I think my overhang is the same as before, with the rudders on. But I agree it seems to be sticking out a lot. I actually marked the 4' length from the bows with blue tape. I'll see what it looks like when I pull it forward (backward? toward the car anyway) that far. The other benefit would be more room in the hangar.
If I need red flags, it will be easy enough to clip them on the bridle tangs.
I've got my forward mast support extension welded up. Tomorrow I'll weld it on.
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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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H16 - trailering backwards
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- Rank: Mate
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Trailer, schmailer! Bryan, the way you operate you should just buy a cheap, run-down shack on the lake. With your energy level, skills, and abilities, you'd have the place all fixed up (and mast up storage) before the weekend's out.
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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
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You know Jerome, I moved to a fly-in community and haven't flown for 8 years now. I don't want to jinx sailing too!
We took the trailer out today with the H16 on backwards. I like it. Much easier to step the mast. Here is a trial fit:
Afterwards I took it down and finished the weldment. I welded a couple of things on the side to keep the mast from falling over/rotating in the rubber V block.
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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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I finally got around to painting the forward mast support shown in the prior picture. I also had some large silicone tubing that was a tight fit on the side supports. I WD40ed them up, slid them on most of the way, then folded the tube over to the outside and tie wrapped it to itself and the support so it would not collect water on the top. Also, the rear mast support was too small to clear the front crossbar, so we welded in a 10" extension.
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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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My mystere 5.5 is driven backwards and sits with 8' overhang
add 1.5' if i have a spin rigged - i do clip on a red flag to the spin pole
my 6.0 is 1' longer and i also trailer backwards
Edited by MN3 on Sep 20, 2021 - 03:23 PM. -
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I step the Prindle 18-2 and the Tornado mast singlehanded, sometimes weekly. I have tried trailering backwards and it beats up the rudders too much when I launched. 80% of the time, I am launching from a boat ramp. Trying to get the boat lined up and placed with a cross wind and cross current becomes more of a challenge than I want. When I go to step, I use a 6' ladder behind the boat. I have used a tail line from the ladder to the boat to make sure I place it in the correct spot. Sometimes it's too close and is at the diamond wires. I simply lift the mast back in stepping position, pin the base, do a double check of shrouds and then lift. I attach the trapezes to the front beam at the outside ends to keep the mast stable side to side. I have a line with block that attaches to the forestay that I use to hold tension when the mast is up and led to a cleat on the front beam. Luckily, I am big enough to just lift the masts from horizontal. But, I do try to back the boat to the wind so the wind helps lift and hold the masts while I pin the forestay. The Prindle is on the trailer and the block set-up is already in place. For the Tornado, I place the beach wheels forward at the tangs and use a line tied to the forestay, around the axle of the wheels and aft to the boat. I am finalizing a jin pole design that can be used on any boat. There have been times I have forgotten the ladder and used the PVC mast support to hold the mast up off the rear beam.
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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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Here is another mod I made to my backwards trailering setup. This is more for storage than for trailering. I made a wood support out of a 2x4, and it lets me pull the catamaran forward so it is not hanging off the back. Once I drop the rudders, the length is just barely longer than the trailer by itself. The mast sticks out but it is way up high.
I'm going to replace the C clamps with a couple of carriage bolts. For trailering the 2x4 comes off, but for wintertime I get space back in the hangar. It will probably come off for the active sailing season too, unless I happen to need extra room to work on something.
Edited by waiex191 on Dec 22, 2021 - 10:58 AM.
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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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Take off your rudders people! You are exerting a lot more force on the transoms due to windage. When I trailered boats backwards, the rudders came off before the boat went on the rollers. No big deal adding a few minutes set up time. It's better than fixing transoms and it makes you look like you know what you are doing at the launch site.
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Master UniRig Sailor
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I find it a pain to R&R the H16 rudders. I do plan to make a rudder support for the trailer.
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Bryan in Poplar Grove, IL
Supercat 17, unknown year. Future project
Hobie 16, 1977 - died a spectacular death https://youtu.be/Y7O22bp2MVA
Hobie 16, 1978 - current boat
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It's really easy. Simply take the top castings off the rudders leaving the tiller crossbar connected. Now the rudders can be taken off the transoms.
I put the tiller crossbar and top castings in the sailbox or in a truck bed like you have and the rudders w/bottom castings go in the box or back of the truck. Easy button and items last longer when they are taken apart.
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Master UniRig Sailor
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I do it both ways depending how long I'm going to be on the road. If you leave them on you MUST tie them in a way that they cannot fall down and also tie them where they are completely straight to reduce windage. On Hobie rudders that might be more trouble than taking them off.
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Bill Townsend
G-Cat 5.0
Sarasota
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removal is more of a pain on some cats vs others
hobie 16's aren't the easiest
on mystere's we remove the crossbar (via 2 ringdings) and remove the rudder pin (also a single ringding)
adds 5 or 6 min each way but worth it for reduced wear, eliminating the chances of them falling down and getting road rash (happened to my centerboards in the past when i forgot to tie them up) -
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As you can tell, there is a wide range of opinions. It's personal opinion and your style. I looked at trailering backwards years ago and it didn't work for me. For trips less than 4 hours drive, I leave the rudders on. And yes, I have a method to keep them stable and not bounce. I do a lot of my sailing (every Wednesday during daylight savings) using a boat ramp. I have a Tornado and a Prindle 18-2 and I hand lift the mast my self. I use a 6' ladder and have the trap wires attached to the front beam outboard end. I have designed a jin-pole for a few customers in the past and have one ready for my cats when I can't lift the mast anymore. Here is a video of how I step the mast. Very simple.
https://youtu.be/KjPgEDVKAZk
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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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Trailering forward, you can do this: https://youtu.be/wFUkD_J5iOE
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1978 H18
1983 H18 (some of it)
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