The only sailing I have done is on the small cats in Jamaica I loved it as did my wife. I live in SE Illinois and have access to several nice large inland lakes. I am 58 y/o, in pretty good physical shape and am planning on using the boat for family including wife, two daughters and their husbands. We also have three grandchildren...oldest is 7 and swims like a fish.

Just sold the Bass Boat and have about $ 15K to burn on this endeavor. Since I won't be docking the boat and hauling it to the lake, thought about the following set up:

Hobie Getaway
Optional Wings
Aluminium Trailer
Torqeedo solar motor with mount

I want to be able to get the boat from the launch out into the water and also able to get back to shore should the wind die down. That is the reason for the optional motor.

My concerns are the following:

I've seen pictures on YouTube of folks up on one hull with a trapeeze outfit. I'm not planning on doing that, flipping upside down or getting any broken bones or ribs. Just want to cruise. If the son-in-laws get experience and grand kids get older I want a boat that they can sail and push the envelope.

Should I go ahead and buy the boat? Any suggestions? Should I start out on a Wave instead and move up? Thanks in advance
for the help.

db51

Just sold the Bass Boat and have about $ 15K to burn on this endeavor. Since I won't be docking the boat and hauling it to the lake, thought about the following set up:

Hobie Getaway
Optional Wings
Aluminium Trailer
Torqeedo solar motor with mount

First, Welcome to TheBeachcats!

Love the "just sold the bass boat to buy a catamaran" part.

Tell us more about your future sailing location, why you think you need a motor? I'm not saying you don't, but usually the only reason people really need a motor on their beachcat is if they are forced to launch deep inside a big marina. If you are just worried about dying wind carry two paddles, one strapped to each wing.

You will love the Getaway and wings, can carry the whole family or you can handle it solo.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Our area lakes range from 26 to 18K acres. Most of the folks have power or houseboats. I'm simply concerned about getting the boat in the water at the launch which is usually crowded with redneck bass boat types or big power ski boats. There aren't that many sailboats out there. I would like to get the boat out of the marina without running it aground or broadsiding a party barge before I get the sail up...I probably need to get some sailing lessons before either killling myself or finding myself on some viral YouTube Video
doing something stupid.

I'm figuring until I figure out how to sail and make the boat go where I want, I might need the motor to get back to point A. Like I said, I spent every afternoon in Jamica on a small Cat either solo or with my wife....but it was basically leaving shore and coming back in a straight line.

My biggest fear is the first day out in the thing.



Edited by db51 on Mar 18, 2013 - 06:05 PM.

You need to read about "Spirit 17".

http://www.thebeachcats.c…opic/topic/13621/start/0

the inaugural sail

http://www.bfsshop.com/ca…age=page&id=56&chapter=4

we all have had similar experiences, but TOW is the mother of all teachers, Time On Water, go out during the week when no-one else is around and sail. Or meet up with a local sailor and they will happily spend time with you.

OMG...that was the most brilliant piece I've ever read. I know little about sailing, but I haven't laughed that hard since .... well, I'm not sure I've ever lauighed that hard. The launch and first sailing gave me pause. I can tell you right now I'm too old to survive that experience, and if my wife were with me during a a ride like that, there would be divorce papers filed if we made it back to shore alive. My greatest fear is what just happened in that story. I'm now almost convinced I need a motorized pontoon party boat instead of a Cat. That was some brilliant writing. Thanks for the entertainment.



Edited by db51 on Mar 19, 2013 - 06:30 AM.

A couple of ideas:
First, see if there is a local Hobie fleet, find where they meet up and launch. Have fun

Second, forget all you know about boat launching, for a BEACH cat, all roads that end in or close to water are launches. Where we sail there are several areas where the camping area is next to the lake, drive the trailer down and launch the boat. There is no need to get the trailer bearings wet most of the time. The tow vehicle stays on dry solid land and the trailer tires get a little mud or sand on them. The nice part is if you spend the weekend the boat is at the campsite. And Have fun

Third, you are going to flip, no question, not if, but when. It will be fine, you will get wet, turn the boat back up and go again. Go with the son and/or grand children and learn before you take anyone that could be afraid. And Have fun.

Have fun (sounds familiar). Go out on mild days, NOT WINDY. People all the time say "I thought of you yesterday when it was windy" I say are you nuts it was blowing 30, I am not going out in that stuff. Go out on days that are 10 to 12 MPH. As you learn more go out in more wind. the getaway is a great boat, spent many days on one, they can take a pounding and are safe and easy to sail. Not much will bite you either.

