Catsailor.com First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of!
Posted By: ocalacat First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/29/09 11:40 PM
So after having my H16 for a month now, and not having any luck finding someone to go out with me for the first time, I decided it was now or never.
I've never sailed before mind you, and I've been a little apprehensive, considering not only do I not know how to sail but, how am I going to step the mast by myself. After reading post after post on the different methods proposed by experienced sailors, I at first thought, maybe this isn't something I should try by myself the first time.
Oh well, I wouldn't have even thought twice about it 20 or so years ago but I'm a bit more cautious nowadays.
So I get to the boat ramp (a rarely used ramp on a small lake so I could take my time) I did plan to ask someone to help me step the mast if there was someone around , but there wasn't, so I said to myself Just do it!
Ok, I get everything ready and slide the mast into place. I push down on the base of the mast and get it pinned very easily. Looking Good!
Next I make sure all shroud lines are clear of the corners, a little clean and jerk and up she goes. All the way up, but not quite seated so I give a little jerk and push and then pop! She seats and settles in.
At this point I lean my shoulder into it and pick up the line that I ran through the forestay, around the winch on the trailer, and pull it snug and cleat it off. Holy Crap! I did it! and it was easy!
Now, ever so gently, I climb down from the tramp to go connect the forestay to the bridle and what do you know, the line is twisted with the jib halyard, I think? As I'm looking everything over, trying to figure out how to fix the problem without lowering the mast, I see that the mast base has ripped out of the mast on one side. Uh Oh!
Ok so now I'm praying that it holds together until I can get it down. I un-cleat the forestay line and just as I start to lower it, POP! the other side breaks loose, and like in slow motion I see the base of the mast hanging in mid air. I try as hard as I can to keep it from crashing down and do pretty good until the weight and momentum nearly twisted my wrist off.
So, like the post title said, Today was my firt time out, sort of! and those masts are really tough! sort of!
I sure would like to go sailing one day!
I will post some pictures of the damage so that hopefully someone can help me figure out what I need to do to get it repaired. Unfortunately, right now, I can't remember my user name and password for the pix site to host the photo's.
Posted By: Todd_Sails Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/29/09 11:46 PM
Well, hope you weren't injured.
Your plan sounded good, how old was the mast base and rivets, etc?
Posted By: SurfCityRacing Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 12:18 AM
Bummer! Good try though. What year is the boat?
We'll get you on the water!
J
Posted By: PTP Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 08/30/09 01:38 AM
I remember the first time I stepped a mast on a cat. NOT FUN... partly because it was a 6.0
Next time, swear to yourself that if the mast is falling, let it go and just get out of the way... it ain't worth a serious bonk on the head or even a badly sprained wrist.
keep with it, it is all worth it.
anyone out there anywhere near him that could head out with him first time around?
Posted By: Timbo Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 08/30/09 02:03 AM
And always, before you step the mast, take a good look up and around where you intend to rig up and launch, for overhead electrical wires. Many experienced people have been killed pushing their masts into those when at a new location and they forgot to look up first.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 08/30/09 02:28 AM
All good! boat is an 81 and I don't know if the mast base is OEM but I suspect it is. I'll try to post some pic's tomorrow as I'm not quite sure what to do, The rivet ripped out of the mast on one side and ripped through and broke off a piece of the base on the other side.
I'm pretty worried that I won't be able to get the base securely back in the mast?
Timbo, don't worry! I checked really good before raising the mast. Been reading up on all of this for a month now.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 08/30/09 03:16 AM
Ocalacat:
Welcome to the world of catamarans and the great people you will meet. You are in for a fun lifestyle. My first boat was a H-16 and I learrrned a lot from it. I recommend getting this for you as a newbie. There is a whole chapter on the H-16 by one of the best. This book will take years of your learning curve. Hang in there and ask away with questions. You have a new family here reaady and willing to help.
https://store.catsailor.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=6437&idcategory=99Doug
Posted By: cyberspeed Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 08/30/09 05:52 AM
I will probably be out sailing next Saturday from Singer Island if you want to head out this way.
Posted By: JeffS Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 06:14 AM
I will post some pictures of the damage so that hopefully someone can help me figure out what I need to do to get it repaired. Unfortunately, right now, I can't remember my user name and password for the pix site to host the photo's.
