Hobie Cat Forums

It might be difficult to take down the mast when you´re on the water, if the waters are troubled or if you´re less physically fit or don´t have a very well functioning internal balance system.

Then you have even more reason to jump into the water.

Maybe Hobie can construct some kind of emergency system for taking down the mast?

Another option would be to carry some kind of Faraday cage on the Island. Then you could go out to catch some lightnings! That certainly would be a very adventurous sport!

Hopefully you are joking about Hobie changing the mast system and carrying a Faraday cage.... As I said in my first post in this thread, if you get hit by lightning on your Island, you are toast. Avoiding the situation in the first place is the only logical alternative, other than calling on whatever belief you follow for some sort of good fortune....

I agree. If you're struck, they may as well spread the vegemite on you.

But I tend to wonder about what makes one most vulnerable. For instance, the VHF radios on high, the raised mast, using an anchor line, owning a yellow hull,..

Also, would you be most likely to be hit sitting still with the sail up, or screaming full tilt across the water trying to reach shelter?

I am sure joking about the Faraday cage, but not about the emergency system for the mast. I think a Hobie Island with lowered mast represent a very low risk (keeping your head down is however also a good idea) while a Hobie Island with rised mast represent a fairly high risk. So taking down the mast might be the difference between being hit and not being hit and between life and death.

I've often taken down the mast on my AI, to get under low bridges. How could it get any easier than it already is?

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The Faraday cage however has not to be a joke. Having a cabin on the Hobie Island would not be a very bad idea (as a shield against sun, rain, wind, cold, salt, insects, sharks, noise, arrows, spears, bullets, flamethrowers etc) and if you have a cabin you can as well make it safe for lightnings. It wont save the boat but it might save your life.

Taking down the mast on an AI is probably easier than taking it down on a TI, especially if you´re sitting in the rear seat of the TI. I have to step forward to take down the mast. I also have the old plastic mast instead of the carbon fibre mast, which makes some extra kilograms.

As I said not everyone is in good shape and the waters may be rough. Passing under bridges is really a completely different thing than trying to survive an intense thunder storm.

I expect it would only be difficult if you were rocking at sea in a gale. Otherwise, just hug the mast bottom, pull up and let gravity and the wind take it down.

Probably easiest if you are pointing in the wind,..

Personally, when I'm struck, I plan on being out on my WOODEN Hakas with my RUBBER boots against the PLASTIC hull and my RUBBER gloves holding the sheet!

Radios off, of course.

I'll let you know how it works out.

Taking down the mast creates some risk for losing it in the sea. Perhaps there should be some holder for the mast on the akas.

I also think I will rise the question about a Hobie Island with a cabin, unless there already exist a thread about that. I could really have some use for a cabin!

When I take the mast down, I leave the furling line threaded through its cleat. Also, I bungee the mast to the akas.

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I keep a ball bungee attached to each of the right (forward and aft) aka just for that purpose. I've used them once when my TI mast cup screw failed, and at other times when preparing to land in larger than comfortable shore break. Works well lashing down the mast & sail.

I also always tie the reefing line to the sheet line after pulling it through it's cleat, so less likely for the mast to permanently leave if everything went bad while taking it down.

This discussion is interesting, but the best idea is not to be on the water while a thunderstorm is overhead, if possible.

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