Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 5:33 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:31 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 6:39 am
Posts: 4
Hello,

I'm in the middle of restoring an H14 look-alike designed and built by my friend's granddad (a master sailor and engineer, who designed tanks for a living). I'm a novice, and I've only ever sailed this, a Hobie Wave, and a couple different Sunfish when I was in Boy Scouts as a kid.

I've never sailed a boat with a jib, but I thought it would be neat to add one to mine.

My question is: is a jib on a 14 actually useful? I get the benefit on a bigger boat, but the one on the turbo seems kinda small. I'm curious how much it actually affects the performance, and in what ways. I'd rather not shell out a couple hundred bucks for something that is only marginally useful.

If not, are there any better alternatives for a foresail? Should I just not bother with a foresail at all?

Thanks!
~Andrew


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:47 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:54 am
Posts: 4
I sail both a 14 and a 14-T and I've found having jib makes a big difference. It not only makes the boat significantly faster, but it helps better balance the boat as my turbo tends to rock fore and aft much less than than the uni-rig. The jib also makes a huge difference when it comes to tacking, which can be a chore on on the standard 14. It helps to push the bow through the eye of the wind.

I'd say the jib is worth it. That's a nice looking cat.

-Sam

_________________
Hobie 14 ('70s)
Hobie 14 Turbo ('70s)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:02 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 6:39 am
Posts: 4
Thanks for your advice!

Once I deal with my leaky hulls, I'll start looking into a jib.

And thank you. Honestly, the pictures don't even do it justice. The trampoline frame is built from polished aircraft-grade aluminum, and with a little bit of elbow grease I got it to shine like an old warplane. The guy who built it was the best kind of crazy. :D


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 2:43 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 2:48 pm
Posts: 229
Location: Hatteras Island, NC.
I sail my 14 mostly in heavy air- when I can't manage the 16 solo. I'd say no- the jib doesn't make much difference in outright speed. Makes tacking far easier, especially in a chop. Having the jib loads the bows on a reach. At 160, I'm trapped out behind the crossbar to avoid pitchpole, particularly coming off waves. All in all, I think the answer is "it depends"! In light airs, I'd say the jib gives its most noticeable performance improvement.


Dave


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 1:24 pm 
Offline
Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
A consideration when adding a jib is the increased - and different - loads it will impose on the boat structure.

The bridle wires on your boat are very long; a jib will need a much shorter bridle, which increases the side loading on the hulls and on the bridle/hull attachments. There are ways around this (bow foil), but they add weight in the worst possible place - forward.

A jib will also increase compression on the mast / front crossbeam. I can't tell from your photo if there is a dolphin striker, but you will definitely need one if you add a jib.

(And speaking of the photo, please make it smaller if you're going to have it in a signature - it takes up a lot of screen real estate.)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 12:26 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 6:39 am
Posts: 4
No, I don't have a dolphin striker. What do you think would be involved with adding one?

A performance increase in light wind would definitely make it worth it for me. I'm only at my beach house every other weekend, and it seems like every time I've been there wind has been low. I've basically only ever done light wind sailing. Lots of small pond Sunfish sailing when I was in scouts as a kid.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:52 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:54 am
Posts: 67
Location: Pinellas county Florida
No dolphin striker? Could make it interesting when the hulls flex about the tramp. It's also useful when pulling the boat onto a trailer.

On the aircraft-grade aluminum, if it is a 7000-series alloy it will corrode in salt water much more quickly than marine aluminum in the 5000-series alloy. I'd rinse it off after every outing in salt water to minimize the electrolyte that completes the galvanic circuit.

On the jib, in addition to what others have posted, it's nearly useless when running, but that's not enough to say it's not very useful on a reach or when tacking. The only way I'd consider not adding it is if you have mast-up storage where you wouldn't want to leave the rolled-up jib exposed to the elements.

_________________
1985 Hobie 14T
2014 Hobie T2


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 3:42 pm 
Offline
Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
John from Tampa wrote:
On the aircraft-grade aluminum, if it is a 7000-series alloy it will corrode in salt water much more quickly than marine aluminum in the 5000-series alloy.

While that is true, the aluminum alloy used in Hobie Cats' extrusions (and almost every other recreational sailboat's extrusions) is 6061 with T6 solution heat treatment and artificial aging.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Is a Jib Worth It?
PostPosted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 3:32 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 3:37 pm
Posts: 3
I have a Hobie Cat 14 and just took it out for first run last weekend. There was plenty of wind, but had a problem catching wind after a tack, couldn't get bow to swing through the turn. I think this is where a jib helps out, so I will be adding a jib.
Also left rudder kept kicking up on it's own, so I need to adjust the locks. Can't believe how hard it is to keep rudder straight when it kicks up..lots of water pressure.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group