You don't need any other passwords to post pics all you need to do is
Click on the "Full screen reply button" at the bottom of your screen
Then click "file manager"
Then click "Browse"
Select your photo then click "add file"
Repeat the last two steps for each photo
When you have enough photos click "Done adding files"
and it should be fine, if the photos don't load it means their too big and you need to minimise the photo's.
regards
Posted By: Storz Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 01:29 PM
Keep with it man, I had the same apprehensions about stepping the mast on my boat. The first time I went out with it I had someone help me, but the 2nd time (even though I had crew) I wanted to see if I could do it alone and I got it!
There are tons of cat sailors in FL, I am sure someone is around to lend a hand
Posted By: pgp Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 01:34 PM
You should come over for the Wildcat regatta in Eustis. Lots of fun, good people. There is usually a contingent of H16s. In any case, we all cut our teeth on that boat so there will be a world of advice for.
The dates are Oct. 2-4. NOR should be here-
http://www.1design.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=387 Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 01:54 PM
I will post some pictures of the damage so that hopefully someone can help me figure out what I need to do to get it repaired. Unfortunately, right now, I can't remember my user name and password for the pix site to host the photo's.
You don't need any other passwords to post pics all you need to do is
Click on the "Full screen reply button" at the bottom of your screen
Then click "file manager"
Then click "Browse"
Select your photo then click "add file"
Repeat the last two steps for each photo
When you have enough photos click "Done adding files"
and it should be fine, if the photos don't load it means their too big and you need to minimise the photo's.
regards
Thanks, I'll try that.. I'm use to having to host the photo's somewhere so you can post the URL.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 01:56 PM
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 02:09 PM
Obviously, I need a new base, but what about the mast itself where the hole for the rivet is ripped out?
Posted By: Karl_Brogger Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 02:17 PM
Replace the base, and just add a couple more rivets in different locations from the original.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 02:26 PM
Replace the base, and just add a couple more rivets in different locations from the original.
So just drill some new holes through the mast and the new base? Should I do more than two? Like maybe two on each side as opposed to the original one per side.
Posted By: Karl_Brogger Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 02:30 PM
Yep! I'd seal it up with some silicone too when you install the new one.
Posted By: h17racer Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 02:43 PM
Hmmm, looks like salt-water corrosion and I see you live in Florida. Check other stress points along with the inside of the mast at the base. Worse case, you may need to cut off a bit of the mast base if further weakened.
Some of you salt-water sailors chime in....how do you best limit the effect of salt-water on alloy masts?
Sail fast, Tom G
Posted By: Timbo Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 02:59 PM
If you are going to drill new holes, you can use that same mast base, as you will be drilling all the way through both anyway. Clean up both the mast base and inside the mast, add some goop to seal it, insert, drill, rivet, and step it again.
Oh, and it looks like you didn't have any grease on the ball that goes into the beam (unless you cleaned it off before the photo shoot), you want to put a little bit of something like axel grease or lithium grease or something down into the ball seat so it will rotate easier with less wear. Hobie even sells some small white plastic discs you can put in there, but you can cut up an old plastic milk jug for the same effect.
Posted By: Dan_Delave Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 03:06 PM
Just at a quick glance I would say if you want to save some money, you probably did not pay much for the boat, use the same base. Chip off of the base anything that may flake off. Make sure the walls of the mast are no thinner at the 1/2 inches on the bottom as they are above that. A similar thing happened to my boat a bit over 20 years ago when I was sailing H16s. You would like to avoid further electrolysis. You can use a dielectric grease, a teflon compound, or ignore it and just place some silicone sealant on it. There is a foam plug a bit in from the base. While the bottom is off put some extra sealant on that to make sure you mast stays as watertight as you can get it.
Drill in different spots and you should be ready to go. The only time the rivets see any stress is in raising and lowering the mast. While the mast is up it is a compressive load and does not effect the rivets.
Have fun sailing,
Dan
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 03:36 PM
Should I be using aluminum rivets?
Posted By: pgp Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 05:14 PM
I've always used stainless. They were recommended by the dealer way back when.
Posted By: Jake Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 05:17 PM
Should I be using aluminum rivets?
Stainless rivets and seal the mast base to the mast with 3M 4200 sealant (usually available at wal-mart). If you use 5200, you probably won't be able to get the mast out again.
either the 4200 or 5200 will help work against galvanic corrosion.
Use stainless (or monel) rivets where there is a high loading. Aluminum rivets are very weak.
Posted By: Mugrace72 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 05:54 PM
So here are a few pictures of the damage. Any ideas on what I need to do?
