Hobie 14 Weather Helm

[voldemort]

Hello,
I am 16 years old and just purchased a used Hobie Cat 14 ft. catamaran. I have been around power boats all my life but I am new to sailing so sorry if it I seem a little ignorant on the subject. I took it out on our lake today and instantly fell in love with it, but I noticed that it had a very strong tendency to turn into the direction in which the wind was coming. I did a little research and found that this is called weather helm. I read another post about a hobie 16 that sounds like it has the same issue, but I didn't know if the same suggestions would apply to the 14 and I had a hard time deciphering what was being said. Anyways back to my issue, I feel like I have to hold on with two hands and it makes me nervous that it might just rip out of my hands. I would greatly appreciate any help on this subject. Also I can attach pictures and such if need be. Thanks.

-Ben

 

[tommays]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

http://www.hobiecat.com/support/tech/h14tuning.html


http://www.thebeachcats.com/Article84.html



Google is you friend on this


All sailboats do it at some point with the right adjustments and learning sail trim it will be much less

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

welcome to iboats you Harry Potter fan. i have had several hobies over the years. practice and more practice makes a good sailer. go to the library, and find some cat sailing books. they are really fun, when you get the up on one, and can learn to hold it there. expect to capsize a million times, before you get there. Voldemort was not evil, he just needed a boat.

 

[Nav203]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Weather helm is caused by the mast leaning too much towards the stern. You can lessen weather helm by loosening the backstay and tightening the headstay, and of course re-adjusting the shrouds to accomodate the change. Having said that, a slight weather helm is a plus for safety -- if you let go of the tiller, fall overboard, etc. the boat will round up into the wind, go into irons and stop. If there is too much "lee" helm -- the opposite condition, where the mast angle is too far forward -- the boat will just keep going on down wind. As you get used to, or race the boat, you'll find that you can fine tune the rig to the point where you don't have to fight the tiller so much, but still keep a touch of weather helm.

 

[Bsquared]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

16s and 14s have the same rudders and the same rudder issues. We are all assuming that the rudders are going down all the way. Hobie rudder cams often get stuck in the "down" position, or break, and the rudder will start to come up as you sail. This will give you a lot of pull. Need to make sure the cams are working, and that the rudder stays tight when forward and down.

 

[imported_Voyager]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Trimming your main in too "close" will also contribute to weather helm and is a common error for new sailors. Trim the main to get it to fill and take shape, if it has telltales, they should show the air streaming off cleanly and in line with the curve of the sail.

So, verify rudders all the way down and sail trimmed correctly, then move to adjusting the mast if needed.

 

[srothfuss]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Welcome to the world of sailing!

Already some very good advice given so I'll just add... Practice recovering the boat! Capsizes and "going for a swim" are just part of sailing.

Good luck.

 

[voldemort]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Thank you for all of your responses. I adjusted the mast a little because it seemed to be pretty far back and also I realized that the rudders wearn't droppping all the way when I was sailing. After making sure the rudders dropped all the way it was great. Easy steering and I flew. Also, about the capsizing, maybe its just becaues i'm more familiar with power boats but the idea of capsizing on purpose doesn't sound very good. Isn't this bad for the boat or the mast. Anyways thanks for all of your help and I am glad that I got into sailing. Thanks again.

-Ben

 

[srothfuss]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Practicing recovery is very important. It's not going to damage the mast or anything, but if you aren't prepaired it could damage your ego a little.

Sailboats are designed to float in the water when they aren't really siting in the water properly.

Enjoy and welcome to the world of sailing.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

You guys are giving great advice .... and making me realize how much I have forgotten about sailing!

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Most likely, the rudders not being locked are the cause of the weather helm. Raking the mast back to far can also cause it, but on my 16, as soon as I felt a strong weather helm, I knew that the rudders were not locked.

As far as the flipping and righting the boat issue, you WILL learn that quickly whether you want to or not. Hobies will flip in ANY direction given the proper wind conditions. The worst one is called a Pitch-pole and that means flipping over the nose. It happens VERY fast and is caused by letting the tip of a hull drop under a wave. Raking the mast rearward will reduce the potential of that happening. Flipping it any other direction is much slower and more controlled. One thing to know is that it takes a fair bit of weight to right a hobie (240 pounds on a 14 if I recall correctly) and the weight has to be properly applied. You will need a righting line to pull it upright. The 14 and 16 both float on the side if the wind does not push the tramp into the water. With a little practice it is not a big deal.

I am jealous as I got rid of my 16 a few years back. It was worn out and I could not get anyone to sail with me anymore. (Frankly I was a little worn out too.)

TerryMSU

 

[srothfuss]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

The end-over-end capsize sounds like it could really damage the ego but it sounds like a wild ride!

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Hobie 14 Weather Helm

Srothfuss... Yes to both comments. The first time I did it on my 16, my crew was in the trapeze harness. He swung forward like a cannon ball on a string. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to release the jib and the boat pulled out just before it went all the way over.

When the boat starts to pitchpole, the hull just dips barely under. That dip under the surface greatly increases the drag of the hull and that is what causes the pitchpole.

The biggest issue is not to get hung up in the bridle wires for the forestay. That can be painfull! Other than that no big deal. I did it about 3 times in one afternoon. Boy was my crew touchy that day.

Another caution to Voldemort... When you right the boat, do not grab hold of the rear cross bar. The traveller car can really claw up your hand if you do so.

TerryMSU