We have a Hobie Cat and leave it buoyed on a lake. Is there a way to keep the sail on the boom, rolled up and secured on the tramp with the boom STILL ATTACHED to the mast? Or is it best to remove the boom when securing the sail? Thank you!

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VeryStormyWind
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verystormywind

We have a Hobie Cat and leave it buoyed on a lake. Is there a way to keep the sail on the boom, rolled up and secured on the tramp with the boom STILL ATTACHED to the mast? Or is it best to remove the boom when securing the sail? Thank you!

verystormywind ,

Welcome to TheBeachcats.com!

You didn't mention which Hobie? I'm guessing Hobie 14 or 16 since they have the foot of the main inserted into the length of the boom.

What you are asking is possible, but leaving your sails out in the weather 24/7 is going to be very bad for them. Also, it's very rough and destructive to the hulls to leave them constantly in the water. These boats were not designed to be "moored", you will end up with gelcoat blisters caused by osmosis. The only way to slow this down would be to paint the hulls with "bottom paint" like big boats used, nasty.

Could you build yourself something like this instead of using a mooring?


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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Hi Damon,

Thank you for your response. Our Hobie is 16' and is moored on a public lake. We put our sail in a bag so it is covered. We have been looking in to building a raft to lift our boat on as it is attached to a public buoy.

My biggest question is, should the boom be detached or is it safe to try to secure it AND leave it attached to the mast? We are wondering if the place that the boom attaches to the mast would be too weak and could not be secured well enough for it to be down on the tramp and still be attached to the mast.

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VeryStormyWind
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We are wondering if the place that the boom attaches to the mast would be too weak and could not be secured well enough for it to be down on the tramp and still be attached to the mast.

The gooseneck (the place that the boom attaches to the mast ) on a catamaran is very strong. you could stand on it all day long without problem.

As Damon said, if you leave this cat on the water, bad things will happen. it is a bad idea.

The sails should not be kept on the boat (esp while on the water), you are asking for real problems (i.e. UV damage, tears from wind storms, bugs and bug damage, and accelerated aging of your sails)

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(i.e. UV damage, tears from wind storms, bugs and bug damage, and accelerated aging of your sails)

Theft, delinquents.
verystormywind, i am not sure where you live, but in Mobile if i left my boat out for a night i would not have to worry about it again. Cause is would be gone.

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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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Wow! We live in Minneapolis. It is how all boats are left up on their moors. We have 3 lakes in the middle of our city that have sail boat moors. All boats are left up with their sails rolled up and secured. Theft has not ever been a problem that we have heard.

Our sails are always wrapped up and in a bag. Then we have a tarp over all to keep the rain and birds off. Wouldn't that be sufficient against the elements?

I tried to upload a photo of our boat with all the boats behind, sails down, wrapped and secured on the boats - but I can't seem to figure out how. Maybe all boats are left up with everything on it because our summers are short - we have them on the lake for about 3 months a year.

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So - just to be sure - if we leave the boom on the mast when leaving our boat either moored or, eventually, on a floating dock, that in itself is ok?

I will pass along all this information. Even though our question hasn't been the focus of these discussions! I appreciate all your concerns.



Edited by verystormywind on Jun 18, 2013 - 07:11 AM.

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VeryStormyWind
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if you are determined to leave the sail on the boat, i suggest rolling and covering main with jib rolled and also in the sail bag. then with the main sheet still attached to the boom, bring the main halyard to the rear of the boom and secure, tension the boom with halyard/sheet and that will keep the boom from swinging around. if you can't hook halyard to the boom because of the sail bag, modify it with a hole to hook up. this is similar to storing a h-18 on the beach.

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Mike Conway
H16
Hilton, NY
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When I had my 14T at my brother's place in Kitty Hawk for a week, I left it moored. He advised me to tension the shrouds so the mast did not gyrate around. A spare line or the jib sheets served quite well.
My brother keeps his Prindle on the hook year round. A yearly application of hard bottom paint wards off the blisters as well as the flora and fauna.
Yes, a cat is better off stored under cover, but it was sweet to just go down to the boat, hoist away and go.
GH



Edited by gahamby on Jun 18, 2013 - 07:36 AM.