Wow, I've never seen that happen, but it is a good thing that it did and you weren't hurt and the mast wasn't damaged.
Like everyone says, just seal it well (4200) and drill new holes for SS or Monel rivets.
I wish I had been thinking because we were cat sailing at Cedar Key yesterday and that might have been within your range. I may be back down here in a few weeks. Probably Sept 19-20 weekend.
You might think ahead to the Cedar Key Regatta coming up in October (10/24-25). You don't need to be a racer to participate. It will be low key and I think mostly H16 and TheMightyHobie18 folks with a few of the remaining Prindles.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 06:04 PM
So here are a few pictures of the damage. Any ideas on what I need to do?
Jody:
Same thing happened to my boom on my H-17. I had to cut about 1" or so off and drill new holes and get new end cap. After that no problem. Just metal stress I guess.
Doug
Posted By: Isotope235 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 08:51 PM
Should I be using aluminum rivets?
I'll break from the pack and say use aluminum rivets. They don't need to take tremendous load under normal usage, and should something go wrong, it's better to shear the rivets than rip the mast extrusion.
Regards,
Eric
Posted By: Mugrace72 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 09:09 PM
Should I be using aluminum rivets?
I'll break from the pack and say use aluminum rivets. They don't need to take tremendous load under normal usage, and should something go wrong, it's better to shear the rivets than rip the mast extrusion.
Regards,
Eric
I agree and am sure AL will be fine. They are much easier to pop and you can get them and a basic tool at the hardware store.
However, OE would be Monel and I supose there might be a reason Hobie did that. They use Monel in all applications, loaded and not loaded.
Posted By: Jake Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 09:29 PM
Should I be using aluminum rivets?
I'll break from the pack and say use aluminum rivets. They don't need to take tremendous load under normal usage, and should something go wrong, it's better to shear the rivets than rip the mast extrusion.
Regards,
Eric
Gonna take a flier - huh?
Posted By: cyberspeed Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/30/09 11:57 PM
I have had that happen on my old Prindle 16. Just clean it up, load it up with 5200 and rivet her in. I would also check the rest of the mast closely. Chances are if you are seeing that there...you will see other areas that need attention. Also make sure you seal any possible holes with the 5200. If you capsize and the mast leaks, the boat will go turtle. We recently stripped my SC 20 mast bare and sealed everything with some special aircraft sealant Rob uses.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/31/09 01:27 AM
Well I started the fix before I got all the feedback and I used aluminum rivets, but I don't think this sucker is going anywhere now
Here it is all set up! So I feel pretty confidant about the whole stepping the mast solo deal, now I just have to figure out how to sail her.
I do have a few questions about some things so I'll post some more pictures tomorrow and see if you guys can help me figure a few things out.
The jib looks funny to me.I don't think I have something quite right?
Posted By: Robi Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/31/09 02:05 AM
You are good to go, now get back to the lake ASAP!
Posted By: JeffS Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/31/09 02:24 AM
Should I be using aluminum rivets?
Monel rivetts will cost you a little bit more but they're non reactive with the metals your putting them into so if you use them this wont happen again.
The state of that corrosion would make me get the mast thouroughly checked and if needed re-rivetted, the sidestays, forestay and bridle replaced.
It sounds a bit much to spend on an older boat but if you read my post I'm putting up now about me sidestay breakage this year it may encourage you.
Posted By: wyatt Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 08/31/09 12:05 PM
Sad Story! Certainly one that demonstrates the passion of someone to get on the water. Your plan started right, but I can't believe there is no one around Ocala that could have helped you. We are lucky here in New York (even though we have to tear our boats down in another month): we get to leave our boats set up sitting on trailers; we have our own tractor to drop the boats in the water and we have on-site storage for our wetsuits, shells and gear. I honestly don't think I would own a catamaran anymore if I had to set it up every time I went out. \
We go to Florida to sail every year for about a month, and I watch people drive up to the shoreline and completely set up for a day's sailing, and I always feels sorry for them because they are missing a sense of the freedom that comes with just showing up with your cooler and choosing which sail and clothing to use and shoving off.
Anyway,Good Luck. It sounds like you'll be able to get replacement mast steps and rivet them on. There is a device you can buy to make your task easier; it's easy-step or something like that; it use to sell for about $110. I guess by now its quite a bit more.
Keep sailing; it's more than fun, it becomes a way of life.
