I am wondering how much time takes you to rig your cat:

* trailer to water
* one person rigging or equivalent
* different cats

Then, do you have any tricks to make your rigging faster?

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Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
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For my 16's, rigging takes less than 30 minutes each with a part time assistance and one beer.

For my 21SE rigging time is a full hour with a dedicated helper and a couple of beers.

I like to spend the whole weekend at the lake so rigging time is not all that important.

If I am going just for the day, I like to get to the lake by mid morning and leave by sunset to made it worth while.

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Bill 404 21SE
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When I had a H16 and trailer sailed. I was sailing in about 20 minutes from getting to lake with a helper. About 30 minutes if passenger was not much help. Minimum I needed someone to pin the forstay, I could do everything else.

When I trailer sailed my H18 it took about an hour, but had slowed down my effort and didn't do it as often.

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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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i have mast up storage and it takes me about 30 to 45 minutes on my 16. i think im doing something wrong

You must be, I vacationed down at Singer Island (Palm Beach Shores), rented a H16 for the 10 days we were there, it was mast up on the beach, 15-20 min to rig and hit the water. Here are a few tips:-

1) roll main around boom, I used to include the main blocks with line if they were dry
2) lay rolled up main on tramp, fore-aft, hook halyard to main, raise sail, secure halyard, roll up excess line, tuck into pocket on tramp, adjust downhaul.
3) walk aft and secure main blocks to traveler
4) with the jib, blocks and jib sheet are left on boat, raise jib, attach blocks to jib clew plate using either a snap shackle or SS carabineer.
5) go sailing.

Tell us your step by step process, I'm sure we can help, most of us have to trailer to water and would kill to have mast up storage, would cut down on rigging time so we could sail more.

Trailering and solo set-up with H16 25 minutes on the water.
With help cut to 20.
No experience with H16 and mast up storage.
H18 30 minutes from trailer to water with help.
Solo on the H18 about 45 minutes.
H18 mast up, 20 minutes.
H21SE trailer sailor, with cross bars expanded (illegal) 90 minutes with help.
H21SE trailered with cross bars collapsed, with help, 4 hours, and swore never again, twice.
Tried solo once, dropped mast, big mistake.
Mast up storage for H21SE 20 minutes on the water.

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Todd Elozory
H18
H21SE
Hobie Mirage Tandem Island
Catalina 22
Thonotosassa, Florida
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1) pull up to the Sarasota sailing squadron.
2) go to my locker and get my lifejacket and harness
3) put it on my boat
4) get my sails out of the sail room
5) bring them to the boat
6) take the tarp off and the sail bag
7) untie the 3 tie downs
8) wheel it to the shore
9) unroll the main and raise it
10) slide boom on and put on outhaul
11) downhaul
12) attach jib and raise
13)put on harness and life jacket
i have a shackle on the main, and 3 on the jib.
ring ding on the foot? of the main sail
quick pin on tiller extension
thats how i rig i might be missing something i havent sailed in about a month.(my sail was in the shop and there hasent been good wind since i got the sail back)
thanks for helping

optikid, next time you go sailing try this, before you drop the mainsail, disconnect the main blocks from the traveler, leave them connected to the boom vang, leave the outhaul, drop the sail, fold blocks and line next to the boom, roll sail around boom and blocks, if blocks and line are wet, keep an old towel handy, wrap blocks and line in towel, then wrap sail around boom and blocks, towel will prevent any rust stains on sail. I usually do this all while the sail is on the tramp, next time you raise the sail, blocks and line drop out, ready to be connected to the traveler.

I hate putting my cover on my P16. Its a full top cover (hulls and tramp). It takes 10+ minutes to line it up and tie all the little ribbon ties. In the future I may stick to a square tarp over the tramp.

--
John Fricker
Prindle 16
Seabrook, Texas
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This is a comforting thread to read. The last time I took my P-Cat out it was about an hour and a half from trailer to water, but we had pulled the mast off to work on it. Our normal time is just over an hour. Previous to this I sailed a P-16, which was LOADS faster to rig. I thought it was just me. Looks like this is par for the course.

One question I have for everyone: How far down do you strip your boat at the end of the day? We don't have mast-up storage, so I have to lower the mast. I also remove the tiller bars, rudders, dagger boards, every sheet, and as many blocks as I can. The jib blocks are more or less permanently installed on the boat. So when I start setting up, I'm looking at a bare hull. If I had mast-up storage I could see leaving the rudders on. Am I being too anal, pulling all the sheets off the boat?

Also, how differently do you do things when switching from salt water to lake sailing? I was a lot more lackadaisical about cleaning my gear when I was sailing in freshwater. But with saltwater it's just not an option. I've got to rinse and dry everything. (the-renovator, I really REALLY like how you're stowing your mainsheet and vang. So this question is aimed specifically at you. Would you use that technique if the mainsheet was soaked in salt water? If I was sailing freshwater, I'd adopt your idea right now.)

Tom

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Tom Benedict
Island of Hawaii
P-Cat 18 / Sail# 361 / HA 7633 H / "Smilodon"
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the-renovator

optikid, next time you go sailing try this, before you drop the mainsail, disconnect the main blocks from the traveler, leave them connected to the boom vang, leave the outhaul, drop the sail, fold blocks and line next to the boom, roll sail around boom and blocks, if blocks and line are wet, keep an old towel handy, wrap blocks and line in towel, then wrap sail around boom and blocks, towel will prevent any rust stains on sail. I usually do this all while the sail is on the tramp, next time you raise the sail, blocks and line drop out, ready to be connected to the traveler.

i have a ring ding on the traveler but a quick clip on the boom. im going to try leaving the boom on next time.

benedict

This is a comforting thread to read. The last time I took my P-Cat out it was about an hour and a half from trailer to water, but we had pulled the mast off to work on it. Our normal time is just over an hour. Previous to this I sailed a P-16, which was LOADS faster to rig. I thought it was just me. Looks like this is par for the course.

