How long does it take to set up a cat?

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Andinista

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 18, 2003

Last visit: Dec 13, 2023

Posts: 880
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 - 10:21 AM

jloobyI should probably add about trailering with rudders attached.

When I was younger I chased technology for the fastest boat (Bimare F18HT in my recent past) but I now pursue robust ease of use. With this, that Hobie rudder system designed ~50+ years ago while heavy, is a thing of beauty. Midseason trailering, I tie the crossbeam down with line led down through and underneath tramp to forward beam. This locks the crossbar down and forward and I did this for my previous H16, H18 & H18SX without a single problem the past ~40 years. Can this fail... absolutely but I have 3 sets of rudders (and even a fully complete backup H17) so I can take the risk.

James H17+/F25C+

A fail situation to have in mind is branches from bushes, not on the road but when leaving the place or arriving home. I've seen tiller crossbars broken like that.
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 - 11:09 AM

Quoteit is just about saving time in rolling, unrolling and untangling the wires,

I don't disconnect any wires. I just wrap them into a circle and tie it off to a line that is on my deck already (jib car adjuster line)

there is nothing to untangle .... untie the small knot that holds the loop of wires, slide the mast into stepping position and the wires have fallen inline and are ready for stepping

Edited by MN3 on Apr 09, 2020 - 11:16 AM.
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 - 11:24 AM

jalexIf I am trailering with rudders, which is a no no, I can do my Hobie 16 and my Gcat 5.7 both in under 30. Mast up, sails up and go. I have spent 6 hours rigging\assembling a Supercat 20 and I wish to never do it again. I have mast up storage for my 16 and if I have the roller furling setup I am probably out of the car and on the water in 10, it is awesome

showoff! :)
cholley12

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Registered: Feb 28, 2018

Last visit: Feb 13, 2023

Posts: 145
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 - 07:13 PM

I take about 30 minutes solo

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Captain Chris Holley
Fulshear, TX
'87 Prindle 19 "¡Hijole!"
'74 sunfish "1fish"
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shortyfox

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 07, 2017

Last visit: Nov 21, 2024

Posts: 367
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 - 08:26 PM

Thirty minutes? Forty five minutes? There are more techniques to doing this than there are kinds of beach cats. Once you've got your method down you stick with it and make gradual improvements as you learn. One writer stated he gotten to the point where the ease of rigging was getting more important than speed. I understand that because I'm seventy years old and have been sailing beach cats for more than forty years. When rigging a boat I have made a similar dumb mistake twice and those mistakes came partially as a result of getting distracted from the task at hand. I'm sure all of you at one time while rigging your boat have someone come up and start bending your ear with a lot of questions and like me are glad to talk about your boat. Well I forgot to put the line through the mast step/ball on a G-cat 5.7 and when I walked the mast down, it slipped (the boat was on the trailer backwards) and the mast fell on the roof of my new truck putting a nice dent in it. Another time with a Nacra 500 I got distracted and forgot to tie the boat to the trailer and when I walked the mast down the boat (once again on the trailer backwards) shifted on the trailer and I dropped the mast and once again damaged the roof of another new truck. I'm considering a check list.

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Bill Townsend
G-Cat 5.0
Sarasota
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cholley12

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 28, 2018

Last visit: Feb 13, 2023

Posts: 145
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 - 10:28 PM

https://youtu.be/lz3hbRmy-7w

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Captain Chris Holley
Fulshear, TX
'87 Prindle 19 "¡Hijole!"
'74 sunfish "1fish"
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martyr

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 01, 2016

Last visit: Aug 30, 2023

Posts: 631
Posted: Apr 10, 2020 - 08:20 AM

20 or 30 minutes depending on what beverages are being consumed, lol.

I leave everything attached to the mast, shrouds, forestay..etc. it is all coiled up together, no kinks, no tangles. Attache the side stays and raise the mast, I have someone pin the forestay, done. I trailer with rudders in place so, not having to deal with that. I have dragged the boat 4 hours away or 5 minutes away, never had a problem with rudders. Longest part of the whole deal is raising the main which has a tendency to stick a little but that's all.

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Marty
1984 Hobie 16 Redline Yellow Nationals, "Yellow Fever"
Opelika, Al / Lake Martin
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mattson

Rank: Online Pioneer

Registered: Apr 23, 2002

Last visit: Feb 18, 2022

Posts: 211
Posted: Apr 10, 2020 - 10:52 PM

I've got the P19 in mast up storage across the street from the ramp. And lately, during the season, I've been leaving the boom on the boat, using the halyard as a topping lift. So that saves a little time. I think I'm around 30 minutes with that setup. Including suiting up with the drysuit and gear, launching at the ramp, and parking the truck, then going back to hoist the main... I think I'm around 45 minutes to an hour.