Wyatt
Posted By: cyberspeed Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 09/01/09 03:46 PM
Hi OcalaCat,
Sailing off of Singer Island Saturday. Bring the boat down and I can show you the ropes. Full Moon and you can camp on Peanut Island.
Anyone else interested come on down. Free launchiing at Phil Foster Park, less than 1 mile from the Palm Beach Inlet and less than 1/2 mile from Peanut Island.
Posted By: MarkW_F18 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 09/03/09 08:19 PM
I remember the same thing happening to me on my first H16. The first time, the cast aluminum housing broke just like yours.. I re-drilled 4 holes and fixed it with aluminum rivets but it occurred again. This time the rivets sheared off.
What I learned with raising my H16 mast.... I now have a second person push down on the bottom of the mast to push it into the mast base housing. Or if I'm by myself, Once I get the mast up on my shoulder, I pull the lower part of the mast up and back with one hand as you lift the mast with the other. The 16 mast step is designed where the lever part can get pinched and the torque of raising the mast will rip the mast plate out of the mast... Using the H14 hole for the step pin helps a little but it is just a Bad design.
For this reason, aluminum rivets don't hold well.
Posted By: Mugrace72 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort - 09/04/09 01:44 PM
For this reason, aluminum rivets don't hold well.
So there you are. Those rivets are under a lot of strain. MONEL!
Posted By: rattlenhum Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/04/09 06:16 PM
The jib looks funny to me.I don't think I have something quite right?
Hard to tell exactly....are your shrouds REALLY loose? Once the jib is up, you need to pull even harder on the jib halyard to bring the mast forward and tighten the rig. This'll make that jib hang a little prettier, too. If the mast won't rotate, you've tightened too much. Under sail, your leeward shroud will still be pretty loose...that's normal.
Now go and switch those aluminum rivets in that mast base with SS or Monel like their supposed to be!
Posted By: Tornado Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/04/09 08:47 PM
The jib looks funny to me.I don't think I have something quite right?
Hard to tell exactly....are your shrouds REALLY loose? Once the jib is up, you need to pull even harder on the jib halyard to bring the mast forward and tighten the rig.
If you tension the jib halyard to the point the mast shrouds tighten/mast leans further forward...you will stretch/break the jib luff when you tension the mainsheet. You don't want the sail luff to be acting like a forestay!
Always tighten the mast shrouds first, getting the rig tight enough to reduce forestay slack. Then tension the jib halyard to take wrinkles out (and not much more).
Posted By: Dlennard Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/04/09 09:40 PM
The jib looks funny to me.I don't think I have something quite right?
Hard to tell exactly....are your shrouds REALLY loose? Once the jib is up, you need to pull even harder on the jib halyard to bring the mast forward and tighten the rig.
If you tension the jib halyard to the point the mast shrouds tighten/mast leans further forward...you will stretch/break the jib luff when you tension the mainsheet. You don't want the sail luff to be acting like a forestay!
Always tighten the mast shrouds first, getting the rig tight enough to reduce forestay slack. Then tension the jib halyard to take wrinkles out (and not much more).
Mike,
The Hobie 16 has a wire in the luff of the jib to become the forestay.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/04/09 11:07 PM
So, should I not take this out until I replace the rivets with SS? I was hoping to finally get this thing on the water tomorrow.
Next question and this may sound really stupid, but how do I get the tiller extension from one side to the other with the main sheet in the way? Am I missing something here?
Posted By: Mugrace72 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/04/09 11:58 PM
So, should I not take this out until I replace the rivets with SS? I was hoping to finally get this thing on the water tomorrow.
Next question and this may sound really stupid, but how do I get the tiller extension from one side to the other with the main sheet in the way? Am I missing something here?
You should be able to go tomorrow. Just try to get a couple SS or Monel rivets before you forget about it. You don't even really need rivets. Just a couple of SS seif tapping screws would do.
As for the tiller extension...you just throw it around the back and pick it up on the other side. It won't take long to get the hang of it.
Have fun tomorrow.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/05/09 12:15 AM
Thanks Jack! I don't have a clue what I'm doing but I did get myself a paddle!
Posted By: Mugrace72 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/05/09 12:21 AM
Thanks Jack! I don't have a clue what I'm doing but I did get myself a paddle!
You got the mast up and down...by yourself. That is better than a lot of folks on the Hobie forum can do with out fancy poles and braces. That is harder than anything else. Just go do it and report back.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/05/09 12:58 AM
<****?
