1996 Wave

I have located a used 1996 Wave, but it doesn't have the bob mast float. The owner says that the mast has foam inside it to prevent turtling. When did Hobie add the mast float? Is this something that I can add if desired (from my days as an TheMightyHobie18 sailor, I have a long history of turtling) ?

Thanks,
Jason

Yes you should be able to install the mast float if you desire.

You should install a float. The Wave goes turtle and stays there. Very stable upside down. That is why we went to the float right away. Every Wave should have one.

Foam in the mast? The ends are sealed, but fully foaming the mast can capture moisture and adds weight. Replacing air with foam that weighs 2 lbs per square foot doesn't make sense.

As Matt said, the bob is not really an option on a Wave. You absolutely have to have it. It is almost impossible to right the boat if it capsizes and turtles.

With the bob it cannot turtle, and it is VERY easy to right. That is why the boat comes stock WITH the bob, for safety reasons. If you get a used Wave without a bob, you need to get one.

Thanks Matt!

I'm not sure what the owner meant by foam in the mast (he made it sound like that's how it was when he bought it new). Anyhow, if I buy this one I'll follow your advice and get the float.

Jason

I've managed to turtle mine even with the float. My fault of course.

Dan

You turtled a Wave with a bob? Please tell me how you did it, because I can't even imagine.

A bit embarrasing actually. I was flying a hull and thought I'd be real slick by not getting wet as it went over in a puff. Mind you it's northern Wisconsin where you get highly variable breezes and lots of wind when a summer storm breezes through. Rather than get wet, I thought I'd climb over the weather hull and grab the righting line as I passed. Well I must have been a little slow getting over the hull or had a big gust hit the tramp, but the net effect was turtling the boat. Got it up myself with no outside help, but I'm 225#. Fortunately, the mast didn't contact the bottom and no harm done other than to my ego. Since I learned to hike my butt way out and aft, I haven't capsized since although I do regularly manage to stuff the boat to the foreward beam when it's hairy out. However, if it's not blowing whitecaps, I can't fly a hull unless I'm on the leeward hull. This tends to make me a bit more likely to capsize since I have a relatively stretchy tramp with the cupholders. BTW If you're moving at a decent clip the cupholders aren't any good anyhow since your beverage of choice would soon be watered down.

I did get my photo on the local Vacation Weekly for the Three Lakes/ Eagle River area sailing in full cold weather gear over Memorial Day weekend. No photo credit though :-( I do have a laminated copy up in my classroom to help get my San Diego native bones through yet another Chicago winter.

Dan