Here's the thing though... I used to rush through things to "get it over with". But, somehow, I forced myself to enjoy rigging and de-rigging the boat, and take my time. Before the lockdown, I would sometimes try and get a sail in after work in the summer evenings. I would spend an hour getting on the water, sail for 90 minutes to two hours, and spend another hour putting the boat to bed. So a good half my time sailing is rigging and de-rigging. If I considered that a chore, it would make it practically not worth it. I don't have any specific advice on how to make rigging your boat enjoyable. I just managed to do it and make it part of the sailing experience.

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Bill Mattson
Prindle 19 "Gelli Bean"
Prindle 19 "Cat's Pajamas"
Nacra 5.2 (Will sail her a bit and let her name herself)
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ctcataman

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 25, 2015

Last visit: Jul 17, 2024

Posts: 661
Posted: Apr 11, 2020 - 05:57 AM

Quotemake rigging your boat enjoyable

Great approach. Rushing means mistakes happen.

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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texastuma

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Registered: Nov 22, 2012

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Posts: 410
Posted: Apr 22, 2020 - 03:23 PM

Depends on the boat and the distance traveled. 15 minutes to 1.5 hours. If I am sailing local, I leave everything attached and even leave rudders on. I only have to travel 1/2 mile to the ramp. For anything over an hour drive, I pull the rigging and rudders off. I use a 4' ladder to place the mast tip on behind the boat. If it is windy, I will hook a trapeze to an eye on either side of the front beam. This will keep the mast from going side to side. I can still dead lift the mast, so I don't crank it up. I have a line through a block at the base of the mast support with a clip on the forestay and led to a cleat on the front beam. I will lift the mast and as I hold it with one hand (and a shoulder), I pull the slack out of the line to hold the mast forward. Once cleated, I can then relax and attach the forestay to the bow foil. I use dyneema line to adjust the shroud tension. On my Prindle 19, I replaced the shroud tangs with turnbuckles so I can easily tension the rig solo. I will say, if you use turnbuckles; make sure you tighten the lock nuts every time or have some other way to lock the turnbuckle. One regatta, we were sailing upwind and my crew asks about the leeward shroud flopping behind the boat. He was able to grab the shroud, rethread it on the turnbuckle and then get back on the wire. Lesson learned.

For the Tornado, I break it apart. I can have it from trailer to sailing in 1.5 hours rigging it my self.

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Scott

Prindle Fleet 2
TCDYC

Prindle 18-2 Mod "FrankenKitty"
Tornado Classic "Fast Furniture"
Prindle 19 "Mr. Wiggly"
Nacra 5.8 "De ja vu"
Nacra 5.0
Nacra 5.8
Tornadoes (Reg White)
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wlrottge

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 24, 2006

Last visit: Jun 21, 2023

Posts: 160
Posted: Apr 22, 2020 - 06:15 PM

QuoteFor the Tornado, I break it apart. I can have it from trailer to sailing in 1.5 hours rigging it my self.

guessing that since it isn't a sport, that saves a lot of time.... b/c I always estimated that it was an extra hour for setup just because of being broken down.
rattlenhum

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Registered: Aug 01, 2002

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Posts: 425
Posted: Apr 23, 2020 - 09:42 AM

ctcatamanWondering how long it takes to go from trailer to sailing for you guys?

Two beers if I'm solo.
One and a half beer if my daughter is helping.
Three beers if anyone else is "helping".

*Subtract one beer if at my club with mast-up storage.
**Add one beer for very high wind...extra time need to 1) keep moving bows back and forth to stay pointed into shifty wind, 2) double-check all the stuff that'll screw you if it fails/fouls once on the water, and 3) build courage.

(Time means nothing unless I'm racing....I leave the watch at home and bring plenty of beer.)

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
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texastuma

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 22, 2012

Last visit: Nov 20, 2024

Posts: 410
Posted: Apr 23, 2020 - 03:14 PM

wlrottge
QuoteFor the Tornado, I break it apart. I can have it from trailer to sailing in 1.5 hours rigging it my self.

guessing that since it isn't a sport, that saves a lot of time.... b/c I always estimated that it was an extra hour for setup just because of being broken down.

It's a classic T. Luckily I can store it indoors, otherwise I would have it on a tilt trailer with a full boat cover.

