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Quick-Release System for Old-Style Hobie-18 Rudders!
By: Keith Chapman
Hobie-18 rudder castings come in two flavors: Pre-1987 and 1987 on. They’re easy to tell apart, as the newer systems use a plastic cam to hold and release the upper casting, while the older systems use a metal one. Both are supposed to work the same way, with the rudder kicking up when an obstacle is encountered or when the skipper wishes to beach the boat. However, the pre-1987 Hobie-18 rudders have an annoying habit of not releasing or kicking up when you want them to. I’ve even busted a tiller arm or two yanking up on them to try to get a rudder to release. I always had to keep a tool with a long end that I could insert from behind the release cam in order to trip the mechanism whenever things would stick – not very convenient or even safe under some circumstances.
Upgrading Hobie 14, 16, 17, 18, and 21 tiller connectors.
Many Hobie Cats have a rather crude tiller connector mechanism. By tiller connector, we are referring to the point between the rudder arm and the rudder crossbar. This article will illustrate the steps to retrofit other Hobie catamaran models with the advanced Hobie 20 (Miracle) style tiller connection.
The Hobie 20 sports an advanced tiller connection with features of easy disassembly, accurate turning, no binding, and reduced or eliminated slop. All other models, however, have a bolt with spacers, a spring, and a nylon lock nut. The same kit (part number 1953, $104) from Hobie will add these features to the 14, 16, 17, 18, and 21 cruiser.
Regatta Dates for 2003
Be sure and get your events posted to the free regatta and sailing calendar as soon as you know the dates. The earlier you provide the dates, the more exposure your Regatta, distance race, championship, party, etc. will receive.
To submit an event, click on the submit link below the calendar at the left, or just click here.
Trailer and sail tube construction
Jack Hoying brings us step by step illustrated instructions for building your own catamaran trailer and sail storage tube. The Beachcats mailing list always has lots of discussion about these expensive items, and the ongoing debate of cat box vs. storage tube is never ending. This is one sailors solution that he has agreed to share with us.
The Milt Ingram Story - An Unsuccessful Attempt on a Hobie 16
By Bill Mattson
It was a tough day with lessons learned.
We started the Milt Ingram Trophy Race on a Hobie 16, the smallest boat in a field of about 70. We came back on a Coast Guard boat with the Hobie in tow...
It was a tough day with lessons learned.
We started the Milt Ingram Trophy Race on a Hobie 16, the smallest boat in a field of about 70. We came back on a Coast Guard boat with the Hobie in tow...
Catsail.com donates content to TheBeachcat.com
Bill Mattson, long-time publisher of the On The Wire Ezine for catamaran sailors at Catsail.com, has announced that he will no longer publish the magazine. He has generously donated all the archives and material from On The Wire to TheBeachcats.com.
I would like to formally thank Mr. Mattson for entrusting the results of years of hard work to TheBeachcats.com. I have added a link to a complete mirror of everything that was on Catsail.com to the main menu of this site. If you never had the pleasure of reading Bill's Ezine in the past, I suggest you take a look now.
I would like to formally thank Mr. Mattson for entrusting the results of years of hard work to TheBeachcats.com. I have added a link to a complete mirror of everything that was on Catsail.com to the main menu of this site. If you never had the pleasure of reading Bill's Ezine in the past, I suggest you take a look now.
16 reasons Sailing is better than sex:
16 reasons Sailing is better than sex:
1. You don't have to hide your Sailing magazines.
2. It's perfectly acceptable to pay a professional to Sail with you once in a while.
3. The Ten Commandments don't say anything about Sailing.
4. If your partner takes pictures or videotapes of you Sailing your beachcat, you don't have to worry about them showing up on the Internet if you become famous.
2002 Juana Good Time Regatta, Navarre Beach FL
This is the story of my trip from Memphis Tennessee, to Navarre Beach Florida to attend the "Juana Good Time Regatta". It's just over 500 miles from Memphis to Navarre. I had never gone that far in just a weekend before, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to sail the Emerald coast one more time this season. My boat, a Hobie 18 Magnum was in good shape for the trip. Although it's an '81 model, pretty much everything on the boat has been replaced or upgraded in the 9 years I've owned it. Everything that is, but the standing rigging. As far as I know, the shrouds, forestay, and bridal wires are original equipment. The original plan was to leave early Friday morning and rendezvous in Grenada, MS with Lee (aka Capt Teach) with a Hobie 18 and Gill with a Prindle 18-2 and caravan on down to Florida...
