have to tie a knot in my righting line to hook to my trapeze harness to so I could lean out a little extra. The end of the board will hold you - mine held two of us at probably 320lbs a couple of times (but like Tami said - forget trying to dive from it). If it doesn't hold your 205lb, then it was about to break under sail anyway.

I've had problems righting the boat in lighter air though (heavy enough to capsize but not enough to right it solo). I carried a righting bag to fill with water if I ever got stuck but dreamed about the quick and easy simplicity of Rick's righting pole. With my 6.0, I'm finding it tougher to right so depending on how weighty my crew is, I'm sailing a little more conservative in moderate air until I can afford one.

Maugan said:
"Next time I capsize my 17, I'll go stand on the end of my boards, and when they break, can you buy me a new one.. because I'm really getting sick of glassing up my old one over and over again"

Maybe you should consider a NACRA?

Maybe I should consider alternate ways of righting my boat. Stepping on a board that isn't thinker than my fingernail at the tip doesn't sound like to much fun.

I don't have a problem with the boards, they are very thick and stout, I was more concerned with all of the load at the end that may cause damage to the trunk, not the board. I understand what Tami is saying about the load of the boards while under sail, but that load is displaced along the entire board and not out on the end.

I appreciate all the input and believe that I could have righted the boat while on the end of the board, it will provide a lot more leverage. I had also thought about using the harness to hook into the line as Jake had done. That would have kept me from getting so tired, holding onto the line. My hands are still sore!

I think I will save up and get the pole, even if it is just a placebo effect and may make me "feel" more prepared!

Terry

Do a search in this forum for Solo~Right. That's what I use to right my Prindle 18 if I capsize alone. Works better than a bag and easy to carry.

Sheldon

be sure you don't lean out TOO far when on the board, I've done that before and the board slid back up into the hull. "LOOK OUT TOES!"

"OUCH!"

That is why I always insist on wearing footwear!