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Scott

Prindle Fleet 2
TCDYC

Prindle 18-2 Mod "FrankenKitty"
Tornado Classic "Fast Furniture"
Prindle 19 "Mr. Wiggly"
Nacra 5.8 "De ja vu"
Nacra 5.0
Nacra 5.8
Tornadoes (Reg White)
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raisehull

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 11, 2014

Last visit: Mar 18, 2024

Posts: 80
Posted: Apr 24, 2020 - 06:31 PM

83 H18. it was 45min from parking to floating loaded ready to go. new/used wings will add a new learning curve.
45 min to tear down and trailer up.

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1978 H18
1983 H18 (some of it)
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charlescarlis

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Registered: Jun 30, 2018

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Posts: 593
Posted: Apr 25, 2020 - 09:04 PM

Today did some active water social distancing. 70 minutes parking lot to water, fussing with jib for 20 of that. 45 minutes to break down, but sloppy. Lightning and in a hurry. GREAT sail, but really, really busy on the water. Scared the kids with the speed today-they loved it. Awesome. Everyone was all proper and protective at ramp. I think my most appropriate time will be around 45. I'm good with that.

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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ctcataman

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Registered: Nov 25, 2015

Last visit: Jul 17, 2024

Posts: 661
Posted: Apr 27, 2020 - 05:58 AM

Quote I think my most appropriate time will be around 45

45 seems like a good target.

How do you raise the mast on your 21?

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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cholley12

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 28, 2018

Last visit: Feb 13, 2023

Posts: 145
Posted: Apr 28, 2020 - 02:01 AM

charlescarlisToday did some active water social distancing. 70 minutes parking lot to water, fussing with jib for 20 of that. 45 minutes to break down, but sloppy. Lightning and in a hurry. GREAT sail, but really, really busy on the water. Scared the kids with the speed today-they loved it. Awesome. Everyone was all proper and protective at ramp. I think my most appropriate time will be around 45. I'm good with that.

I saw your pictures, you planning on making it out for wednesday night races? Ill be out with me as well at texastuma and possibly a nacra 5.8. where did you launch from?

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Captain Chris Holley
Fulshear, TX
'87 Prindle 19 "¡Hijole!"
'74 sunfish "1fish"
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charlescarlis

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Posts: 593
Posted: Apr 28, 2020 - 09:43 AM

I want to make it out Wednesdays...got several friends out there often enough. This Wednesday, however I have a 50th "drive-by-birthday party" to do for a close friend.

This time I launched at Clear Lake Shores at the invitation of a co-worker who sails also.

I use a gin pole permanently attached to my trailer, which makes set-up a breeze and I CAN do it by myself, however 2 people are more comfortable. The trick was making it so that all hinge points are in-line so no loosening/tightening of lines is needed and is largely a one person affair. I also use a winch with an auto-brake ($75) - which makes it a LOT safer/more comfortable. If I slip or need to stop and adjust something, it is rated to hold the load in-place. I don't trust that it will, but it does.

Here's a pic at the dock; you can see most of it and how I made it so that the trap wires hinge in line with the mast/dolphin striker ball and joint.

Edited by charlescarlis on Apr 28, 2020 - 09:50 AM.

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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charlescarlis

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Last visit: Nov 21, 2024

Posts: 593
Posted: Apr 28, 2020 - 10:06 AM

I'll get more pics this evening. That one doesn't show much...

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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cholley12

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 28, 2018

Last visit: Feb 13, 2023

Posts: 145
Posted: Apr 28, 2020 - 11:25 PM

charlescarlisI want to make it out Wednesdays...got several friends out there often enough. This Wednesday, however I have a 50th "drive-by-birthday party" to do for a close friend.

This time I launched at Clear Lake Shores at the invitation of a co-worker who sails also.

I use a gin pole permanently attached to my trailer, which makes set-up a breeze and I CAN do it by myself, however 2 people are more comfortable. The trick was making it so that all hinge points are in-line so no loosening/tightening of lines is needed and is largely a one person affair. I also use a winch with an auto-brake ($75) - which makes it a LOT safer/more comfortable. If I slip or need to stop and adjust something, it is rated to hold the load in-place. I don't trust that it will, but it does.

Here's a pic at the dock; you can see most of it and how I made it so that the trap wires hinge in line with the mast/dolphin striker ball and joint.

Edited by charlescarlis on Apr 28, 2020 - 09:50 AM.

I'll be using cls with texastuma on Wednesday nights so more to help set up

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Captain Chris Holley
Fulshear, TX
'87 Prindle 19 "¡Hijole!"
'74 sunfish "1fish"
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