I'm an old member who has been absent for quite a few years after selling my Nacra 5.2. I recently purchased a beater Hobie 14 for my 13yo son to learn to sail but I have a few questions:
I'm having to build a trailer from scratch. I need to build bunks for the hull to sit on. What is the easiest way to build these? I've thought about something as simple as cutting a 5-gallon bucket in half, all the way to forming my own out of fiberglass using a 1-gallon paint can as a mold. Are there any other ideas out there to set up bunks? Will just installing two rollers on each side be enough to properly support the hulls?
I'd like to install a single trapeze for my son to use. Will the beams on the H14 support that? It does not have the V supports under the front beam.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
-Rob V.
I'm an old member who has been absent for quite a few years after selling my Nacra 5.2. I recently purchased a beater Hobie 14 for my 13yo son to learn to sail but I have a few questions:-Rob V.
Welcome back Rob! Member since 2004! I'm sure there will be some creative ideas for this. The Hobie 14 is light enough that you could just put some carpet on some 2x6's, maybe get fancy and make an outside edge with a 2x4 and slide the boat on.
You probably know that the H14 Turbo had a dolphin striker added but probably a 13 year old solo wouldn't be too much strain for a H14 (i think). Wait for the experts to chime in.
I agree with above. No need for fancy bunks on a H14 trailer. Single rollers at each hull contact point is all that’s needed.
If your son is under 100lbs, you can probably get away without having a dolphin striker. Sailing in strong wind or with significantly more weight, I would look into adding one. You may be able to find an aftermarket retrofit kit on ebay, but they were discontinued by Hobie years ago.
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Yes...the keel area on the H14 is solid fiberglass (no foam core) and quite beefy. Those outboard, angled rollers/bunks are beneficial, too, but not absolutely necessary if care is taken during loading/unloading and tying the boat down.Will just installing two rollers on each side be enough to properly support the hulls?
I would not. If there's enough wind to trap out and any weakness in the old main beam and/or siderails, the boat could fold. By the time he learns to sail (if he's still into it), he'll be ready for you to crew with him on a beater H16!I'd like to install a single trapeze for my son to use. Will the beams on the H14 support that?
Thanks for the input everyone! I was way overthinking the bunks/cradles. I appreciate you confirming the beefiness of the hulls. I also think I'd still like to get a dolphin striker installed and set up a single trap. I would not trap out except while single-handing. I weigh 165lbs and losing weight while my son weighs right around 100lbs and growing like a weed. I see that there are several dolphin striker posts for sale on Ebay but I don't see any rods. Does anyone have a diagram or photo showing how to set this up? I am somewhat handy at DIY and wondering if it's something I could fabricate myself if I get the proper dimensions. Sorry if it's already been posted somewhere.
I also think I'd still like to get a dolphin striker installed and set up a single trap.
@redtwin It might be easier to find a parted out H14 Turbo and get the whole front beam that would include the striker. Check with any dealers withing striking distance.
You can also place a free wanted to buy ad in the classifieds. When people start going through their old junk they could have what you need.
https://thebeachcats.com/classifieds/placing-your-classified-ad/
Rob: I sent you a PM regarding a potential dolphin striker source. And here's some more (unsolicited) advice...
Since we're talking about a "beater," closely inspect the shroud to side rail connections to make sure they are up to the task. Also, the ever present recommendation to replace standing rigging of unknown age applies.
Your son will need to grown a little before being able to right the boat without an aid, and, for whatever reason, the H14 tends to go full turtle during a capsize moreso that other cats. Check the mast for leaks and consider adding a bob. (A couple of sealed gallon jugs tied to the main halyard shackle will do for the meantime...might look funny but will work). Our local reservoir is relatively shallow with a mucky bottom...having the masthead stuck down there es no bueno.
