FX-ONE Report!!

Hobie needs to fire its attorney and drop the comptip. The comptip was a lawyer's response to somebody electrocuting themselves --- as if today's lawyers couldn't get around that "design" change in court.

I sailed a H20 for years with no comptip problem -- others have not been so fortunate. But, moreover -- the comptip just really is not necessary. No other builder of a sailboat has ever been sued over somebody frying themselves. I still think that the courts have a few more smarts than that. If your dumb enough not to read all the stickers and still fry yourself then it was just a case of suicide by powerpole.

Steve

Hi again,

The Class rules for the FX-One states at the very top (of page 17) "NOTE: THE HOBIE CLASS GENERAL RULES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RULE 13.4 ARE PART OF THESE RULES". Genereal Rule13.4 is the COMPTIP required in North America Rule.

Steve

Hobie FX-One Hull#202, Sail #211

hey Steve ...I just read the exception to the comptip on the FX-One rules......maybe next year there will be a class for the FX-One.....

Let me pre-empt my following statement by saying that I would currently consider myself impartial about the comptip on Hobie catamarans but that I would prefer to not have one on my racing cat. Referencing the recent Catamaran Sailor article where two guys were electrocuted while moving an old Hobie 16 without a comp tip, I do wonder though how you address the claim that Hobie has had no reported electrocutions on boats equipped with them. That statement sure made me reconsider my position against the comp tip.

No Jake, My statement was "No company has ever been sued .... ". People do not so wise things everyday. Most of us are very responsible people and don't play with electricity. The stickers are on the mast for a "legal" reason and that should be enough. I have seen a person sail a 40+ foot monohull into a powerline -- so stupidity is not just limited to us few catsailors. When was the last time you saw a monohull with a comptip???

I really have never had a problem with mine -- I just think it is a poor solution to a legal problem and would rather sail the boats as there are designed to be used not "advised" to be built for legal reasons.

just my 2 cents.

Steve

Hey Bob,

As long as everyone else is getting off the subject let me ask you a question. Have you ever riden an Isotope? I was somewhat surprised at your opinion of the A-class boats not being as "bulletproof" as the dealer had boasted. It also seems you have a what a single handed boat should/shouldn't be. I often read posts about single handed boats thinking that if the poster's don't understand the difference between having crew and being at one with a boat.

J.P. the Terrible

Isotope 186 the shark boat

I am almost ashamed to tell this story but about 2 weeks ago we were walking our H16 on cat traxs at a new sailing site/park. I had looked up more than once to make sure there were no power-lines (it’s a habit), even though I knew this site had no visible power lines, as I had check when we got there. A neighbor by the park offered to let us keep our boat in his field; I look at the field and could see no power-lines, so we walked the boat over to the field. Once in the field I felt a shock in my right arm, I looked immediately at the ground as I thought there must be some type of underground power-line, don’t ask me about the logic of this thought, but in my mind I knew there were no overhead power-lines. So, I yelled to my wife to let go of the boat and I started to look everywhere, then finally I looked up and sure enough a small power like was hitting one of my shrouds and a larger power line was hitting my comptip. The power line was conveniently hidden in a line of trees on this property. I was thankful that day for a comptip as I was sure it prevented a large amount of power from running down my mast and through my body. I was also thankful for my plastic coated shrouds. I was actually holding the bridle wire with my hand and part of my hand was on the exposed part of the wire.

So, I can deal with the comptip masts as anyone can get caught off guard. I have heard of accidents with power-lines from very intelligent sailors but now I know first hand that it can happen to me to. Also junior and youth sailors are not as experienced as most of us and seems to me a comptip is a good idea for them as well.

While I enjoy speaking to the couple that make the Isotopes, I've seen more than one buckle in heavy seas. They are light, but perhaps to light.

An Isotope is light but all stress loads are kept in check. If you compair them to a H-16, H-17, H-18, they may not be bulletproof. I honestly think they get a bad rap when someone purchases a 10 to 20 year old boat then hits the mighty blue in above 15 knot winds without upgrading rigging, sails, or gear. There are old boats that still race and win that do not flex in waves.

By the way Isotopes run with a total 185sq ft of soft sail that can be in the jib or main. We feel that this rule allows for experimentation. Several sailors switched to squared topped sails with different levels of success but as a fleet we decided that the sails were within guidlines and the sailors deserved any added performance without any handicapping. I read page after page on legalities on what makes sails legal. I think that offering a TOTAL square footage could offer more options for the Formula classes. Maybe the last thing they need is more options.

Oh hey, I agree with you Frank and Rhoda are the greatest.

J.P. the Terrible

Isotope 186

I worry sometimes that I'm gonna break my H17 in some of the stuff I like to sail in... to each his own I suppose.

I saw Frank and Rhonda at the Annapolis boat show this past weekend, I was going to say hi, but I feel a bit guilty after seriously considering an isotope then going with a hobie.