Taking the Plunge Hobie Getaway

db51 wrote: Just sold the Bass Boat and have about $ 15K to burn on this endeavor. Since I won't be docking the boat and hauling it to the lake, thought about the following set up:

Hobie Getaway
Optional Wings
Aluminium Trailer
Torqeedo solar motor with mount

First, Welcome to TheBeachcats!

Love the "just sold the bass boat to buy a catamaran" part. 😀

Tell us more about your future sailing location, why you think you need a motor? I'm not saying you don't, but usually the only reason people really need a motor on their beachcat is if they are forced to launch deep inside a big marina. If you are just worried about dying wind carry two paddles, one strapped to each wing.

You will love the Getaway and wings, can carry the whole family or you can handle it solo.

Our area lakes range from 26 to 18K acres. Most of the folks have power or houseboats. I'm simply concerned about getting the boat in the water at the launch which is usually crowded with redneck bass boat types or big power ski boats. There aren't that many sailboats out there. I would like to get the boat out of the marina without running it aground or broadsiding a party barge before I get the sail up...I probably need to get some sailing lessons before either killling myself or finding myself on some viral YouTube Video
doing something stupid.

I'm figuring until I figure out how to sail and make the boat go where I want, I might need the motor to get back to point A. Like I said, I spent every afternoon in Jamica on a small Cat either solo or with my wife....but it was basically leaving shore and coming back in a straight line.

My biggest fear is the first day out in the thing.

Edited by db51 on Mar 18, 2013 - 06:05 PM.

You need to read about "Spirit 17".

http://www.thebeachcats.com/forums/viewtopic/topic/13621/start/0

the inaugural sail

http://www.bfsshop.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=page&id=56&chapter=4

we all have had similar experiences, but TOW is the mother of all teachers, Time On Water, go out during the week when no-one else is around and sail. Or meet up with a local sailor and they will happily spend time with you.

OMG...that was the most brilliant piece I've ever read. I know little about sailing, but I haven't laughed that hard since .... well, I'm not sure I've ever lauighed that hard. The launch and first sailing gave me pause. I can tell you right now I'm too old to survive that experience, and if my wife were with me during a a ride like that, there would be divorce papers filed if we made it back to shore alive. My greatest fear is what just happened in that story. I'm now almost convinced I need a motorized pontoon party boat instead of a Cat. That was some brilliant writing. Thanks for the entertainment.

Edited by db51 on Mar 19, 2013 - 06:30 AM.

A couple of ideas:
First, see if there is a local Hobie fleet, find where they meet up and launch. Have fun

Second, forget all you know about boat launching, for a BEACH cat, all roads that end in or close to water are launches. Where we sail there are several areas where the camping area is next to the lake, drive the trailer down and launch the boat. There is no need to get the trailer bearings wet most of the time. The tow vehicle stays on dry solid land and the trailer tires get a little mud or sand on them. The nice part is if you spend the weekend the boat is at the campsite. And Have fun

Third, you are going to flip, no question, not if, but when. It will be fine, you will get wet, turn the boat back up and go again. Go with the son and/or grand children and learn before you take anyone that could be afraid. And Have fun.

Have fun (sounds familiar). Go out on mild days, NOT WINDY. People all the time say "I thought of you yesterday when it was windy" I say are you nuts it was blowing 30, I am not going out in that stuff. Go out on days that are 10 to 12 MPH. As you learn more go out in more wind. the getaway is a great boat, spent many days on one, they can take a pounding and are safe and easy to sail. Not much will bite you either.

HTH, Ricardo.

I'm now almost convinced I need a motorized pontoon party boat instead of a Cat.

they are fun too, but nothing can compare to harnessing the wind and not needing gas

db1, check your Messages, top left hand corner, under the tabs, click on link to take you to your Private Messages.

renovator

Update on the Cat. I tentatively bought a new Getaway from a dealer in St. Louis. I talked to some really nice folks in Cincinnati but that is too far for me to go and I need a dealer for service close. St. Louis is only 90 miles west. The dealer offers sailing classes starting in April. Carlyle Lake is only 40 miles from me and that is where they conduct classes. It's a large and relatively shallow lake, alot of wind and choppy. Might as well learn there and everything else will be a piece of cake. Probably a great place to meet some other sailiing enthusiasts as well.