HTH, Ricardo.

--
Lake Perry KS
H-18
N-5.5 UNI +spin
--

Quote

I'm now almost convinced I need a motorized pontoon party boat instead of a Cat.

they are fun too, but nothing can compare to harnessing the wind and not needing gas

db1, check your Messages, top left hand corner, under the tabs, click on link to take you to your Private Messages.

renovator

Update on the Cat. I tentatively bought a new Getaway from a dealer in St. Louis. I talked to some really nice folks in Cincinnati but that is too far for me to go and I need a dealer for service close. St. Louis is only 90 miles west. The dealer offers sailing classes starting in April. Carlyle Lake is only 40 miles from me and that is where they conduct classes. It's a large and relatively shallow lake, alot of wind and choppy. Might as well learn there and everything else will be a piece of cake. Probably a great place to meet some other sailiing enthusiasts as well.

I'm getting pretty pumped up about getting started. Bagged the idea of a torqeedo motor. Guess the Cat moves along pretty well with a paddle.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and links.

Just in case you haven't seen this -- manual, support page and Getaway rigging videos:

http://www.hobiecat.com/f…c3a9a518d67915891db73a49

and Getaway forum

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=23

Congrats!

--
Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
--

If the wind dies that just means its nap time until picks up again. I has nice couple 90 minute nap in the middle of a race a couple seasons ago. Then the wind got so heavy we couldn't even make it back to our starting point and had to beach it.



Edited by Quarath on Mar 19, 2013 - 07:40 PM.

--
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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There is a Hobie fleet/club at Carlisle so they may know some people closer to your lakes also.

--
Lake Perry KS
H-18
N-5.5 UNI +spin
--

Thanks Richard. Actuially Carlyle Lake is about the same distance as all the other sailing lakes in my area. I'm roiughly 40 miles from three lakes in all directions. Carlyle to the west, Shelbyville to the North, Rend Lake to the south. There are some small lakes within
15 minutes of me which would be great to learn on incliuding Olney and Omega. I have a sister-in-law at Carbondale where you have Crab Orchard where Southern Illinois University has a sailing club but that is 80 miles. I don't want to spend that much time on the road. Last year it was already 84 degrees here. This morning 29.

Quote

Update on the Cat. I tentatively bought a new Getaway from a dealer in St. Louis.

congrats and welcome to the club

db51

Thanks Richard. Actuially Carlyle Lake is about the same distance as all the other sailing lakes in my area. I'm roiughly 40 miles from three lakes in all directions.

For many years there was an active Hobie Fleet which held regattas at Carlyle. They used to come to the Memphis Fleets regatta at Arkabutla Lake (Broken Mast Regatta) and we traveled to their Muddy Waters Regatta.

Carlyle Sailing Association http://www.csa-sailing.org/ has an active multi-fleet club and the beachcats are now an open fleet and have a site
http://www.csa-sailing.or…s/hobie/new%20Hobie.html there is an email link there with names of contacts.

Good luck and be sure to report back the stories as they happen!

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Ten bucks says db is flyin' a hull before the end of June!

--
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
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Thanks for the warm welcome and information. This forum rocks. Just talked to the salesman in St. Louis and am meeting him on Saturday to complete the purchase for the boat. I'm taking my 8 y/o Grandson, his 4 y/o sister and my wife to check out the boat which they have set up and ready to go in the warehouse. The trailer is galvanized steel made by Load Rite. I checked out their website and it appears they have a solid reputation and great looking trailer.

They have 4 day sailing seminars starting in May. Because of the distance and farming season will be in full blown mode I'm going to pay the $ 125.00/hr fee to a private instructor at Carlyle on my boat.

I plan on flying a hull on the first lesson. lmao. Man Overboard





Edited by db51 on Mar 20, 2013 - 04:13 PM.

i would recommend you have the dealer rig the boat with you, bring a camera, take notes, ask questions (at $0.00 /hr)



Edited by MN3 on Mar 20, 2013 - 03:21 PM.

The dealer has agreed to rig the boat with me and to take as much time as necessary, but I won't be able to attend their in-house seminars. Thanks for the suggestion.

Here is a link to the discussion between my wife and I regarding my buying the Hobie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-m8VOtaF3M

Good stuff. Advice: if at all possible don't involve your wife in setting up the boat at first. Until you really get it down it's going to take a while and be the source of arguments.

Ideally, have the boat ready to push off the beach, sails up, when she arrives. So all she has to do is slip on the cool new well fitting womens style PFD you have bought her and get on the boat for a pleasant sail in 5 - 10 mph of wind.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN ON THIS SITE.