I pulled out of my driveway pretty much on schedule after a frantic search for the trailer wiring adapter I needed to plug my trailer into the Chevy van. Unfortunately the illusive adapter was nowhere to be found so I spent the next hour in the AutoZone parking lot rewiring my trailer to match the van. I'm hoping this is the worst setback I experience during the trip.
Back on the road I call Lee to give him an updated ETA and find out that Gill has dropped out of the trip and Lee's vehicle has dropped it's transmission, so it's suddenly become a one boat caravan. Lee still wants to head to Juana's to party, so I stop in Grenada to pick him up and we are on the road again. Nine hours later (including the time to change a tire on the van) we pull into the parking lot at Juana's Pagoda House, it's about 9:00pm and the parking area is jam packed with cats on trailers. Registration is nicely organized, payment of the $50 registration fee nets a wristband for meals and $1 Coronas during the weekend, along with two T-shirts. The wind is howling across the parking lot and several people comment that they "hope it keeps this up all weekend", the term "be careful what you wish for" should have come to mind.
Installing Deck Ports
A step-by-step illustrated guide
By Bill Mattson
First published in "On The Wire" Ezine.
If you own a Hobie Cat, you may have noticed that if you take on any water, it is virtually impossible to get it out, given the location of the drain plugs. You can raise the bows, but unless you point them straight to the sky, you are going to have some water left in the boat when you are done. Deck ports will accomodate a far more effective and convenient way to remove water.
This month, we install them in a couple of Hobie 16s. If you are even thinking about doing this, or wonder why anyone would, read on. We cover each step in detail, and give you a good idea of what to expect along the way. Let’s face it: If you are going to take a saw to your boat, you want as much information as you can get before you start cutting. This article provides fully illustrated step-by-step procedures to help you do the job right...
By Bill Mattson
First published in "On The Wire" Ezine.
If you own a Hobie Cat, you may have noticed that if you take on any water, it is virtually impossible to get it out, given the location of the drain plugs. You can raise the bows, but unless you point them straight to the sky, you are going to have some water left in the boat when you are done. Deck ports will accomodate a far more effective and convenient way to remove water.
This month, we install them in a couple of Hobie 16s. If you are even thinking about doing this, or wonder why anyone would, read on. We cover each step in detail, and give you a good idea of what to expect along the way. Let’s face it: If you are going to take a saw to your boat, you want as much information as you can get before you start cutting. This article provides fully illustrated step-by-step procedures to help you do the job right...
Call for Content!
CALL FOR CONTENT!
The calendar is nearly empty, now is your chance to announce regattas or other beachcats events. The calendar is proving to be a very popular information source for our members. Please submit any events still scheduled for this year, and if you already have dates for 2003 go ahead and submit them also.
Got something to sell? Why not place a FREE classified ad with picture while people are still sailing? Earn some money to pay for that winter project.
I'm planning to use the Bookstore as a reference point to start book discussions on the Beachcats mailing list. So add your favorite sailing related book (especially beachcats books) to the bookstore.
Anybody have any ideas for a new poll?
What's your favorite part of www.TheBeachcats.com? What would you like to see here?
Damon
The calendar is nearly empty, now is your chance to announce regattas or other beachcats events. The calendar is proving to be a very popular information source for our members. Please submit any events still scheduled for this year, and if you already have dates for 2003 go ahead and submit them also.
Got something to sell? Why not place a FREE classified ad with picture while people are still sailing? Earn some money to pay for that winter project.
I'm planning to use the Bookstore as a reference point to start book discussions on the Beachcats mailing list. So add your favorite sailing related book (especially beachcats books) to the bookstore.
Anybody have any ideas for a new poll?
What's your favorite part of www.TheBeachcats.com? What would you like to see here?
Damon
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