One question I have for everyone: How far down do you strip your boat at the end of the day? We don't have mast-up storage, so I have to lower the mast. I also remove the tiller bars, rudders, dagger boards, every sheet, and as many blocks as I can. The jib blocks are more or less permanently installed on the boat. So when I start setting up, I'm looking at a bare hull. If I had mast-up storage I could see leaving the rudders on. Am I being too anal, pulling all the sheets off the boat?

Also, how differently do you do things when switching from salt water to lake sailing? I was a lot more lackadaisical about cleaning my gear when I was sailing in freshwater. But with saltwater it's just not an option. I've got to rinse and dry everything. (the-renovator, I really REALLY like how you're stowing your mainsheet and vang. So this question is aimed specifically at you. Would you use that technique if the mainsheet was soaked in salt water? If I was sailing freshwater, I'd adopt your idea right now.)

Tom

i sail in salt water, i give everything a quick wash and i only take the sails and my harness and life jacket off the boat

For me it depends on two things= the weather, and what might get stolen.
The latter over-rules the former.
I have to trailer an hour or more to the three lakes I sail. Setup time is about 35 minutes if I can launch off the beach, 50-60 minutes if I have to use the ramp and get a leeward space on the dock.

I trailer it just like I store it= sails rolled in the bag with loose battens, boom, rudders, tiller and mainsheet blocks with the sails in the cat box. The stays and trapeze rigging stay attached (excepting the forestay), coiled and tied to the tramp with the jib sheet. I untie this and try to hide the jib lines from the sun under the cover during storage.

If I am camping on shore I just drop the sails and roll them on the tramp, then move the halyards so they don't beat on the mast all night.

When I am lucky enought to ocean sail, I have been able to keep it mast up at a nearby fenced lot or my friend's front yard. Both are surprisingly secure.

Ventura Harbor is a good place from which to launch. Bob Martinez can setup and launch in under 30 minutes from his trailer. He uses a Vectran (line) forestay adjuster instead of a 10 hole SS adjuster. It is fast and strong and he has been using it for decades. He also has his Dart pointed bows aft on the trailer, looking lke it is ready to jump off at any time.

--
Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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optikid - switch clips, use the ring-ding on the boom block and the quick clip on the traveler block.

Tom - with salt water sailing, I would do as described above, just to expedite the break-down, but when I got home I would rinse everything down with fresh water, leave to dry, then roll everything up in the sail. Not necessary every time, remember, these cats were designed with salt water in mind, but a regular rinse would be the wise thing to do.

Just a side note, have you ever stripped the coating off the shrouds on a salt water boat? yup, you will find rust, I for one, would not want coated shrouds if I was a salt water sailor.

I used to keep my furled jib on my h18. THis was very fast and convenient... however it should be noted: wrapping your sails up in the boom (or fore-stay) will expedite wear and tear on the sails. Any rubbing, friction, or even touching the alum rivets/bails can produce rust stains and reduce fiber strength on your sails.

it is a trade off... a few minutes saved vs less sail life. on most of the older boats in use, the dacron fabric is very robust ... but proper sail care will extend it's life (proper care means fresh water rinse, hang dry, gentle roll or flakeing of the sail, storage in a cool dry place)

people with new sails are much more anal about protecting their $1400-$2500 investment and extending it's life.

http://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures/?g2_itemId=88238 this is my main sheet
how do you use a ring ding on the boom?

Quote

One question I have for everyone: How far down do you strip your boat at the end of the day? We don't have mast-up storage, so I have to lower the mast. I also remove the tiller bars, rudders, dagger boards, every sheet, and as many blocks as I can. The jib blocks are more or less permanently installed on the boat. So when I start setting up, I'm looking at a bare hull. If I had mast-up storage I could see leaving the rudders on. Am I being too anal, pulling all the sheets off the boat?

On my Prindle I leave the all the rigging connected and just coil the shrouds and traps on each side and attach to the hiking straps. Then the forestay and is coiled up with one of the sides. I leave my Jib Blocks in place. I actually connect the jib sheet to the front bridles and pull em all tight making a big X between the front hulls. Then tie off the excess jib sheet around itself on one side. I remove and stow the Main sheet. I remove the entire rudder system as one big piece by just pulling the pins. I use a quick pin on the boom and the upper main sheets blocks.

If dedicated and with helpers I can hit the water from the trailer in about 30 min. Usually I am not in a rush. I am usually camping and begin setup the the evening before in the parking lot. I usually tinker and take my time. If I feel rushed I always end up forgetting something. Sometimes I get it on the beach that night sometimes the next morning it just depends.

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Dustin Finlinson • Magna, UT
Member: Utah Sailing Association
1982 Prindle 18
1986 Hobie 17
1982 Prindle 16
1980 Prindle 16(mostly)
1976 Prindle 16(mostly)
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook.
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This winter we are at the largest cat-beach in Europe, 60 yards from the beach, mast up and rudders installed on the cat. When I sail alone, it takes me 30-40 minutes to rig the cat. However, when we go out sailing together, me and my mate, it takes over 1 hour... yes, she's female.
She inspects every rope and safety equipment, vhf and flares.
And, yes , she is fully entitled to do this............



Edited by catmodding on Dec 05, 2012 - 01:15 AM.

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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Angelo, your blocks attach to the boom using a shackle, switch the pins around, use the shackle with ring-ding on the boom block and use the quick release pin on the ratchet block.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures/?g2_itemId=63029