Thanks to all of those who helped with my getting the H17 up and running. Photo is of third full run last Saturday. Chips sail is lovely and the boat is great fun out with the dolphins. Kind of a lazy mans fast cruiser with viewing platforms.

Beautiful picture. Are you on the North Island or the South Island of New Zealand?

I've always wondered: Can a solo sailor right a Hobie 17 capsize?

Given no wind or waves to aid in righting, these are the cats that I believe are solo-rightable:
A cat
F16 (some, but not all)
Seaspray
H14
Supercat 17
Inter 16
Mystere 4.3
18 square (with righting pole)

What do you'all think?

GARY

Yes. Done it many times. Of course, having wind & waves helps.

Given no wind and waves, why would you need to right the boat?

IMO, if you have enough wind to go over, you should have enough to help you back up.

Clayton

I quess you got the sail "hooked" .... Ommmmmmm,Ommmmmm

Yah, wings are GREAT ... the first time a dolphin came up and paced w/ me sailing off of Stone Harbor NJ, it scared the dickens out of me until I realized what it was.

Sail Flat, Sail Fast
HarryMurphey
H18mag/P19MX

great pic!, took an age to download for some reason

mary, he's up the top of the north island, nz's florida, (well maybe not that hot, but winterless compared to the south)

Warbird:

Nice pics. From experince, make sure you have a good downhaul system with squaretop. I had 6 to 1, with lines running out to traps so I could adjust from wings or while traping out. Have fun.

Doug

[quote]I've always wondered: Can a solo sailor right a Hobie 17 capsize?

Yes, just be patient. Wings slow the righting motion, compared to other cats. And do not forget to grab the dolphin striker as it goes upright, and hold on until the boat settles and turns into the wind.

Caleb

This is not always true. I was once knocked down by a combination of a puff and operator error (probably cracking a beer or lighting a smoke), and the wind did not blow that hard again for the rest of the day. Without my righting bag I'd have been screwed. On another occasion, a trap line failed in the gulf (no righting bag). I would have sworn I could right without assistance, but no....the waves seemed to be working against me. If not for a friendly PWCer...screwed again.

I preach to all the new folks at our club that they should make sure they have the crew, bag, or whatever it takes to be able to right every time....regardless of wind and waves.

Not trying to pick a fight....just don't want any newbies that may be reading to be overconfident with assumptions (like I used to be).

BTW, Clayton, we have some common acquaintances and have obviously been to many of the same regattas (just not at the same time?). I enjoy your input on this forum (especially the humor!). Can't believe I haven't met you in person yet....looking forward to it! Maybe at Slip To Ship?

It's called the Bay of Islands and is in the North so I am still happily sailing while Christchurch in the South has -5 degrees over night.
I was naughty with the dolphins. Two big dolphin boats were following them about and I reached across in front of one, jibed between the two in the middle of the pod and accelerated away talking the dolphins with me. A group of five went with me for about ten minutes.

So here is another photo. Still getting used to the sail and wings.

My down-haul is 8:1 out to wings.
oooooommmmmmmm, yes the hook is fine. ...thank you sensei.

That is why I ALWAYS make it a habit to NEVER go out alone. If we don't go in two's are more, we sit on the beach till someone shows up, or we go home. Rather safe than sorry.

Doug