looks like the family is headed to emerald isle this summer we have stayed here with boats before but always on the sound side. this year we have an ocean front house. im digging through all info I can get and seems im ok to leave the boat on the beach overnight but my question Is has anyone launched ocean side and how did you do it?

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Andrew
Hobie 16 "spirit of '76"
Lexington, KY
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I'm sure we have folks here from that area, please chime in.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Your biggest obstacle launching ocean side is the waves, if you have surf/surfing experience, a bonus, no experience? you will learn quick. Wind has to be in the right direction for you to launch through waves, best to launch directly into waves. Try find a gap between sandbanks where the water moves out to back-line, this will help a lot, more depth and current will be pushing out. If there are 2 of you, your crew will assume the bow position as you walk cat out through waves untill you have enough depth for captain to climb aboard to drop rudders, cat will surge up and down with waves so crew will have a difficult time on bow, do not lock rudders down, you could break a rudder, do not let waves move cat backwards, you could break a rudder. Sheet in and get cat moving forward as crew scrambles aboard, keep weight forward, you must be powered up and moving forward to break through waves, worst area will be out where waves are curling to break, just stay powered up, weight forward, and bust through the lip of the wave. Practice when surf is small to get the experience for those days when the surf gets bigger, if surf is too big, launch on sound side if possible.

R

Good advice!!!!

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Marty
1984 Hobie 16 Redline Yellow Nationals, "Yellow Fever"
Opelika, Al / Lake Martin
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thanks guys, i do have some experience kayaking in the surf so getting out im not too worried about as long as wind is right to keep momentum! i am more apprehensive about bringing the boat back through the surf and wondering the logistics of getting the cat on the beach to begin with

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Andrew
Hobie 16 "spirit of '76"
Lexington, KY
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thanks guys, i do have some experience kayaking in the surf so getting out im not too worried about as long as wind is right to keep momentum! i am more apprehensive about bringing the boat back through the surf and wondering the logistics of getting the cat on the beach to begin with

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Andrew
Hobie 16 "spirit of '76"
Lexington, KY
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How big is the surf there? Just time it right and surf in under power. I would watch some videos on you tube in order to get an idea of what you will be dealing with when it comes to the surf launch and return. Getting the boat up onto the beach shouldn't be all that difficult, but it depends on the beach itself. Is the beach there flat or is it sloped? I recommend a nice set of beach wheels to make it easier on you and be sure to pull the boat far up and away from water when leaving it on the beach overnight. You may even want to anchor or tie the boat also when left overnight.

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Marty
1984 Hobie 16 Redline Yellow Nationals, "Yellow Fever"
Opelika, Al / Lake Martin
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what type of beach cat, boardless or boards? I f you have boards, pull them up, then just time it right, come in on the back of a wave (behind wave), if you have boardless cat, better still, kick up rudders working good? just sail it up onto beach, boardless cats are a little more sensitive, so stop when u hit shallow water, 1 man hold boat, other man retrieves beachwheels, load boat out in water and then roll both in and up the beach.

the surf can be several feet. nothing drastic but not calm and flat like many of the videos ive seen posted. i just dont want to come down a wave the wrong way and pitchpole in the surf zone!

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Andrew
Hobie 16 "spirit of '76"
Lexington, KY
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I agree, pitch-pole in impact zone can/will snap a mast like a toothpick. out at the back-line, pick your wave and commit, sail in on back of wave at same speed of wave, if boat is moving too fast drag a leg in water to slow boat down, crew can help with this, this will help maintain your position behind wave, once you hit the shallows blow main sheet and jib sheet, face boat into wind, if wind is a major factor, drop main, furl jib, point boat into waves. retrieve beach wheels. your major concern when u hit the shallows is do u point boat into wind or into waves, force of wind over force of waves helps with this decision, if wind is stronger, point into wind, if waves are stronger, point into waves after dropping main. this is where your you make sure your mainsail halyard is working really well and mainsail does not pinch in sail track, u want main to drop as quick as possible so practice before you hit the water, hopefully jib is a furling jib, sure makes life a whole lot easier. as per all sports, practice practice practice, things can get a little hectic at the beach, wind, waves, swimmers, excited kids running over to see, trying to keep your eye on all of this, helps if u and crew are on same page, so go out when waves are small and wind is light and practice, after a while it becomes easier

hope this helps
R

the trip was great! but the sailing not so great! lost 2 days to rain and high winds.. I mean I like wind but 40kts in the chop ill pass on.
for future reference emerald isle is cat friendly! you can leave your boat on the beach strand given you have property owners permission. access is always an issue but I used a gated vehicle access at the end of black skimmer rd. the gate is just the right height to slide an unrigged hobie 16 under (I keep 2 pieces of old carpet just in case!) any thing wider would be pushing it with the shape of the gate.

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Andrew
Hobie 16 "spirit of '76"
Lexington, KY
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Andrew, I know it's been a while, but do you recall if you were launching your cat during the time of year after vehicles are no longer allowed on the beach (end of April?) If so, do they allow your vehicle at the Black Skimmer Rd access point for the sole purpose of launching your cat? Thanks.



Edited by zehutiman on May 18, 2020 - 09:14 AM.

It’s been awhile since this thread but I always go same time every year first 2 weeks of June. (leaving in 12 days)
The last few years police have opened the gate and allowed me to back down to drop the boat and retrieve. They were great. Did have some issues with storage of the boat on the beach. With all the erosion the dune in front of the place we stay is now, or was, a 5-6 foot bluff making it difficult to have the boat off the “public trust”. Beach and onto private property. Police chief seemed to be very concerned over this rule.

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Andrew
Hobie 16 "spirit of '76"
Lexington, KY
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I've been contemplating buying a Hobie because I love to sail and I now have a place on EI. But, I've asked myself how I would launch it. I wish there was a "simpler" way. Being new there, I'm still seeking answers.

zehutiman

I've got a Hobie 16 I'll be posting on-line for sale soon
1982 Hulls with a 1985 Sail ready to sail and a trailer road ready with new LED Lights

I'm in Raleigh and could deliver to EI

It's a bit of a hike from EI but the best launch location on the Crystal Coast is at 11th Street Morehead City