I'm getting pretty pumped up about getting started. Bagged the idea of a torqeedo motor. Guess the Cat moves along pretty well with a paddle.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and links.

Just in case you haven't seen this -- manual, support page and Getaway rigging videos:

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=12777&sid=63ceb01ac3a9a518d67915891db73a49

and Getaway forum

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=23

Congrats! 😀

If the wind dies that just means its nap time until picks up again. I has nice couple 90 minute nap in the middle of a race a couple seasons ago. Then the wind got so heavy we couldn't even make it back to our starting point and had to beach it.

Edited by Quarath on Mar 19, 2013 - 07:40 PM.

There is a Hobie fleet/club at Carlisle so they may know some people closer to your lakes also.

Thanks Richard. Actuially Carlyle Lake is about the same distance as all the other sailing lakes in my area. I'm roiughly 40 miles from three lakes in all directions. Carlyle to the west, Shelbyville to the North, Rend Lake to the south. There are some small lakes within
15 minutes of me which would be great to learn on incliuding Olney and Omega. I have a sister-in-law at Carbondale where you have Crab Orchard where Southern Illinois University has a sailing club but that is 80 miles. I don't want to spend that much time on the road. Last year it was already 84 degrees here. This morning 29.

Update on the Cat. I tentatively bought a new Getaway from a dealer in St. Louis.

congrats and welcome to the club

db51 wrote: Thanks Richard. Actuially Carlyle Lake is about the same distance as all the other sailing lakes in my area. I'm roiughly 40 miles from three lakes in all directions.

For many years there was an active Hobie Fleet which held regattas at Carlyle. They used to come to the Memphis Fleets regatta at Arkabutla Lake (Broken Mast Regatta) and we traveled to their Muddy Waters Regatta.

Carlyle Sailing Association http://www.csa-sailing.org/ has an active multi-fleet club and the beachcats are now an open fleet and have a site
http://www.csa-sailing.org/fleets/hobie/new%20Hobie.html there is an email link there with names of contacts.

Good luck and be sure to report back the stories as they happen!

Ten bucks says db is flyin' a hull before the end of June!

Thanks for the warm welcome and information. This forum rocks. Just talked to the salesman in St. Louis and am meeting him on Saturday to complete the purchase for the boat. I'm taking my 8 y/o Grandson, his 4 y/o sister and my wife to check out the boat which they have set up and ready to go in the warehouse. The trailer is galvanized steel made by Load Rite. I checked out their website and it appears they have a solid reputation and great looking trailer.

They have 4 day sailing seminars starting in May. Because of the distance and farming season will be in full blown mode I'm going to pay the $ 125.00/hr fee to a private instructor at Carlyle on my boat.

I plan on flying a hull on the first lesson. lmao. Man Overboard

Edited by db51 on Mar 20, 2013 - 04:13 PM.

i would recommend you have the dealer rig the boat with you, bring a camera, take notes, ask questions (at $0.00 /hr)

Edited by MN3 on Mar 20, 2013 - 03:21 PM.

The dealer has agreed to rig the boat with me and to take as much time as necessary, but I won't be able to attend their in-house seminars. Thanks for the suggestion.

Here is a link to the discussion between my wife and I regarding my buying the Hobie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-m8VOtaF3M

Good stuff. Advice: if at all possible don't involve your wife in setting up the boat at first. Until you really get it down it's going to take a while and be the source of arguments.

Ideally, have the boat ready to push off the beach, sails up, when she arrives. So all she has to do is slip on the cool new well fitting womens style PFD you have bought her and get on the boat for a pleasant sail in 5 - 10 mph of wind.

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN ON THIS SITE.

I hear couples argue all the time during rigging.

I lost many friends and girlfriends my first decade sailing cause i yelled a lot. now i just chillax and grin as my boat is exploding into a fiery death

Good stuff. Advice: if at all possible don't involve your wife in setting up the boat at first. Until you really get it down it's going to take a while and be the source of arguments.

Ideally, have the boat ready to push off the beach, sails up, when she arrives. So all she has to do is slip on the cool new well fitting womens style PFD you have bought her and get on the boat for a pleasant sail in 5 - 10 mph of wind

Edited by MN3 on Mar 21, 2013 - 02:24 PM.

Too good!!
I was wondering what key words were used to get her to say yes, but all that was needed was a translation from female to male language: "you have lost your mind" = "Yes".

