Installing righting lines

We need to install righting lines properly on our Prindle 16, which we just purchased.



In a storm yesterday, we had our first chance to use them, and we suspect they were not installed correctly. Can anyone explain exactly how these righting lines should be installed?



Jonathan

A righting line for a P16.



You should only need one. Relatively thick thick line 7/16 or larger. put several knots in it at about 18 in intervals. When capsized, it goes over the top hull, near the front crossbar, and should be long enough to touch the water. If you have a trap harness on, just put a knot on the hook that allows you to get fairly horizontal with you feet against the keel od the bottom hull. Or use arm strength, as the boat starts coming up, 'climbing' the righting line keeps you out of the water and the weight continuing to right the boat. As it comes over, go inside the hulls and grab the dolphin striker on the former water side, to keep it from flipping the other way.



You should only need one line. I've seen ~170 lb guys right a P16 solo, with only a righting line.

I agree with Todd



I just want to add that one end of the line should be attatch at the base of the mast ... Just in case...

on my p16 there is a grommet in the trampoline just aft of the dolphin striker. the righting line runs through the grommet and is tied around the vertical rod on the dolphin striker. when the boat flips, you simply toss the other end over the hull.

Thanks to all who have replied - this helps me understand the basic idea. I sure wish I had known about grabbing that dolphin striker before re-righting the catamaran three times in a storm, but hey, you aren't supposed to be confronted with a flash thunderstorm your second time out.



I am beginning to think that my righting lines may be installed correctly.



I don't have my boat here, but I just drew two rough pictures of how the righting lines look from underneath and from beside the boat. On the bottom, there is a pulley arrangement that allows me to pull the line out in the back, moving the line from one side to the other [ see my attachment, which you can click on at the left of this posted message ]. The front is relatively stable.



When the cat flips, I can definitely reach the line from the bottom, but the line from the sides may be out of reach [ see attachment on my reply to this message ].



Do these drawings look correct? If so, how am I supposed to use this kind of line?



Jonathan

Here's the side view - I couldn't add two images to one message.



Jonathan

I couldn't really tell what this system is, but you DON'T need it.



As has been stated, run the line thru the grommet to the dolphin striker bolt rod, bowline it there. Then throw the line ovedr the top hull after a capsize. DON'T attach it to the mast base, as it may demast the base under heavy loads when righting the boat.



One line, some knots, that's all you need.

Thanks, Todd, I set out my Prindle last night and played around with it, and I think I now know how to right it. I also received a catamaran sailing book in the mail that has good information on righting.



I plan to practice this for a while on Saturday. After our experiences in the storm our second time out, I will feel a lot safer if I am confident we know how to right the boat efficiently.



Jonathan

Jonathan,



Glad you're getting more comfortable with righting. It's an important skill to have. I can understand how an event like the one you described quickly turns newcomers off to the sport of cat sailing.



Good luck, and good sailing,

Todd