Posted By: Mugrace72 Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/05/09 01:06 AM
<********.
Its embarrassing to have a chicken for a mascot but probably not any worse than a nut.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/05/09 10:41 PM
Success!
Well everything went well except for the wind. There wasn't any! I had a couple good moments were I got moving pretty good but it was fleeting. A couple of times I got the heart pumping pretty good but it was over before I knew it.
Mostly I just sat there or moved from side to side trying to figure it all out. I think if I had a light steady wind I could pick this up pretty quickly. I can see from just the couple of good moments that I'm really going to enjoy this.
It is a lot of work however, doing it all by yourself. Stepping the mast, rigging the sails, sitting in the middle of a lake with no wind while ski boat wakes make you think the mast is going to snap in half, and then having to break it all down, load it up, lower the mast, tie it all down whew!!
Can't wait till tomorrow!!
P.S.
What is the minimum wind speed before I need to worry about capsizing? I'd love to take the wife and kids along but until I get more experience I'd be worried about that.
Posted By: JeffS Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/06/09 04:30 AM
It's a lot easier to learn with too little wind than too much wind. Once you learn to get the most out of your boat in light winds with sail trim etc you can sail in any wind. If you stick close to shore tomorrow there's no reason not to take the family out with life jackets etc. If its light again get the kids hanging on trapeze on the wrong side while your on the correct side, let them steer while you lay on your back near the mast looking up changing the sail trim so you can see the difference each change makes. Go in the shallows deliberately tip over a few times and right it then you all know what to do. Have a go at doing the wild thing, trying to fly a hull in light wind with your weight on the lower side of the tramp your heart will thump in 4 knotts of breeze. When capsizing let the wife and kids know to slide down the tramp with their legs together and grap any rope when they're near the water so they stay with the boat, you'll laugh all day and the family will want to go again.
Posted By: SurfCityRacing Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/06/09 07:37 AM
Right on! Get that sucker out on the water!
Sorry I missed this party, but I'd like add a few things.
First, there is only one place on a H16 where an alu rivet is acceptable, on the post '95 jib traveler car adj block in the corner casting, which your '81 doesn't have. That's it! The loads on your mast base while raising the rig will shear the rivets. I've seen it happen alot. Also the alu rivets will work and bend, and eventually your mast base will become loose. Stainless or Monel will fix it right! Get a few extras to have in your spare parts kit. Get a Hobie catalog and call a dealer or cross reference the rivets for size. Learn to love stainless rivets, they hold your entire boat together.
Of course with 5200 gluing that sucker on you might never have that problem...which brings me to my second point. Just use silicone to seal it! A part as vulnerable to breakage as a solo-stepped H16 mast base shouldn't be 'permanently' adhered. You'll probably be changing it again at some point and breaking the 5200 is a lot of trouble sometimes.
There's a block off plate inside of the mast that you can access once the base is off. Goop that entire plug with a good layer of silicone and you'll be good. And really, I don't even goop up the base with anything, it's not necessary, but you can if you want to.
Hook up with your local fleet and sail on!
J
Posted By: rattlenhum Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/06/09 11:53 AM
What is the minimum wind speed before I need to worry about capsizing? I'd love to take the wife and kids along but until I get more experience I'd be worried about that.
That depends on a lot of things (crew weight and knowing what to do with it, ability to handle gusts, etc.), but one thing is certain.....you will flip it eventually. You should be OK up to aboout 10 mph for now, but this brings up an important point. I've scanned through this thread, and righting the boat hasn't beeen mentioned. You need a righting system, and you need to practice with it under controlled conditions with assistance available. Search here and the Hobie 14/16 forum, and you'll get lots of ideas.
Once you've flipped it a couple of times and know you can right it, you won't be so worried about capsizing....it's just part of the game!
Posted By: wyatt Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/06/09 12:36 PM
Ocalacat:
Get Rick White's series of sailing videos; a ton of information that will enhance your sailing experience.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/07/09 01:40 AM
Took my nine year old daughter out today. Had some decent wind. I got a little nervous a few times and we got moving pretty good. My daughter took some video and I'll try to post some of it (once edited or you'll get sea sick) so you guys can look at it and tell me if I was close to the point of flying a hull or if I'm just totally green and new and wasn't even close to that point?
Right when the wind really picked up and i puckered up, I look over and my daughter has opened the water proof box with my keys, cell phone etc... needless to say, I was caught a little by surprise with the wind and the situation at hand. I remember thinking oh crap! this boats about to go over and everything else with it.