@rattlenhum Thanks for the lead on a dolphin striker! The stays were all replaced about 5 years ago and look to be in excellent condition as do the side rail connections. I'm in the process of making some repairs to dings (one is a small hole that goes all the way through). My biggest concern right now is whether the hulls will take on water and if the mast has any leaks. I'll do a reverse vacuum test on the hulls with some soapy water and I will dunk the mast into the pool to look for bubbles. Hobie Bobs appear to be discontinued as well but I think they will be easier to find than a striker.
I fabricated a DIY dolphin striker rod for my H14 using parts sourced from McMaster Carr. This was to improve on the aftermarket dolphin striker setup which uses a riveted post and cable. The post is decent, but the cable is next to useless.
The setup essentially consisted of using a 5/16” diameter stainless rod, which I cut and threaded 5/16”-18 about 1-inch long on each end. The rod was bent in the middle to aim up at the corner castings and fit just inside them. Then two short pieces of 5/16-18 stainless all-thread passed through the holes in the corner castings and angled down to align with the main striker rod. I used coupling nuts to connect the all thread pieces to the main rod. Then hex nuts on the outside of the all thread pieces to tighten it up. The advantage of this setup is no need to disassemble the boat to install and significantly stiffer than the wire setup.
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I will dunk the mast into the pool to look for bubbles.
I don't know what others think about this but it's not a good idea. Seems basic, and it will find leaks, however now what? Every bubble you see represents water that is now inside the mast. How do you get it out? It will soak in and around the foam plugs.
I did the pool dunk on my first Hobie 18 mast, found lots of leaks and it suddenly weighed a ton. Had to pull the base and chop out the plug and let it dry. "Your mileage may very."
@damon-linkous Thank you for that warning! I will not dunk it and just hope for the best if it turtles. I'm definitely going to rig some sort of masthead float. We won't be racing it so the windage shouldn't be an issue.
Regarding the mast on our H14T, the boat was bought from a friend and already mast up at our club. When there were issues, we dropped the mast, and it was heavy. Turned out to already be full of water...and mud!
At some point, I'd go ahead and do the leak test. If needed, the masthead and base aren't that hard to remove/replace. There should be foam plugs just below the head and about a foot up from the base. (Ours had become significantly misplaced.) To remove them, I used a "corkscrew" fashioned from a broom handle and coat hanger. Clean 'er up, dry 'er out, seal the leaks and plugs, and replace head and base. Over the long run, that's better to me than getting the mast full of water during a capsize, and it'll be in good shape when your son is ready to remove that silly mast float. 😀
Nice job on the striker!
@rattlenhum Thanks for the lead on a dolphin striker! The stays were all replaced about 5 years ago and look to be in excellent condition as do the side rail connections. I'm in the process of making some repairs to dings (one is a small hole that goes all the way through). My biggest concern right now is whether the hulls will take on water and if the mast has any leaks. I'll do a reverse vacuum test on the hulls with some soapy water and I will dunk the mast into the pool to look for bubbles. Hobie Bobs appear to be discontinued as well but I think they will be easier to find than a striker.
I would not bother with a Bob. The boat is easy to right without it. Do install a Dolphin striker. At some point, you may find it a blast to add a furling Jib It makes a big difference tacking and the extra power is fun.....I used to own a H14 Turbo. I loved that boat and we took it everywhere as it was easy for my wife and me to rig and de rig. If the mast feels heavy, I'd remove the base, drain and reseal. Also a good dea to add a step hinge if you are gong to be trailering a lot.
Not if the masthead is stuck in the mud on the bottom of the lake and/or one only weighs 100 lbs. like redtwin's son. Big difference between experienced double-handers and a solo youngster that's just learning to the ropes.I would not bother with a Bob. The boat is easy to right without it.
The purpose of the bob is to prevent a full turtle during capsize, not aid righting. (In fact it increases the righting moment.) Capsizing, going full turtle, and not being able to do anything about it is just the kind of thing that can put a newb off the sport for good.
The purpose of the bob is to prevent a full turtle during capsize, not aid righting. (In fact it increases the righting moment.)
Not to nitpick, but the (weight of the) bob increases the falling over moment.