I hear couples argue all the time during rigging.

I lost many friends and girlfriends my first decade sailing cause i yelled a lot. now i just chillax and grin as my boat is exploding into a fiery death

Quote

Good stuff. Advice: if at all possible don't involve your wife in setting up the boat at first. Until you really get it down it's going to take a while and be the source of arguments.

Ideally, have the boat ready to push off the beach, sails up, when she arrives. So all she has to do is slip on the cool new well fitting womens style PFD you have bought her and get on the boat for a pleasant sail in 5 - 10 mph of wind

Edited by MN3 on Mar 21, 2013 - 02:24 PM.

Too good!!
I was wondering what key words were used to get her to say yes, but all that was needed was a translation from female to male language: "you have lost your mind" = "Yes".

--
Ted
Hobie 16
South Carolina Lake sailing
--

I agree that Damon's advice is perfect advise. You don't want the first impression to be a 1-2 hour stressful time while melting in the sun in a parking lot. At a minimum have a beach near the launch area and send them to the lake to relax with grandkids etc. You might so try rigging the boat at your house a few times to get the hang of it.

Welcome to the club and hope you got the wings and front trampoline on your new getaway. Those are nice features for family sailing with that boat.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

Quote

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN ON THIS SITE.

I hear couples argue all the time during rigging.

I lost many friends and girlfriends my first decade sailing cause i yelled a lot. now i just chillax and grin as my boat is exploding into a fiery death

QuoteGood stuff. Advice: if at all possible don't involve your wife in setting up the boat at first. Until you really get it down it's going to take a while and be the source of arguments.

Ideally, have the boat ready to push off the beach, sails up, when she arrives. So all she has to do is slip on the cool new well fitting womens style PFD you have bought her and get on the boat for a pleasant sail in 5 - 10 mph of wind

+1

This is exactly what I do now. I rig the boat solo and let my wife and daughter to go and do their things.

On the top of this, I have advice on my own. Get your wife really nice sailing gear. This would be a PDF, wet suit, splash jacket, etc. Don't forget about the footwear, a hut (must stay on your head in a heavy wind), and sunglasses. All the gear needs to be not only functional, but it MUST BE stylish, and very comfortable. Look for a a good content of pink, fancy patterns, etc. Try to spend as much money on this staff as possible. Take your wife shopping and go nuts... Trust me, it will be a wise investment, you will not regret.

--
Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
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What the ??? Thanks for all the wise advice. Nothing like benefitting from another's learning experience. hee hee. Ok...so maybe you guys should point me to some sites that carry all of this Sailing Attire. Seriously, I'd hate to show up the first day on the new Getway looking like some hillbilly or total dork. That would be the end of the sailing and the Cat would be up on E-Bay.

My daughter and i were talking on the phone and I was telling her about the need for some fun hobby for her Mother and I. she sent a Top Ten List of Fun things to do for couples. Sailboating was tucked in there around #6. Good selling point....and added benefit of not coming from ME like I was pushing the idea too much.

She's already on Weight Wathchers OnLine getting down to swimsuit weight for our trip to Gulf Shores with the family in late July. I'm hoping I'm good enough at sailing I can rent one down there and have some fun.

Again, thanks for the advice. I really need to start checking out the boat wear....I thought all I needed were my swim trunks and a life jacket. What ever was I thinking.

Lifejacket- Extrasport Chica. Designed for female kayakers (extra room in the chest) very comfortable for guys also.
Splash top - check Apsltd.com. Have the Henry Loyde tops on clearance, not pink but good yellows and reds for her and you.
Wetsuit- check NRSweb.com. Again a paddling focused site but really nice stuff. I like the farmer John/Jane suits without arms, then use your splash top over it.

I would consider wetsuit optional unless she is always cold. But splash top is critical to happiness if at all cool on the water. Also find neoprene gloves and booties for her.

You should also get sailing gloves. Harken or Ronstad make good gloves, I like 3/4 finger ones.

But as someone said, taking her shopping might have more impact then online ordering. Check a paddling shop or REI if you have one near you.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

Quote

I'm going to pay the $ 125.00/hr fee to a private instructor

Gollee, for that kinda money I drive over to Carlyle and give you lessons no worries mate........

But don't let them city slickers snow you, them boys think they must look good sailin' but theys just look like stylin pimps.......

