Hello All,
I know this has been discussed many times and I am aware of the following options:
Righting Bag:I have not found a seller in the UK, contacted UK Hobie Center to be informed this is due to EU health and safety, that's the nanny state for you. Could potentially fab one in house, thinking of a large 100ltr drybag or a fabric punch bag as a donor or order from US (Murrays).
Shroud Extenders Understand these help by allowing the top hull to change its center of gravity or tilting angle so as to assist in righting but again talking with a very nice chap from the Hobie Center UK was advised against them due to the horrid and very real possibility of de-masting and again these are not available in the UK, but could potentially have made or order from US.
Righting Pole: This is a possibility and could probably fab one in house.
I have an understanding of positioning the boat correctly, releasing the sheets, methods of breaking sail water tension etc
But I have as yet not had the opportunity to right the boat, I am new to sailing but am picking it up and just want to get out on the water more often.
I would feel confident to solo if not for the fact of my concerns with regards to righting.
Its proving difficult to find a willing crew mate at times and as such I feel I am missing out on some great days sailing here in the UK.
I am a 150llb / 10.75 st 5'10 skinny git, and as such am pretty sure that righting the H16 is nye impossible solo.
My rig has a Hobie bob float attached to mast. So I got to thinking about a mast lifting system (Feel free to laugh) to assist in righting whereby the bob float is attached to a swinging arm connected to the mast. I should point out I am only interest in day sailing so class restrictions are not a concern to me at this time and to be honest if / when I decide to race the system would be designed to be easily removed for this purpose.
So, in the event of a capsize the system in its simplest form would require one to swim to the end of the mast and push the the bob down which is connected to a pole / bar (1-1.5 mtr length) that pivots at the mast while pulling on the opposite end of the bar/ pole. The bob would be forced downwards to a point that it is facing on a slight angle towards the hulls forward of its pivot point, a stopper mechanism would stop the float doing a full rotation. The mast would lift to the height determined by the length of bar connecting at the pivot point to the where the bob is connected. (the bar length 1-1.5 mtr but this needs to be investigated further).
Congratulations, if your following me thus far, I really should try and sketch a picture to assist in this description.
So, with the mast raised say by a meter or so, swim back to the hulls and use the righting line in the normal fashion but with the added benefit that the center of gravity has moved to ones favor. On successfully righting and with the bob clear from the water it would spring back to its upright position by some mechanism, for example a preloaded bungee or a line that could be released on capsize and then pulled and set at the base of the mast on righting.
Going further, I have designed a system / process that will do the above without having to swim to the end of the mast, by employing lines and pulleys at the base of mast.
OK, so I can hear myself saying over engineer a problem why don't ya, (heck thinking urban myth of NASA's zero gravity, upside down byro
) and sure it may look rather odd having this stuck up there at the top of the mast but if it works and it gives me peace of mind and more importantly get me out there sailing and learning then who gives a damn. I'm forty three, just been diagnosed with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in my fingers so don't give a hoot about the fashion police! If it happens to work, it works, right?
Any thoughts and comments?
A couple of questions at what height approximately is the end of the mast when the top hull passes its own tipping point?
Let's say the end of the mast is lifted by approximately 1-1.5 meters, how much benefit / assistance would you think is gained in righting?
Thanks for reading and have a great Hobie Day
-SRG
Owner of and Old but sexy 1984 H16 non comp tip. Yep, she's old enough to smoke.