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A Beach in Arizona #97663
01/29/07 06:49 PM
01/29/07 06:49 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
RickInMesa Offline OP
newbie
RickInMesa  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
I've repaired my 1972[?] Hobie 16 to the point where I'm ready to give it a try in the water. Can anyone recommend a good lake with a good beach area within 200 miles of Phoenix? :-) I've looked at Canyon Lake, but the man-made lakes have steep and unforgiving shores, generally.

Alternatively, does anyone launch their H-16 from the trailer, like a "real" boat? I don't have a winch on my trailer, so this seems like it might be hard. Setting up the boat when it's on the trailer seems hard, too... particularly stepping the mast.

Rick

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: RickInMesa] #97664
01/29/07 07:26 PM
01/29/07 07:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Pascal Offline
stranger
Pascal  Offline
stranger

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
we sometimes launch at a ramp next to the marina where i live, it's no big deal but a little harder than on a beach. it all depends on the ramp layout and wind. it helps if you have nice docks along the ramp with wood piling that won't damage the boat..

Make sure that you have the boat ready to go once you launch... trailer boaters are not very patient :-) You dont' need a winch to launch, it helps to retrieve unless you have some help to pull the boat on the trailer.

stepping the mast on the trailer isn't hard, we raise the Jib on the trailer but usually raise the main once afloat.

if the ramp is busy, coming back can be a pain since you may have to circle around till it's your turn and hope someone doens't cut you off...

PS... i'm not too familiar with phoenix but what about that big lake off the apache trail ? is that canyon lake ?

Last edited by Pascal; 01/29/07 07:28 PM.

Pascal Miami, fl www.sandbarhopper.com
Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: Pascal] #97665
01/29/07 08:42 PM
01/29/07 08:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
RickInMesa Offline OP
newbie
RickInMesa  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
Thanks for the tips!

Yes, Canyon Lake is the first lake on the Apache Trail, east of Phoenix. Ten miles further is Apache Lake, then ten miles after that is Roosevelt Lake.

When the water is high on Roosevelt, I think there are grassy areas in several spots. I'd like to hear that somebody else had tried the lake with a catamaran -- it's certainly large enough, if Arizona gets a wet year.

Rick

Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: RickInMesa] #97666
01/29/07 08:59 PM
01/29/07 08:59 PM
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
Rick,

Contact this bunch of Hobie freinds you haven't met yet. fleet 66 Phoenix


John H16, H14
Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: RickInMesa] #97667
01/30/07 07:57 AM
01/30/07 07:57 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 206
Virginia USA
CMerrell Offline
enthusiast
CMerrell  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 206
Virginia USA
If you have beach wheels, launching from a boat ramp is not too bad, especially if you have a sand or grass area on which to set up beforehand. Launching/returning straight from a trailer is a more difficult logistic challenge.

Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: _flatlander_] #97668
01/30/07 08:28 AM
01/30/07 08:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
RickInMesa Offline OP
newbie
RickInMesa  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
I appreciate the lead. This forum is exactly what a newcomer to beachcats needs!

Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: RickInMesa] #97669
01/30/07 10:52 PM
01/30/07 10:52 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
NC
D
drbinkle Offline
addict
drbinkle  Offline
addict
D

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
NC
I launched from the trailer without a winch until I got trax this past summer. I always tried to have another person around to help push the boat up on the trailer so I didn't have to back the trailer with the box all the way into the water. I also usually tried to tie down the boat on the trailer during setup, especially stepping the mast.

Trax are more of a convenience than a necessity and you can always find someone around to lend you a pair if you get in a bind. Good luck finding a beach.

Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: RickInMesa] #97670
02/03/07 12:43 PM
02/03/07 12:43 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 17
Seattle, WA
skipper0802 Offline
stranger
skipper0802  Offline
stranger

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 17
Seattle, WA
I can't speak to any lakes near you but I rig my 16 on the trailer every time. To make raising the mast almost effortless, I un-hitch making sure my wheel chocks are still in place and retract the front trailer wheel so the tongue is as close to the ground as possible. This creates a "negative pitch" on the trailer/cat. It's like walking the mast "downhill". Much easier than trying to walk it forward when the tramp has a "positive pitch". I also use a line through a pulley/cleat to pull the forestay while I fasten the bridle. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Eric


Eric Abbott
Former Hobie 16 owner
Seattle, Washington, USA
Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: skipper0802] #97671
02/03/07 06:57 PM
02/03/07 06:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
RickInMesa Offline OP
newbie
RickInMesa  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
That's a great tip, Eric! Thanks.

I did visit Lake Pleasant, yesterday, and it seems wide-open and easy to navigate. Plenty of beaches available, too, but many are quite rocky. I will be picky.

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98675-LakePleasant.jpg (473 downloads)
Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: RickInMesa] #97672
03/18/07 09:55 AM
03/18/07 09:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
I don't remember which lake this was. It was north of Phoenix some where. North an hour or so. A local Hobie Fleet had an adopt a highway sign on the road there but I don't remember which fleet. It was a resevoir(as I'm sure most lakes in Arizona are), with a large earth dam.

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I'm boatless.
Re: A Beach in Arizona [Re: Karl_Brogger] #97673
03/21/07 03:47 AM
03/21/07 03:47 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
RickInMesa Offline OP
newbie
RickInMesa  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Mesa, Arizona
I have now sailed twice on Lake Pleasant (the one north of Phoenix), and enjoyed my boat a great deal. I launched from the 10-lane boat ramp, after stepping the mast in the prep area. I had no problems, following all the tips you folks have offered. Thanks again.

I discovered that my trailer (with its sail box closed) will float! Backing it into the water, I saw that the whole thing was drifting back and forth. It didn't make much difference except on recovery; the trailer wouldn't stay still, so I had to splash in and stand on it. Oh well...

Once I had the boat in just-about the right position, I tied a rope from the bridle to the mast stand at the front of the trailer. This kept the boat from just rolling off the back as I drove up the ramp. Because of the floating trailer, I paused at the edge of the water and pushed the hulls onto the centers of the rollers.

There were five other catamarans on the water, two weeks ago Sunday. I enjoyed the gentle winds. Great for learning.

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