A pair of board shorts (we call em baggies short for baggy swim trunks), a cheap pair of sunglasses (cause you gonna loose em in the water), camo baseball hat to keep the sun out of the eyes, and a pair of water shoes with rubber soles (Walmart Special), 'n maybe some mechanics gloves to save the soft girly hands and you good to go sailin.....

lmao. smfinley and the -renovator...diametrically opposed views on attire. I'm going with smfinley's suggestion for her, and renovator's for mine. That way, everybody's happy!

A really nice pic of your woman on your boat goes a long way too. My GF on my H16 at Juanna's. She loves it now.



PS. We had a great time and got timeless photo's out of the regatta. I took this from a waterproof cam while swimming close by :) She's not scared of going fast through 3' waves with a 20 mph breeze either ;)

--
Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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fxloop....That is a great photo. I've been really impressed with the photo quality of my GoProHero2. We've gotten some amazing photos in the water in the pool videoing the grandkids. Can't wait to mount it on the Getaway. After seeing that picture. I'm ready
to get in the water.....but 19 degrees this morning. Bummer.

You can (and should) go cheap with many things but a good quality life jacket, trap harness, and gloves are a must. If your life jackets are not comfortable you may not wear them all the time and then they are useless. Good sailing gloves are also a must. I personally wear these http://www.westmarine.com…Num=51074&classNum=51075 and have historically gotten about 20 days of hard sailing use (racing 4+ hrs each day) out of them. Keep them dry between uses. Cheap sunglasses are also a must as you will loose them often. I usually have the guys I work with save their dark tinted safety glasses for me when they get a little scratched up. They keep me in a ready supply of glasses for me and my crew.

Quote

I'm ready
to get in the water.....but 19 degrees this morning. Bummer.

Water temperature is the key. You always need to be prepared to survive in case you get capsized. This is important for Spring sailing, because water temperature always trails behind air temperature.

--
Jack B
Hobie 17
BC, Canada
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Is it really necessary to get a trap harness? I was planning on using the wings and forgoing any trap activities and sailing in light winds initially. Something about a boat on one hull, capsizing, and being wired to an overturning boat gives me pause. I doubt we'll be doing too much early spring sailing but rather mostly in the heat of summer. The words surviving and capsizing in the same sentence ...well, that pretty much tells me I'll be sailing like an "old man" most of the time.

If you are only sailing in the heat of summer you only need a good lifejacket (comfortable), a swim suit and sunglasses. Trap harness is optional, I would wait a season or two until you are comfortable with the boat. Your grandkids and kids will enjoy them.

--
Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
--

db51

Is it really necessary to get a trap harness? I was planning on using the wings and forgoing any trap activities and sailing in light winds initially. Something about a boat on one hull, capsizing, and being wired to an overturning boat gives me pause. I doubt we'll be doing too much early spring sailing but rather mostly in the heat of summer. The words surviving and capsizing in the same sentence ...well, that pretty much tells me I'll be sailing like an "old man" most of the time.

No need to rig trap wires on your Getaway the way you plan to sail, when you get more comfortable and proficient you might want to but maybe not. I don't even have trap wires rigged on my Hobie 18 anymore because I have wings and plenty of weight to hold the boat down without them getting in the way.

On the PFD issue I would highly recommend getting the (relatively expensive) kayak style PFD's, you will be a lot more comfortable and have a greater range of motion. Lot's of newbies make the mistake of grabbing a "ski vest" style "life jacket" off the shelf at wall-mart and then can't stand to wear it in the heat of the summer.

The other gear (besides gloves) that I insist on is shoes, in this case you can use the cheap "water sock" type shoes available lots of places, unless you have size 16 feet like I do then it's a little harder to find them.

Some people sail barefoot all the time but for me there are too many ways to hurt/cut feet on the beach and on the boat.

Don't take the horror stories you hear too much to heart, "bad times make good stories" is a a truism, so you don't hear about the 95% good times.

Get your wife something like these from Solquist and Kokatat.



Kids PFD's
http://www.stohlquist.com…w=article&id=6&Itemid=73

Womens gear
http://kokatat.com/gender/womens.html

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Just an update. Went to St. Louis for my grandson's Baptism Sunday. Saturday was beautiful and 58 degrees. The son-in-law and 8 year old grandson went with me to St. Louis Sail and Paddle to look at the boat and gather some information. Really nice folks there at the place and they were very helpful. Shop manager came out and went through rigging and answered plenty of questions.

I really liked the looks of the boat in person. They had a Hobie 16 set up right next to it. SWEET! lol. The Getway looks like the perfect boat for us, plenty of room and rugged. The hulls looked indestructible, but that 16 was sleek and sexy!

