Toys for Us Boys (and Girls)
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Boy, I don’t understand a word you just said.
Sounds like a lot of fun though. I've sailed about 4 times and loved every second of it. Would love to get into it.Better get a Z-pack or some Amoxycillin for those sinuses, BG. I used to deal with those 2-3 times a year, but with a daily Claritin, I’ve only had to resort to antibiotics once in the past four years.
No charge for this visit...They’ve got me on a powerful drug but i’m showing signs of an allergic reaction so i may have to change scripts in a day or so. No fun, more off balance than usual.
Thanks for the consult indy. Stef, thanks i've got a ton of sailing stories. It's easy to tell stories about something you're passionate about. jkl- I tried to demystify some of the terminology but after i posted it I reread it and realized that it would still only be clear to a sailor/racer. Sorry about that. As for learning to sail- highly recommended! I enjoy small high performance boats, but there are no wrong answers when it comes to sailing. Most local clubs offer lessons and then there are schools that will really get you going. As for racing, it may be boring to watch, but it's not boring to do. Frustrating, but not boring. It's a chess match- you're always trying to figure out how to out smart the competition, or out sail them. Lots of tactical decisions that can give you an advantage over a more skilled skipper and crew. Usually, on a Hobie you are doing this at relatively high speeds, sometimes hanging from a trapese wire, and getting bashed by spray as the boat jumps off the top of swells. Now that is fun!! Then there's those no wind days when the secret weapon, read paddle, is your only friend and you're hoping all the greenheader flies gathered on the rear deck stay there rather than swarm. It's all part of the deal.BondGuy,
You've now peaked my interest into a Hobie Cat, I spent the weekend looking on-line. Although I would like the 16 or one of the others designed for speed I don't think I could get the wife to ok that. She did show some interest in the Getaway since it was more "family" oriented. Baby steps! LaterJK- a book to get would be The ASA’s “Sailing Fundamentals” I have an old version of the book, but new versions are available at B&N for about $20.
I'll come back later to talk HobiesHobies- The Getaway is fine boat. Be aware that there is a huge performance difference between a Getaway and a H-16. A mono hull driver going to a Getaway would probably be a very happy camper. An H-16 sailor going to the Getaway is more like “What the eff?”
That said, know that in the world of High performance Beach Cats the H-16 is on the lower end of the performance scale. The world is dominated by Mystere's, A Cat's and the fabulous F-18 class. Hobie make s an F-18 class boat, the Hobie Tiger. Nacra used to make the Inter 18, but now call it the Nacra F-18. Both boats are rockets relative to a H-16. And a Nacra 6.0 or Inter 20 will put most F-18 class boats in the wake. The F-18 and up boats are very physical boats to sail. Less suitable for recreation and more so for full on racing. So, speed is a relative thing. So what's the H-16 got going for it? First, even though it's a dinosaur in Beach Cat Technology, it's still very fast. It is faster than any monohull. The H-16 is the world's best selling one design sail boat with tens of thousands sailing. So, there are plenty around to buy if you don't want to buy a new one. The combination of lots of boats and fun recreatioanal sailing make them a great value. Go out and just blast around or go to regatta and race. They are simple. Raise the mast, put on the sails and go! 1/2 hour once you know how to do it. They are durable and stable. Again stability is up to how the skipper is sailing relative to conditions. You can sail on the edge or you can slow things down. Once fear of flipping goes away, you'll find yourself on the edge all the time. The H-16 has one flaw to spoil its mild manners. It has a tendancy to pitch pole if one is not careful in high winds. This is a minor concern. A pitch pole on an H-16 is nothing more than an endo flip. You tube will show this. Right the boat, climb back on and go. I've gone years between pitchpoles sailing the boat to max potential. Of course there was that day when i pitch poled it 5 times. The getaway is a fine boat. Rotmolded hulls make it indestructable. It is a fun mild sailor. A much calmer experience than the H16 or H-18. With the deck lip non existant on this boat the pitch pole rate is way down. Again, only a biggie to the inexperienced. Before you buy a boat you need a place to sail it. Where would that be? What boats are being sailed there? Hobies are extremely low maintenance and if you go tthe Hobie web site there is a link that will get you the local fleets. Find a local fleet, if there is one. Call the listed numbers and get yourself a ride on some boats. If you decide to buy, there a a ton of boats for sale. The H-16 has been around since the early 70s and the H-18 since about 1980. Have fun!!!!BondGuy
I like speed. I saw the H-16 as it was the first one to come up when I searched. If I really get into it and do some racing I'd look at going up the line a little. But with the idea being that I am looking at learning to sail, I think the getaway or the H-16 are more appropriate. My wife like the Getaway because it's marketed as a "social" boat that my whole crew can go on. Wife and two daughters. I'm just happy that the wife didn't flat out say it was a stupid idea. I think she likes the idea of being a hot chick sunbathing on the trampoline. Thanks for all of your advice. Gotta go look at some boats.
jkl1v1n6
Getting approval-good first step!