I let out the main sheet all the way, snatched the jib sheet out of the cam? (not positive if I'm using the correct terminology here) and as calmly as possible told my daughter to please get it all back in the box as quickly as she could and don't do that again without asking first.
Anyway, It was a lot of fun and she really enjoyed it. She just kept saying faster dad! She hasn't stopped talking about it and can't wait to go back out. I think she about has my wife convinced, but she (my wife) really doesn't like lake water, gator's etc...
I think we'll get her out there tomorrow!
Posted By: Mary Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/07/09 04:54 AM
I'm not a big fan of 'gators, either.
Posted By: Timbo Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/07/09 01:01 PM
Man, you were brave to take your car keys out with you! I'm affraid I would lose them overboard so I always hide them somewhere on the outside of my vehicle, under a bumper or something, so if I do break down and end up walking back to the car, at least I can go pick up the boat and/or get home.
Put the cell phone inside a couple ziplock bags, then in the box, then duct tape the box shut, then tie it to the tramp.
Do you have trapeezes on the boat yet? That's the next step, your daughter will love that!
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/07/09 03:44 PM
Yeah, I debated on the keys but in the end decided to take them since I knew the box would float and there were a couple of shady characters hanging around the boat ramp. I realize now that they can't float if there not in the box.
I'm going to put the trap wires back on before we go out again. They really want to go today, but I'm beat. Plus the wind is about 11 mph and the gusts from the thunder storms which are almost always present are on top of you before you know it.
My wife says if I put her in the (lake) water she'll never go again. I could see that happening today. She has no problem with the salt water but just has this thing about lakes now. It's funny since we used to Ski, Jet Ski etc all of the time.
I have to admit that I even get a little nervous now when I'm floating around in some of these smaller forest lakes. Can't wait to get this thing to the beach.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/07/09 03:45 PM
Thanks to everyone for all of the great suggestions and advice!!
Posted By: dacarls Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/09/09 03:06 AM
OK- Now that the painful start is over-- its time to get to Daytona Beach on a weekend and get real. Pull up next to someone else with a Hobie 16 and ask for assistance after you get everything nearly ready to go. You will get plenty of willing help there. Crescent Beach also might work. Tiny Ocala National Forest lakes this time of year are AWFUL. At the ocean you get a nice 10-12 knot SE seabreeze in the afternoon. Now- you do have to now how to get thru the shorebreak... But too early there is no wind- like til 1 PM.
This is why we have been telling you to find a helper. Or go to Lake Eustis Sailing Club.
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/09/09 10:05 PM
OK- Now that the painful start is over-- its time to get to Daytona Beach on a weekend and get real. Pull up next to someone else with a Hobie 16 and ask for assistance after you get everything nearly ready to go. You will get plenty of willing help there. Crescent Beach also might work. Tiny Ocala National Forest lakes this time of year are AWFUL. At the ocean you get a nice 10-12 knot SE seabreeze in the afternoon. Now- you do have to now how to get thru the shorebreak... But too early there is no wind- like til 1 PM.
This is why we have been telling you to find a helper. Or go to Lake Eustis Sailing Club.
Thanks Dacarls,
Like I said, I think the beach is the place to be. Trust me, not finding a helper, is not for lack of trying, I looked for help for a month. I did try to contact the Lake Eustis Sailing Club about lessons but when I finally got the guy on the phone, he had just left the hospital and asked me to call back. So I got tired of looking, calling etc... and just decided to get out there and figure it out on my own.
Hopefully I can make it to Daytona or St Pete this weekend or next, I've just never been comfortable showing up somewhere and saying hey help me out. Guess that's something I'll have to get over. Is there somewhere in particular (at Daytona)where I should head to? Is there a favorite spot like in surfing, where everyone gathers?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/09/09 10:39 PM
jodi, i have found cat sailors to be very willing to share knowledge and help in many ways. i think Eustis is close to ocala.. IMHO.. you should go there and try to meet some people. just go there on a weekend, there will be people.
there is also a regatta there in a few weeks, you could ask around and see if anyone needs crew... you can learn a ton that way as well...
good luck
Posted By: ocalacat Re: First time out, Sort of! Man those masts are tough, Sort of! - 09/09/09 11:36 PM
Thanks Andrew,
I'll definitely check them out and I plan on going to the Wildcat Regatta.