The Grandson seemed pretty much ready to go. He couldn't figure out why we weren't hooking it to the F250 and pulling it home.
Wife seems to be ready for the adventure as well. We took some videos and sales brochures to her....her only question was "How much does it cost?" lol.. What the ???? Can you really put a price on that kind of entertainment and bonding?

Her eyes lit up when I told her she could personally keep the $5K difference between the Hobie set-up and the bass boad I just sold to use at her discretion.

I'm wiring the money on Monday but told them I would be picking it up probably near the end of April or May. I left St. Louis at noon in a blizzard with 12" of wet heavy snow on the ground. Just got home to 8-10" here.

Take care and thank you for all the infomation, encouragement, warnings,, and links.

Dave

This is depressing. Our spring weather SUCKS down here. By now we should normally have at least half our crops planted. Haven't even started. COLD. RAIN every other DAY! Flash Flooding! No end in sight. We'll be luck to get started by late May which isn't good. In fact, I'm so down in the dumps I'm having second thoughts about the Hobie Getaway. Hard to get enthused about sailing when the nightime temps for the next week could be in the 30's.

I shouldn't be whining....but I am a farmer. It could be snowing.

Instead of sailing, my guess I'll be sitting in a tractor planting until late July.



Edited by db51 on Apr 28, 2013 - 01:24 PM.

buy a cheap boat and get out a few times this year anyway...no better time than the present to get started. that will get your mojo working!

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--

You are probably right. I don't think the "family sailing" is going to be happening. The wife and I probably would have time to take it out a few times. My guess is it will be some solo sailing for starters. Have been looking this one over in the classified....distance is the biggest drawback.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…-new-hobie-14-turbo.html



Edited by db51 on Apr 28, 2013 - 01:22 PM.

wow! that's not what i mean by cheap!...

i'm talking about something more like this http://www.thebeachcats.c…s/p12668-prindle-16.html
you can get a real nice used cat for around 2 grand with lots of extras...learn on it this year(without worring about crashing into stuff) and sell it later for what you paid...then get the next generation when you feel more confident. you might need the extra cash for tractor parts!

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--

2nd that WOW! I have a Prindle 15 I am getting ready to put on the Classifieds, going to list it for $2400, have re-done the boat from bow to stern. It is a uni-rig, meaning it has a mainsail only, but I have a jib sail for it along with the Prindle jib block setup, so you can sail it both ways, easy to step the mast single handed. And I'm only 3 hrs away from you, would be willing to bring the P15 out to Carlyle and throw in a couple hrs rigging the boat and show you how to sail it. I also have a P16 with Smythe sails if you want something a little bigger.

PM me if interested

R.

db51

This is depressing. Our spring weather SUCKS down here. By now we should normally have at least half our crops planted. Haven't even started. COLD. RAIN every other DAY! Flash Flooding! No end in sight. We'll be luck to get started by late May which isn't good. In fact, I'm so down in the dumps I'm having second thoughts about the Hobie Getaway. Hard to get enthused about sailing when the nightime temps for the next week could be in the 30's.

I shouldn't be whining....but I am a farmer. It could be snowing.

Instead of sailing, my guess I'll be sitting in a tractor planting until late July.Edited by db51 on Apr 28, 2013 - 01:24 PM.

I live in manitoba canada and bought a boat over the winter and am going to be lucky to sail by end of may. However you should not so simply give up on something you were so excited about! Make the effort for you and your wife to go out and pretty soon you'll have her asking you to go out there. Worked with my gf and she loved our old cat and i'm sure she'lll love this one too, just have to put in the time. You seemed like you would be a great sailer i hope we didn't lose you.
Brady K.

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Nacra 5.7
Falcon Lake Manitoba
Canada
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Thanks for the encouiragement. It is 80 degrees here today....but heavy rain forcast for the next two weeks...so farming is OUT! Sailing is IN! lmao. I got your e-mail renovator.......I'm thinking I might take you up on the offer. I looked at the pictures of your renovation....I'll get back with you soon.

Dave

My Plan B involves buying a new boat when I go to Gulf Shores for 10 days in July....sailing it down there and hauling it home....but then I'd just have a bunch of bugs to clean off the hulls when I got back.

The thing you have to remember in gulf shores is the surf you have to contend with if launching on the beach. It probably would be a good idea to head over and check out key sailing in Pensacola for a day though.. one of the biggest cat dealers around.

if your buying a boat this summer then you just need to find someone to sail with in the mean time...get some time on the boat and then think about the boat you want.

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--