I bought the H-16 to race it. In fact my boat is what was known as a Nationals boat. Hobie would ship about 100 new boats to the site of the North American National Championships. Racers would race the boats for a week and then Hobie would sell the boats, fully race equipped, off the beach. The nationals, are invitation only, were/are held at a different venue every year. When they were held at Cape May NJ my dealer called me to offer me a boat. I didn't want a boat that had been raced for a week so at first I passed. Then the dealer called and told me they had an extra boat that wouldn't be raced. It was a done deal. Hobie no longer does this. The Nationals have become BYOB for the most part with local fleets supplying some of the boats. I tell you that for two reasons: First, even though I bought the boat to race it, it got equal use as a recreational sail boat. We spent a lot of time with five of us on the boat, mom, dad, and three kids. So the H-16 makes a fine recreational sailor. Second, there are thousands of H-16 around. It is still the largest one design fleet racing and is still being manufactured. The likely hood of finding a fleet to race with/against is much higher with a H-16 than with any other boat. Many racers start with the 16 and then move up. None of this is to say that the getaway isn't the perfect boat for you. It may be. Just go in open minded. Nothing wrong with hot chicks lounging on the trampoline! Lastly, for some great Cat pix go to: www.worrell1000.com The boats are Inter 20's. Check out the photo's on the Fl legs. Things got hairy. They don't run that race anymore, but it was fun while it lasted.[quote=YHWY]Springfield Armory .45
That is a beautiful weapon! To me, though, it just reaffirms John Browning’s genius over 100 years ago. The Colt 1911 (that you so aptly credited) was/is a weapon WAY ahead of its time.
By the way, you’re right, this is a cool thread. Keep it up!
[/quote]
I’ve had the bi-tone Springfield V10 for 10 years and never had any problems with it, my other “toy” is the RC51 crotch-rocket.
[quote=BondGuy]Getting approval-good first step!
I bought the H-16 to race it. In fact my boat is what was known as a Nationals boat. Hobie would ship about 100 new boats to the site of the North American National Championships. Racers would race the boats for a week and then Hobie would sell the boats, fully race equipped, off the beach. The nationals, are invitation only, were/are held at a different venue every year. When they were held at Cape May NJ my dealer called me to offer me a boat. I didn't want a boat that had been raced for a week so at first I passed. Then the dealer called and told me they had an extra boat that wouldn't be raced. It was a done deal. Hobie no longer does this. The Nationals have become BYOB for the most part with local fleets supplying some of the boats. I tell you that for two reasons: First, even though I bought the boat to race it, it got equal use as a recreational sail boat. We spent a lot of time with five of us on the boat, mom, dad, and three kids. So the H-16 makes a fine recreational sailor. Second, there are thousands of H-16 around. It is still the largest one design fleet racing and is still being manufactured. The likely hood of finding a fleet to race with/against is much higher with a H-16 than with any other boat. Many racers start with the 16 and then move up. None of this is to say that the getaway isn't the perfect boat for you. It may be. Just go in open minded. Nothing wrong with hot chicks lounging on the trampoline! Lastly, for some great Cat pix go to: www.worrell1000.com The boats are Inter 20's. Check out the photo's on the Fl legs. Things got hairy. They don't run that race anymore, but it was fun while it lasted.[/quote] That looked insane! Very cool! Too bad they aren't doing it anymore.Also checked out some you tube videos of pitch poles or pitch poling or whatever. I’m sure my wife will be happy with me the first time she’s with me when that happens!
Gotta love a large displacement vtwin with a set of 2 Bros. pipes. Nice ride. Served Nicky Hayden well while he had one.[quote=YHWY]Springfield Armory .45
That is a beautiful weapon! To me, though, it just reaffirms John Browning’s genius over 100 years ago. The Colt 1911 (that you so aptly credited) was/is a weapon WAY ahead of its time.
By the way, you’re right, this is a cool thread. Keep it up!
[/quote]
I’ve had the bi-tone Springfield V10 for 10 years and never had any problems with it, my other “toy” is the RC51 crotch-rocket.
If you don't flip the boat you aren't trying hard enough! Especially during the learning process. When i started letting my kids crew for me I took them out in the bay, one at a time, 100 feet off the beach and then flipped the boat. This was a static flip, as we weren't moving, I just pulled the boat over until it capsized. The task was to show my kids that there was nothing to fear and to teach them how to right the boat. Once we finished the non moving part of the program we moved up to flipping the boat at cruising speed and then top speed. The more we did it the more they liked it. On a normal flip the boat slows down naturally as the sail dumps air. No intentional pitch poles but plenty of righting practice. After doing this the kids would rather sail slow hanging from the traps while flying a hull as high as possible for as long as possible, rather than sailing the boat at its go fast attitude.Also checked out some you tube videos of pitch poles or pitch poling or whatever. I’m sure my wife will be happy with me the first time she’s with me when that happens!