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MY NEW WAVE
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5807
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Author:  Loren [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

I took my Wave out for the second time this morning. Because I had such a hard time with the jib sheets catching the base of the mast on the first try, I sailed under main alone today. What a different (better) boat.

Several things contributed to a more pleasing experience :

I raked the mast a lot more and got rid of the lee helm. Gosh, now it will point !!!

Sailing under just the main is a whole lot less work. I will use the above advice from Doug and Kluckenbill about how to make the jib sheets friendlier and see how things work out at a later date.

Because the jib interfered with my Telo-Cat bridal vane, I could not use it on the inaugural sail. Today without the jib, it worked fine and is really helpful. I attempted to bend the bar as per Telo-Cat instructions to avoid the jib and broke the damn thing about a week ago. Today I used the replacement arm out of the box it worked just fine. I hope I do not have to explain to Miss Judy why I need a third bar for this thing. The aluminum is surprisingly stiff and brittle, but I will have to give it a couple of pretty decent bends in order to avoid the jib. I might take it to a machine shop. The $6 replacement arm cost $9 to ship. Geezz.........

http://www.davisnet.com/Marine/products ... pnum=01450

The winds were only forecast at 8-12 mph and pretty shifty, but I still had a great time. It is amazing how much faster these cats are than the sloops I am accustomed to.

The fact that I did not capsize today did not hurt my feelings either. 8)

Loren

Author:  abbman [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:37 pm ]
Post subject: 

You may want to try heating the bar of the telo-cat a little bit before bending it. It may make it bend a little easier. Haven't tried it, just a thought. Those little things are pretty helpful.

Author:  Loren [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:44 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks James. The problem is that there is a piece of black plastic at the bottom end that does not come off. One of the bends will need to be within a couple of inches from the plastic.

When I work something out I will post the results. Or failures.

You are right though. It is really, really helpful.

Loren

Author:  Loren [ Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:57 pm ]
Post subject: 

I was able to get the boat in the water for 3 hours today in 8-10 mph winds and very flat water. It is amazing how much more comfortable I was in comparison to the first time out. I was able to see 11+ mph on the gps pretty often and I did not have nearly as much anxiety this time. I was actually surprised that the windward hull never got out of the water. Now I realize this is tame stuff to the people on this board with tons of experience, but I am also aware that many people frequent these groups who have not ever set foot on a catamaran before and I want them to know what it is like to learn to sail a cat. It is easier than I expected and more fun than I expected. Great stuff !!!

A man about my age (59) came up to me as I was hauling out and talked to me for quite a while. He is wanting a cat really bad and I invited him to join this forum. When I have a little more experience, I will invite him for a sail.

No jib today. The visibility is better without it, and the boat still goes like snot !!! I love my Telo-Cat bridal vane.

Loren

Author:  Loren [ Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:57 am ]
Post subject: 

Rick said at catsailors.com : "The Wave does not have a jib that works, and the one that is available is very small and does not work -- can't get any luff tension on it."


I have a new Wave with the jib kit and the traveler. What does Rick mean when he says you cannot get any luff tension on the jib? Don't I simply pull it up with the jib halyard to any tension I want, and then cleat it off?

My bigger problem is with the jib sheets catching on the mast cleats and the base of the mast with every tack. Does anyone have a good fix for that? Doug and Kluckenbill offered some insight, but I would like more details.


Loren

Author:  Loren [ Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:22 am ]
Post subject: 

Here is the reply I got from Rick White :

For a jib to work properly, the jib luff must be very tight in most wind conditions -- although perhaps not so much on reaches.
Since the jib attaches to an thin aluminum bar between the hulls, you cannot get enough tension. If you get the tension you really need, it will only be for a short time -- the cross bar will break.., or bend so much that you will lose the luff tension.
To tension a jib you need more than to pull it and cleat it. You should use at least a 2:1 or 3:1 tensioner.
Check it out. Next time you are sailing up wind, look at the luff of the jib. It will be sagging way off to leeward. If the luff looks arced, it is not working.
if the luff looks almost as straight as the mast, it is working.
To stop the catching, duct tape the cleats, and then put a bungee cord running from the mast to each side of the boat as a preventer.
Good luck,
Rick

Author:  sunjammers [ Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:04 am ]
Post subject: 

Could we add some H16 jib hanks to the jib, cut the black coating off the forestay like on the H16. This would have the jib attached to the forestay and would not be able to sag to leeward. Just a thought not sure it would work, the duct tape is over kill on the cleats a piece of shock cord is all I think you need.

Author:  Loren [ Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 

I got in a nice 4 hour sail today in very light winds of 4-6 mph. I used a bungee cord to keep the jib sheets from tangling at the mast base and that worked out very well.

My problem was that the Wave does not seem to point very well when using the jib. At least in light air. I had to maneuver out of a 140 foot wide channel that is about 1/4 mile in length in order to get to the open water of the lake, and it was straight into the wind. After 30 frustrating minutes where I mostly reached back and forth, I dropped the jib and had no problem working my way upwind.

I did get to have quite a few pleasant conversations with the crews that were working on each side of the docks as they cheered me on. 8)

It seems the mast on the Wave is quite a bit forward and is placed almost like a cat boat. My Wave certainly seems to point higher and tack better without the jib. I have read in several different books that the jib is an aid to tacking, so this has caught me a bit by surprise. I would like to hear Matt's opinion on this.

I am not disappointed at all with my Wave. I am just beginning to question the usefulness of the jib.

Author:  mmiller [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Jib

Yes, back winding a jib can help you tack, but a "uni-rig" main only always points higher. The jib disturbs the air flow over the main when pointing very high. With the jib, you have to have proper luff tension and be careful about sheet tension. Over sheeting will stall both sails.

Author:  gattler [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:53 am ]
Post subject:  MY NEW WAVE

Hi Loren,
I purchased my Wave in May 2006. At that time I was evaluating whether or not I should purchase a Jib with the Wave. After some thought, I decided that I would not buy a Jib for the following reasons:

1) The Wave was originally designed without Jib. It seemed to me that the Jib was an afterthought and "force fittedâ€

Author:  Loren [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:24 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Matt and Gattler. I think that for the next few times out, I am going to forgo the jib and just try to get a good feel for the boat in different wind conditions under the main alone. I agree that the traveler kit Matt put together for us is a very nice addition. Having the spreader bar from the jib kit between my bows should make for a stiffer boat, so I am really only out the cost of the jib itself and it did not cost much.

I will give the jib a try later this spring.

Loren

Author:  gattler [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:25 pm ]
Post subject: 

Loren,

Sounds like a good plan. And yes, the spreader bar should make for a stiffer boat. I actually considered just buying the spreader bar for that reason.

Yes, the traveler kit that Matt put together is a real winner. I vacationed in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina last year and rented a Wave for a week. I was really pining for the traveler kit on that rental. When the traveler is missing you don't have that ability to fine tune the sail. I feel it really adds to the Wave's performance.

Happy Sailing!

-Lisa

Author:  Loren [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:25 pm ]
Post subject: 

Regarding wind speeds and the Hobie 16, Matt wrote :

Single handed to 0-12

Casual crew 5-15

Good crew 10-20


I would love to see the numbers for the Wave.

Loren

Author:  DougHobie17 [ Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Tacking

Loren:

Remember when tacking a uni with no jib, you MUST let out about 2-3 feet on mainsheet as you go head to wind and recleat it OR you WILL go into irons. IF you do, just push boom and tiller away from you and you will back around.

Have a good sail,

Doug

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