Trouble solo-righting...

After rejoining the Capsize Club, I'm happy I spent the money on the shroud extender for solo righting. On a lee shore, lots of chop, and not coming up. Reached up and pulled the pin, then leaned back and she came right up. No where near in the right position (water was way to cold to want to go swimming if there was any way I could avoid it) for righting, but didn't matter.

Managed to get the shroud rehooked after righting it, although not as tight as it should have been (about three holes short). Should have borrowed someone's beach and straightened that out, but was tired of being in the water and a way to go before getting home. And the wind chill was getting noticeable.

At the moment I'm about 200 pounds, but with no room or time, the solo righting kit worked wonderfully. Even if I never use it again, it will be worth the money, because now I'm feeling confident that I can right the boat no matter how happy she is to lay on her side.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

Ditto !!!!

_________________

Happy Sailing,

David

I'm 150lb and 5'7"
I've done it - but needs to be pretty good wind. The key is the way the boat is oriented. Bow tips into the wind, so that the mast is like the leading edge of a airplane wing. How to rate that way? (get in and push) original poster said "I can stay dry"? well that's not part of righting the boat. If you want to stay dry, stay on shore. = )

Once we were rotating the boat to get ready to right it and once in proper position a gust came and the boat righted itself while we were both in the water. We were shocked and laughed our butts off. It lifted up - and plunk, landed on it's hulls... we quickly grabbed it and pulled up on it and shot off.

In lesser winds I find the shroud extensions (righting system from hobie) work nicely. You pull a pin and it extends the shroud about 12". It's a bit pricey, but I found one on here a couple years ago for 75 bucks. (a steal).

Here is a little vid. using the extenders on a 20...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqY_zMlETo0

_________________
•Present boat -1998 Hobie 16 Solana Sails furling jib[/size]

I'm 130lb and 5'6", with no hope of solo-righting my H16 without some kind of trick. I tried a righting bag/bucket but it wasn't nearly enough weight. I use it as a rope bag now.

I was nervous about dismasting with a shroud extender. The solution I chose was a larger "big bag" with a 4:1 block and tackle. You can find it online. It's not cheap. Basically it's a big duffel bag on a hoist. It's not easy swinging 200lb of water out from the lower hull on my shoulders, but it does bring the boat up. The bag stows with velcro under the tramp lacings, just abaft the dolphin striker post, takes up about 12" long by 5" diameter. The line stays lashed around the post and crossbar at all times. Nothing is in the way and it's all right in front of me when I'm standing on a lower hull. Yes, it does have to be threaded over the upper hull when deployed. After use, I tend to just wind it around the forward footstraps instead of re-stowing it. I'll stow it later on the beach.

Other tips: I would not cleat any sail while righting, unless I was also cleated to the boat. If the boat rights and somehow sails off with me in the water, that could be an epitaph. Also, as she comes up, I crouch down on the lower hull, avoid the jib sheet, and then straddle the hull just ahead of the crossbar. Then when she tries to keep going over the other way, my 130lb keeps her from flying that lower hull. Once she settles down, it's easy to get aboard from there. This method is pretty dry and avoids head injuries too.

Vin