mast float install on a Prindle

How much harder is a boat to right with a Hobie BOB installed on the mast? I know raising a mast with a BOB installed is more difficult. That 5 lbs at the end of a 30' pole adds up fast when trying to raise the mast, and would think a similar situation when righting a boat. I have never flipped a boat with a BOB installed, flipped without one plenty of times 🙄 A couple of milk jugs don't weigh nearly as much as an official float.

Edited by smfinley on Jan 07, 2011 - 02:58 PM.

please not water/milk jugs..... maybe 2-3 of these?
http://www.boatcovers.cc/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=11
or one of these?
http://www.boatcovers.cc/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=7
not sure how much they weigh, but it would seem that 5 lbs at the end of 30 ft equates to 150ft/lbs of torque working against you.

Edited by ingasguns on Jan 08, 2011 - 07:36 AM.

How much harder is a boat to right with a Hobie BOB installed on the mast?

I can only right my 5.7 solo if there is a good wind. Otherwise I have to break out the bag. As you alluded to, 5 lb at the end of a 30' stick is quite a bit of extra leverage. For that reason I'm going to experiment with some really lightweight things.
The Bob nullifies some of its weight disadvantage by being hard mounted. That keeps the mast a few inches out of the water, & that first few inches is the toughest. If you just tied a float at the mast head it would allow the mast tip to be submerged.
I have some ideas to hardmount a lightweight float, it wouldn't be as robust as a Bob, but if it is simple to replace, & lasts one season, it would be a better choice. I'll post it in the spring.

<img src="g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=79094&g2_serialNumber=3&g2_GALLERYSID=ecd3adbe7feec27a1ab4fe14c47d7adag2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=79097&g2_serialNumber=3&g2_GALLERYSID=ecd3adbe7feec27a1ab4fe14c47d7adag2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=79100&g2_serialNumber=3&g2_GALLERYSID=ecd3adbe7feec27a1ab4fe14c47d7ada">Fellas, there's nothing better than being in a full harness trapped out all by youreself on a reach. Just the sound of the water hissing under the hulls and being all alone on a big body of water is exhilarating! But anyone who knows me also knows I like to push things a little past common sense sometimes. That's why, if you find youreself in the drink miles from home with no one around, you better be prepared for a self rescue. My solo boat of choice is my NACRA 5.0 and I have modified it to help insure my safe return. After a full turtle and an embarrasing rescue by some Hobie sailors I decide to get a Hobie Bob for the mast. But..Jeez, they want over $200.00 bucks for those things!!! So I took a trip down to the soft water store for a bottle, then to the big box hardware store for aluminum straps and stainless bolts and locknuts and Hey, instant mast float for under $10.00 bucks. Only problem is, the wags on the beach started calling me the "Culligan Man"! So..I'm a tight-ass! I next installed a righting pole copied directly from Rick Whites design. Where mine differs, is instead of stopper knots to adjust pole angles I used trapeeze rope locks with 1/4" pre-stretched Marlow. I used a 2-1/4" x .083wall aluminum tube and the same kind of indestructable plastic cutting boards are made of for the hinge. It rotates on the dolphin striker rod and hinges down for leverage adjustment. The block on the end of the pole is for the line attatched to a righting bag in case things really turn to shit. While standing on the hull, fill the bag, run the line through the block. One hand pulls down on the line while the other lifts the bag. I try not to use the bag as retrieval can be a bear once you are under way. Chris, I agree with you about having the mast sealed top to bottom but the removable drain screw is an idea I will have installed by next spring. And last but not least when I go out by myself I leave word about when I should return, ALWAYS wear my life jacket and have a cell phone in a waterproof bag tucked away on my person. Don't put it in your tramp bag, you may get seperated!I'm trying to get some pictures posted with this thread but after a few beers my computer skills go south. The pics of the Bob and pole can also be found in the Beachcats people album under my name.

after a few beers my computer skills go south.

You have to click in "image" (found in the little boxes below where you type) then paste the photo link from your album where the cursor defaults, inside the "(img)" brackets. Send me the extra beer & keep your computer skills up:-D
Do you think the large bottle is overkill? Would 1/2 that size be enough, 2 gal would give nearly 20 lbs. I was thinking to glue a few pieces of styrofoam SM together, then hot wire cut to a "Bob" shape, & cover with one sheet of matt/resin. Your idea is much simpler. I'm going to build a pole this spring, it seems much quicker than rigging the bag. I attached a 2' nylon strap to the outside bottom of my bag. You just grab that, it allows you to retrieve the bag bottom end first. The bag empties & collapses, allowing for easy retrieve, except for that last sail of the season when everything went wrong.
I had emailed Jcasto for some more detailed photos of his system, but never heard back.

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Edited by Edchris177 on Jan 17, 2011 - 09:32 AM.

Yeah, Chris I followed the instructions but something happened between copy and paste. I think it was the Samuel Adams Winter Classics sampler 12-pak! White Ale, Holiday Porter, Boston Lager, Chocolate Bock, Winter Lager...and it was on sale!! As far as the 5 gal water bottle goes..I felt the light weight and extra flotation was worth it. Sure has worked well. The bottle, righting pole and waterbag may seem a little anal but I want the odds in my favor when I'm by myself. When it comes right down to it..the best, cheapest, simplest righting system is just an 8-10 foot, 1/2" rope tied around the mast base and thrown over the hull. A couple knots tied for grip and your set. Only thing is, for anything bigger than a Hobie 16 you need a crewmember to help. The missus and I are taking off for Mo-Bay on Saturday and we'll sail the resorts little Hobie Wave bathtub toys. It's interesting to note that all the Waves down there have the Hobie Bobs on them. Resort owners get a little wierded out thinking about drowning customers! I used to dump them and when the rescue boat was within a hundred yards, grab the tramp lacing and pop-'em back up. Had to quit it though...they were getting a bit pissy about it! Say, you're from Canada, right? Check out the Prindle 16 icebreaker vid in yesterdays postings. My first thought was "No Thanks" I'll buy a plane ticket to Jamaica!!

I hear you, solo on the 5.7 miles from shore, I want a faster easier way to right, with no chance to turtle. It is easy to sail conservatively all day & never flip, but I like to fly a hull as much as I can, & I'm not good enough to be sure I won't lose it, so a float will be added The line works fine, as you say, if I have a crew. I have done it solo, but it's work. I have thought about experimenting with a couple of foam block "stilts" with foot straps. If I was 8-12" taller I'd be golden. In the end the pole seems the simplest. I'll do some experimenting in the spring with mast floats & post the results.
We had Wave races every day in Antigua, I actually beat the instructors once. They handed the boats out to Newbies after a 10 minute talk about how to sail them. I think the Bob is standard on all Club Waves. We saw quite a few go over in the 20-30 mph trade winds, along with several pitch poles.
I saw that video, I love cat sailing, but 10 days in Antigua looked like more fun than that. Gotta give them credit though, what a crazy ass sail. Reminded me of my early days as a bush pilot. We would fly floats in the Arctic right til freeze up. You would be crawling along the float,(you didn't dare stand) with a little box of sand. The damn water rudders would freeze upon takeoff, even though we coated the cables with grease. Upon landing you had to try & "plow" to keep the keels down til they melted free, or else paddle to shore. Banging into the rocks like that would be $$$$, along with your ass.

Edited by Edchris177 on Jan 17, 2011 - 09:05 PM.