Hoot monoslug

I saw an article in the current Sailing world about a boat called the HOOT which is being developed and built here in the SF bay area.

It looks like a miniaturized 18 foot skiff with a uni-rig.

The problems with this type of design is that it's pretty hard to keep the boat flat and upright. Time spent capsized doesn't help your elapsed time.

Another thing is that it's being built by a company that makes rowing shells. This is different from building sailboats because there are all kinds of structural loads on sailboats that rowing shells don't have to contend with.

The URL is Hoot web page

David Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067

Now all they need to do is give it that lifting rudder and daggerboard, like the Flying Moths, and it will really be a "Hoot".

any idea who makes the sails for it?

This one looks good too.

http://www.raidersailboats.com/

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
www.tcdyc.com

Raiders are pretty bizarre-looking with the wings and that funny snoot on the front - but there sure is something to be said for "self-righting".

I hear the wings on a Raider make righting a bit difficult.

Jake:

The Raider is a self righter. That is the beauty of it. I will seriously look at it after I have sailed the sunfish for a while and get hiking muscles in shape.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
Sunfish
Soon to be Mystere 4.3
www.tcdyc.com

The mx-ray really got my attention, probably something to do with having a kite ...
http://www.ruach.net/MXRay.html
is all I can find on it, sounds like they are no longer in production.

I have no confirmation of this, but based on the pictures on this web site, hansenaerosports.com , I suspect it may be Bill Hansen, former owner and sailmaker for Windwing. Bill built some of the finest windsurfing sails during his some 25 year long career with Windwing. If the sail is by Bill, you can be assured it will be top notch.

sm

Steve,

Our buddy Eric owns an MXRay and while it may be fun, you have to be SMALL to sail it.

I CANNOT sail it, I'm simply too big. Keeping it right-side-up is difficult in a blow. Not much righting moment at all.

Steve:

Here is one on the beachcats.

Title: MX-RAY in NY
Ad Category: Beachcats
Type of Ad: For-Sale
Description: Worlds fastest sailing ''dingy'' it has main & spinnaker, about 14'long... this boat is FAST for it's size.. a one man boat, and you should be in good phyl. shape to sail it. I understand these skiffs are kinda rare, and haven't seen any for sale anywhere. If your really interested, e-mail me for more info. and i can send you the web site. (This pict is from the web,)Boat is in exc. shape with a new main. I don't think they ever made a trl. for it, but i used my cat trl. to get it when i bought it,you could use any-flat trl. for it... located in Syracuse, N.Y. area (north shore of Oneida lk.)
Price: 2800.00
Phone: 315 675-3121
Date added: Apr. 09, 2006

Hope this helps?

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
www.tcdyc.com

it aint that fast.

and a sunfish trailer works well for it, although there is an MXRAY trailer.

Have seen the KU Sailing team playing with "someones'" MX-Ray at the lake. Looked like it was very difficult to keep flat (and these are young men) in the heavy air. Maybe right boat but wrong lake, we always have big blows.

We experienced the same thing with a more "docile" version of the I14, a Vector, by Vanguard. Sailing dinghies like these for a bit makes driving a cat seem like it has autopilot.

Hey Icberg, did you read this? I think you got some wet days ahead for you and your friends!

I'll second that! After driving and crewing a 29'er the weekend before, I've never had so much confidence in my F18 pushing hard rounding down around A-mark....the edge of control never felt so rock solid before! I would probably sail on a 29'er again but I would probably wear a helmet - you just don't go QUITE fast enough to get thrown clear when things go south.