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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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most of the people on this forum have relativity "older" catamarans
these boats are built like tanks, and hold up to being sailed hard, and put up wet. In the unfortunate event of catastrophic damage ... your typically only out a few grand.

People with newer (and usually expensive) catamaran are much more concerned with scratches & dings, UV damage, vandalism or theft and don't leave their boats on the beach overnight (never on anchor) and only would do so in protected or well trusted areas and usually only for races. The replacement cost of a new race boat is above 20k

verystormywind

We have a Hobie Cat and leave it buoyed on a lake. Is there a way to keep the sail on the boom, rolled up and secured on the tramp with the boom STILL ATTACHED to the mast? Or is it best to remove the boom when securing the sail? Thank you!

verystormywind

Wow! We live in Minneapolis. It is how all boats are left up on their moors....

I will pass along all this information. Even though our question hasn't been the focus of these discussions! I appreciate all your concerns.

Sorry, we did kind of skip over your actual question. We get a lot of new beachcat sailors here and try to keep them from making the mistakes we have all made. It may be that with your short season and clean cold water that a Hobie 16 won't get the same damage I've seen, but just because you see a whole bunch of traditional sailboats on mooring doesn't automatically make it a good idea for a Hobie 16.

The fact you were asking here about securing the Hobie 16 boom made me leap to the conclusion that maybe there wasn't a fleet of moored Hobie 16's on your lake.

To answer your original question, the boom gooseneck is probably plenty strong enough for what you are describing.

When Hobie 16's are packed up for trailering it's common to roll both the main and jib around the boom, then put the whole thing in a sail tube. So if you had a good breathable bag you could do the same thing, then lash the bag to the tramp. No need to attach back to the mast until you are ready to sail.

By the way, now that I think about it, how do you raise the sails? is the water you are mooring in shallow enough to stand beside the boat?

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Thank you again for all the replies. You all are wonderful. I passed all on to my husband. He does a very good securing the mast so it doesn't move at all.

His biggest concern is

Quote

How to secure the sail boom to the mast

. Does anyone have a suggestion?

From the responses so far it sounds like this isn't a worry as the gooseneck is very strong. Am I right?

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VeryStormyWind
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Quote

His biggest concern is Quote
How to secure the sail boom to the mast
. Does anyone have a suggestion?

As mentioned above... you can simply roll the mainsail up on the boom. Then you can lash it down with some line.

just keep in mind that leaving the sails on the boat is not a good way to store them.

they may be constantly wet, and mildew can destroy sails. Also any rust present will work it's way through every layer of wrapped sails staining and weakening the cloth.

Thank you all so much for your help. My husband has a hard time believing that the little gooseneck is strong enough to be able to stay attached to the mast when secured to the boat.

But I am glad I found this site. You all are so wonderful! Thank you!!!!

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VeryStormyWind
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you can do this on a beach catamaran
my 200lbs+ friend does it all the time

More likely the boom will break than a goose neck

Hah! Thank you MN3! Great visual with your information!!

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VeryStormyWind
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Wonder how fast he could move if someone hollered JIBE HO!!!

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Lee - On the BIG Lake in MS

Harstil Kaulua 31 - Current Project Boat
Cal 25 - What ? Time to freshen it up again??
MC Scow 16 (1 in the water and 1 parts/project) SOLD
Capri 22 - What do you mean you wont deliver it??
Chrysler Pirateer 13 - new addition to the fleet
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AS far as an answer to the question - Add a topping lift. A small line that will go from the main halyard to the end of the boom to hold it up off the rear cross beam. If you leave the main sheet on and give it a bit of tension when you have the height set where you want it, it will stay centered

OK Thats not a REAL topping lift - but it will work with out having a line that does nothing in the way while sailing

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Lee - On the BIG Lake in MS

Harstil Kaulua 31 - Current Project Boat
Cal 25 - What ? Time to freshen it up again??
MC Scow 16 (1 in the water and 1 parts/project) SOLD
Capri 22 - What do you mean you wont deliver it??
Chrysler Pirateer 13 - new addition to the fleet
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haha!

captedteach

Wonder how fast he could move if someone hollered JIBE HO!!!