I just got my Hobie 16 (1979) and have been searching through the posts and wanted to see if you guys could clarify righting the boat. I have sailed and righted other small boats, but the cats seem alot different. Is there anything else I should know before my maiden voyage?
this site is really great
looking forward to your help thanks

The best advice is to read the book entitled "Catamaran Racing for the 90's" by Rick White and Mary Wells. It's very well written and covers a lot of ground. (Rick-just send my check to the usual place.) Greg

I also enjoyed "Catamaran Sailing: From Start to Finish" as it was geared towards the novice sailor.

Righting a cat isn't too complicated.
Step 1- capsize, fall into the water, and uncleat the sails
Step 2- sit on the bow until it swings into the wind (you might have to swim it into the wind occasionally)
Step 3- Take the righting line (which is normally attached to the base of the mast, though H14 and H16 may have a different style) and throw it over the upper hull.
Step 4- swim around and climb onto the lower hull, then grab the righting line.
Step 5- with your feet on the keel of the hull, lean your body away from the boat, using the righting line to balance you. Your body should almost be touching the water.
Step 6- when the boat comes over enough to start falling towards you, let go of the righting line and swim between the hulls.
Step 7- climb back on the boat and repeat Step 1.

Don't forget to hang on to the dolphin striker as the boat comes up. It'll help keep the boat from going right back over again and it keeps you attached to the boat.

Never let go of a capsized boat (or a righted boat with nobody on it). In any significant breeze, they can move on their side faster than you can swim.

I thought the important part about capsizing was finding a soft place to land-the water-by rolling off the boat away from the sail- so you don't hit the boom, land in the sail and break battens, get tangled in ropes etc.

I would like to add to the above
I capsized in 30kn of wind with a green crew.
Upon righting a TheMightyHobie18, I MISSED grabing the dolpin striker with the
second hand. Therefore I was yanked out of the water by one hand.
Once the pain in my arm reached a high level, I figured my body
was trying to tell me something, let go, and fell on the new low hull.
This resulted in almost pulling my bisep off the bone, $7000 & 3 mo rehab.
(right biceptual tendon)
Yes, the hand/wrist muscles combined will overwhelm the bicep.

So, NEVER grab the dophin striker with one hand.

7Seas

I'm not following your post. You were yanked out of the water by whom?? someone already on board?? I grab the dolphin striker on my TheMightyHobie18 when it comes over and this seemed to work fine in keeping the cat from going over again. Of course it was never in 30kts. wind. Did the cat take off with you holding on with one arm??
Also, what do you do, just climb down from the upper hull?. I've been jumping into the water and then swimming back to the cat. I guess in strong winds I probably need to hold onto the mainsheet or something when jumping in.

>I'm not following your post. You were yanked out of the water by whom?? <

Not by Whom. Just by holding on to the DS with one hand. (I missed with the second hand)
It is as simple as holding onto the DS with one hand. Apparently, the hand muscles are strong enough to do this.
The doctor and I believe my wrist probably TWISTED a bit at the same time to hyper extend the biceptual tendon.

On a side note 'arm wrestlers' blow there biseputal tendon, where the hand and wrist muscles are stronger than the tendon.

>Did the cat take off with you holding on with one arm??<
No, upon 'righting the cat' is flipped back over to the side.

I think I got it. One hull came down and the other went up. and you were holding onto the dolphin striker on the side that went up. Correct?

Affirmative

A simple righting line that you can wrap around the mast has always worked for me, but I'm 6'3". If your small, a water bag might not be a bad investment.