Yes...I guess my wording was poor...thanks for pointing that out. I was trying to indicate that it actually increases the force required to right the boat. My "righting" moment = your "falling over" moment, but I bow to the superior writing/vocab skills demonstrated in all you posts! 😀Not to nitpick, but the (weight of the) bob increases the falling over moment.
I was attempting to clarify that the bob's purpose is not to make righting easier for a normal capsize (as it seems was implied above) but to prevent going turtle. (The H14 may not seen like a relatively stable boat, but it's pretty darn stable when it's upside-down.)
If get it, of course - that's why I said I was nitpicking. Perhaps better wording could be "... increases the required righting moment."
As long as we're messing with the language, though, I want to toss this in: I grew up with the term "turtle", but over the last few years have pretty much abandoned it in favour of the word used in Eastern Europe (at least), offered by a Polish friend: Mushroom. True, it would seem more descriptive of an inverted unimaran than a cat, but then again, so does "turtle".
The H14 may not seen like a relatively stable boat, but it's pretty darn stable when it's upside-down.
Heh. You know, I did a few of these, and I don't think I ever posted them to the forum.
I used an online "demotivational poster" generator that's just tons of fun.
The mast bob increases the “heeling moment”. That would be the tendency of the boat to heel over and capsize.
The weight of the crew influences the “righting moment”. That would be the ability to counteract the heeling moment and keep the boat upright.
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The mast bob increases the “heeling moment”. That would be the tendency of the boat to heel over and capsize.
Yeah, that's what I said. The tipping-over moment.
jl
aka Captain Thesaurus
I do love a pedantic terminology standoff! Maybe this will clear things up.
Being overly concerned with minor details (even though I can't express my concerns/opinions in writing very well), I had to Google 'pedantic'. One more arrow in my Jeopardy quiver.
I do love a pedantic terminology standoff! Maybe this will clear things up.
Dude, please... a trigger warning that this video may take the viewer back to their first year statics class.
Besides, do you know how much porn you can watch in 25 minutes? 25 minutes worth!
(And (another) besides, it's really weird. What are those things without two hulls? And how come no TF, which doesn't heel and does 2X wind speed?)
Dude, please... a trigger warning that this video may take the viewer back to their first year statics class.
😆
This has turned into a very enlightening conversation! I love the term "mushroom" vs. "turtle". FWIW, I was able to find an H14 dolphin striker kit from my local dealer at Sunjammers.com. He just happened to have one cluttering up his truck so I'm jumping on it. Now I'm having to dig out my old Hobie harness from storage. It's be a little loose on my son but he'll grow into it. Hopefully he can tolerate the wedgies until it fits better.
@rattlenhum Yes, It's Brad. He's been super helpful since I have very little experience with Hobies.
They have all but ruined Carl Grey Park for catamaran sailing, though you can still get to the waters edge with your trailer if you are willing and able to hop a curb or a parking space block during the week when it's not crowded. This past Saturday, it was too crazy on the boat ramp side so I pulled over to the Carl Grey Park side and hopped the curb to unload my boat and then pulled out to park my truck for the day. It worked well to avoid the crowds but not sure how the police or campus security would feel about me jumping the curbs. They were all over with the Easter crowds and didn't say anything so I think as long as it doesn't pop up on anyone's radar I should be able to do that for the time being.
The nuts that hold the rudder to the castings are plastic and old/cracking. Is it OK if I replace with regular galvanized nuts as long as I don't crank them down hard?
Galvanized? Hell, no. You can't even buy galvanized hardware below (I think it's) 1/4" because the process consumes too much of the base metal. Good for building decks, bad for boats.
Stainless all the way.
Yup, standard stainless nylocks...5/16-18, I think and just barely snug. I assume those old plastic nuts were to make sure they could not be overtightened and damage the castings. If the slop between the blade and casting is more than your personal tolerance level, they sell (nylon?) shims or you can DIY them from a plastic jug or whatever.