Hobie Cat Forums

Several members have mentioned that they sometimes get water into the hull around the seal of the front hatch.
Does the seal get 'stiff' as it ages, which would allow water to seep in?
And that the front hatch does not shed water easily.

Different members have shown various spray shield designs...some as two separate shields and others as a single fabric which extends across
the bow from one side to the other.

Would/does the 'bow covered' spray shield decrease the possibility
of water entering via the front hatch?

I am about to cut/sew up a spray shield for my AI. I think I will design it
to stretch from one aka to the other over the bow...

Also with the shield 'stretched' over the bow...I don't think I will have to use any attachments along the gunnels to support the inboard side of the shield...it will just 'drape' over the bow.

If that doesn't work,I can always cut it in half and make it into two separate shields.

I was sailing in over 20kts with about 3 foot waves.

Geoff.

I like your idea, Tidalwave. Post pics and let us know how it works.

When going across chop, the ama sometimes slaps a wave top and sloshes me, and that comes mostly from directly beside me. If your design went all the way to the aft akas, it might prevent that as well. hmmm....

I was sailing in over 20kts with about 3 foot waves.

Geoff.[/quote]

That could be a different equation to 15 knots and short chop....I'll let you know how the dodger performs in heavier weather soon, as I intend to get involved in some, soon as I can after Christmas day...

Merry and Safe Christmas to all my new Adventure Island friends around the world.....Captain Pirate

I noted on my front hatch that the rubber gasket seal can delamintate after enough use. Solution...seal it again and inspect it on any trip you think leakage will be an issue. Also, the front hatch gasket does not mate completely so at that point of junction I've sealed it.

Hi Pirate,

There is now another one (& soon to be two) AI's on the Gippy Lakes.

I picked up my red one last Sunday, and I get my Yellow one after New Years...

I'll be down at Mallacoota for a couple of weeks from the 20th but we'll have to catch up.

Dave

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Hobie Adventure Island's - Papaya & Hibiscus - I couldn't make up my mind so like I usually end up doing with lures I bought both and hid the credit card statement

Fantastic David ( I am assuming that is who you are). We are planning a west to east sail of the entire Gippsland Lakes in Jan, or early Feb. You might be interested in joining us, with the other boat maybe. Give me or Mike a ring to discuss. Have fun in Mallacoota...Pirate

Tom Ray...
Thanks for your input.
Most of the spray shields shown on this forum seem to stop midship rather than extend to the rear akas.
Some members have installed tramps between the forward and rear
akas. But they never mentioned anything about the tramps acting as
shields for side splashes.
So I am going to extend my 'one-piece' shield all the way to the rear akas. Originally I was just going to copy the other shields.
Since I haven't gotten around to cutting the shield material yet...this
gives me a chance to length it before I start.
And I don't have to install any 'clips' along the gunnels to attach the rear
ends of the shield...I can simply tie the rear lines to the rear akas!

I have one worry about ease of entry to the seat if I have to step over the rear of the shield...but I can always cut away the rear of the shield
if it gets cumbersome.

I have decided to buy some cheap cloth and make a 'throwaway' shield first and just tie the corners with twine. Then try to step in and out, etc.
and then I will use that as a pattern onto the real shield cloth.

I appreciate all of the ingenious ideas members seem to come up with.

Tidalwave

G'day Dave
Guess we'll be able to form our own little AI Club down here
You never know - from little acorns big trees grow - we might end up as big as Ulysses M/cycle club
Mallacoota will be a great place to take the AI and the Wallagaraugh River on from Gipsy Point is supposed to be fantastic (I haven't been down it yet). Look forward to hearing more on your adventures and catching up sometime soon.
Mickey

Funny you should say that Mickey. The first thing I thought about that photo Pirate posted of you guys was it looked like a chapter of the Ulysses club. Maybe for AI's it should be the Jason club - I think he was the nautical equivalent of Ulysses. Or maybe the Argonauts - that sounds better .

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