Hi gang,
I recently purchased a new ( off ebay ) solo upright system for my 84 Hobie 16. It is the one with the shroud extender/ball lock pin mechanism -part number 1263. I haven't installed it yet but was motivated to try it from an incident last summer where my buddy and I (390 lbs between us) had problems righting her in 3-4ft chop. I would appreciate any/all input on this device from those that have tried it. The paperwork from Hobie is vague as usual.
Cheers, Tom

I use the hawianian system. In the end when you tip it sucks. remember when you go over to make sure all your sheets are free. this way water does not fill the sails. second swim the boat around so the bows are pointing into the wind, this way wind helps right the boat. even doing this. It will take a couple of good pulls to get her going in the right direction. When I tip I find getting the tip of the mast out of the water is the hardest part once that is out she pops right on up. My average crew weight in only 220lbs. hope this helps have fun sailing

As usual with me I'll answer what I know and not what you asked. I have no experience with the shroud extenders. But at 390 you guys should be able to get that thing up. You need two righting lines, I always used one piece of rope tied around around the dolphin striker at the middle. Then get up on the hull, undo the lines, flip them over the upper hull, reach back and get yours. Have the crew swim the bow around until the mast is pointing near enough upwind. Make sure the mainsheet and preferably the jib sheet are uncleated. Have the crew climb up on the hull and give them other righting line. Wrap them once or twice around your trapeze harness hook and squeeze or hold them together. Then lean back until you're about 45 degrees to horizontal. You should be able to stay there all day if need be, if you try and hold the righting line in your hand you'll get sore hands quickly. The boat should come up until only the tip of the sail is in the water. If it's really blowing it won't pause it will just pop up. You might have to bounce a little to get the tip of the sail to lift off the water. Once the wind gets under it and is blowing on the tramp it will come up. Hold your hand over your head as the hull comes down in case it comes down on you. It's not a deal. It comes fairly slowly and will just push you under the water. Usually it goes over your head and you end up in the water between the hulls. Grab the dolphin striker. The boat will pivot around and point upwind on you as a sea anchor. Get on. Sheet in. Sail away.

Thanks for the input guys. I installed the device last weekend but ran out of time to sail it. I will report back to the forum once I get a chance to test this thingy.
Dewy, I have the Hawaian system as well. There was a huge amount of drift that day so we had to fight hard to keep the bows into wind. In retrospect, the conditions probably didn't match the experience of the sailors.
Big, yeah that grab of the dolphin striker is key. I found that out the hard way ;)

I have a Nacra 5.8 and i have absolutely no problem in righting the boat by myself and i am using the perpendicular righting pole system. I would highly advise it

One of you saws "bows" into wind the other says "mast" into wind. Which?

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Gray Amick
Chapin, SC
'77 NACRA 5.2
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Works either way Gray. Or you can split the difference between the two! If the wind is strong, & the mast is into the wind, the boat will come over quickly, very quickly, so damn quickly that if you are not nimble in the Tarzan grab for the V brace, it will keep right on going over onto the other side.
I find on my 5.7 that in any amount of wind, the boat will generally pivot itself around. The mat acts like a sea anchor, & the boat will pivot until the mast is directly into the wind.
It is nearly impossible to pivot it backwards, the sail digs in, you would have to swim it 270* around, in the direction of the leading edge of the mast, to get the bows into the wind.
As long as you are going in the right direction, it swims around pretty easy.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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If 390lbs is not enough to right the boat, then perhaps your mast is taking in water?

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Karl, Captain of Stayin' Thirsty
2011 Hobie 16SE
Atlanta, GA
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