I agree that Damon's advice is perfect advise. You don't want the first impression to be a 1-2 hour stressful time while melting in the sun in a parking lot. At a minimum have a beach near the launch area and send them to the lake to relax with grandkids etc. You might so try rigging the boat at your house a few times to get the hang of it.

Welcome to the club and hope you got the wings and front trampoline on your new getaway. Those are nice features for family sailing with that boat.

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN ON THIS SITE.

I hear couples argue all the time during rigging.

I lost many friends and girlfriends my first decade sailing cause i yelled a lot. now i just chillax and grin as my boat is exploding into a fiery death

QuoteGood stuff. Advice: if at all possible don't involve your wife in setting up the boat at first. Until you really get it down it's going to take a while and be the source of arguments.

Ideally, have the boat ready to push off the beach, sails up, when she arrives. So all she has to do is slip on the cool new well fitting womens style PFD you have bought her and get on the boat for a pleasant sail in 5 - 10 mph of wind

+1

This is exactly what I do now. I rig the boat solo and let my wife and daughter to go and do their things.

On the top of this, I have advice on my own. Get your wife really nice sailing gear. This would be a PDF, wet suit, splash jacket, etc. Don't forget about the footwear, a hut (must stay on your head in a heavy wind), and sunglasses. All the gear needs to be not only functional, but it MUST BE stylish, and very comfortable. Look for a a good content of pink, fancy patterns, etc. Try to spend as much money on this staff as possible. Take your wife shopping and go nuts... Trust me, it will be a wise investment, you will not regret.

What the ??? Thanks for all the wise advice. Nothing like benefitting from another's learning experience. hee hee. Ok...so maybe you guys should point me to some sites that carry all of this Sailing Attire. Seriously, I'd hate to show up the first day on the new Getway looking like some hillbilly or total dork. That would be the end of the sailing and the Cat would be up on E-Bay.

My daughter and i were talking on the phone and I was telling her about the need for some fun hobby for her Mother and I. she sent a Top Ten List of Fun things to do for couples. Sailboating was tucked in there around #6. Good selling point....and added benefit of not coming from ME like I was pushing the idea too much.

She's already on Weight Wathchers OnLine getting down to swimsuit weight for our trip to Gulf Shores with the family in late July. I'm hoping I'm good enough at sailing I can rent one down there and have some fun.

Again, thanks for the advice. I really need to start checking out the boat wear....I thought all I needed were my swim trunks and a life jacket. What ever was I thinking.

Lifejacket- Extrasport Chica. Designed for female kayakers (extra room in the chest) very comfortable for guys also.
Splash top - check Apsltd.com. Have the Henry Loyde tops on clearance, not pink but good yellows and reds for her and you.
Wetsuit- check NRSweb.com. Again a paddling focused site but really nice stuff. I like the farmer John/Jane suits without arms, then use your splash top over it.

I would consider wetsuit optional unless she is always cold. But splash top is critical to happiness if at all cool on the water. Also find neoprene gloves and booties for her.

You should also get sailing gloves. Harken or Ronstad make good gloves, I like 3/4 finger ones.

But as someone said, taking her shopping might have more impact then online ordering. Check a paddling shop or REI if you have one near you.

I'm going to pay the $ 125.00/hr fee to a private instructor

Gollee, for that kinda money I drive over to Carlyle and give you lessons no worries mate........ 😀

But don't let them city slickers snow you, them boys think they must look good sailin' but theys just look like stylin pimps....... 😆

A pair of board shorts (we call em baggies short for baggy swim trunks), a cheap pair of sunglasses (cause you gonna loose em in the water), camo baseball hat to keep the sun out of the eyes, and a pair of water shoes with rubber soles (Walmart Special), 'n maybe some mechanics gloves to save the soft girly hands and you good to go sailin..... 😎

lmao. smfinley and the -renovator...diametrically opposed views on attire. I'm going with smfinley's suggestion for her, and renovator's for mine. That way, everybody's happy!

A really nice pic of your woman on your boat goes a long way too. My GF on my H16 at Juanna's. She loves it now.

PS. We had a great time and got timeless photo's out of the regatta. I took this from a waterproof cam while swimming close by 🙂 She's not scared of going fast through 3' waves with a 20 mph breeze either 😉