Hobie Sail Kit

For those of you who have tried the sail kit, how was it?  Good speed?  Did you use amas with it?

I'm thinking it may be good to have in case I need to pedal again to Pajaro- it was a good 1.5 hour pedal and if the reviews are good, I'll buy one to chase WSB this year.  thx in advance.

Yes, I know there's an Adventure Island kit... 

Wicked Fun on the Revo! But...without amas I wouldn't sail in the Big Blue. My first sailing adventure was on Clear Lake...

I agree fun (and a real time saver) but a bit sketch in heavy wind w/o amas. I have the hobie (inflatable) ones. The only part I don't like is the mounts they use attach the cross bar to the boat. They use wellnuts which suck (IMHO). Glen uses some different mounts for his crossbar that I need to get. In light wind you have maintain 5-7 mph with no problem.

 

How easy is it for a newb to figure out to steer and not flip over?

How easy is it for a newb to figure out to steer and not flip over?

Reading the wind takes some exp but not hard. As far as stability if a gust comes up you can (pretty quickly) dump the sail and turn down wind. Sailing rudder (as you may have guessed is a must). We should arrange a regatta fishing tourney!
 

I have the sail kit and use it regularly on both my Classic Revo and my Sport.  In a light breeze in the morning almost anyone can sail a 'Yak with little to no experience.  On Lake Almanor, when the afternoon winds kick up it can become a handful quickly.  I've never had the AMA's so no experience there, and as others have said the larger rudder modification is very highly recommended.  I can imagine that the AMA's might make things a little drier on a windy day, and I've considered picking up the kit, but being a speed demon I'm more afraid that they'll slow me down.

Joe

I have the sail kit and use it regularly on both my Classic Revo and my Sport.  In a light breeze in the morning almost anyone can sail a 'Yak with little to no experience.  On Lake Almanor, when the afternoon winds kick up it can become a handful quickly.  I've never had the AMA's so no experience there, and as others have said the larger rudder modification is very highly recommended.  I can imagine that the AMA's might make things a little drier on a windy day, and I've considered picking up the kit, but being a speed demon I'm more afraid that they'll slow me down.

Joe

the cool thing about the hobie ones is they have three positions one has them low in the water the mid has them right on the surface and the upper setting has them riding out of the water only touching when the boat is hiked over. Its a simple on the water adjustment

If you have the AMA's and you get heeled over to one side when it digs into the water does that force the whole boat to turn in that direction?  Or can you adjust easily with the rudder?

Is it possible to tip completely over with the AMA's?  (Anything's possible, I suppose...)

Joe

I have the sail, the amas and the sailing rudder for my Revo.  I haven't used them a lot but the amas are a must IMHO.  Sailing in high wind isn't much fun but a moderate to light wind is great and it's pretty easy to maintain good speed with very little pedal effort.

If you have the AMA's and you get heeled over to one side when it digs into the water does that force the whole boat to turn in that direction?  Or can you adjust easily with the rudder?

Is it possible to tip completely over with the AMA's?  (Anything's possible, I suppose...)

Joe

I am sure it has some drag but the amas are only a foot or two long and the ends turn up so actually digging in would be hard to do. with the sailing rudder you should be able to counter it. I am trying to build a bracket with a cam style cleat so I don't have to hold the sheet (rope) when making long runs. I need to check out the hobie site for some ideas.

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 I am trying to build a bracket with a cam style cleat so I don't have to hold the sheet (rope) when making long runs.

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Rudy (Halibu77) had a video on his old sailing rig.  He recommended this cam cleat from west marine.  I use it on my PA, and it lets me keep my hands free.  It has 3 modes:  It can let the sail trim line pass freely both directions (you hold the line).  Snap it down and it holds in one direction (sail is locked in position--hands free).  Push a button and it allows the line to pay back out while the button is depressed.  If you need to release the sail fast if the wind gusts, just tug the line up and it will allow the line to pass freely to help keep from tipping over.
Rudy also had a video of his homemade sail furler made from PVC.  It works great too.

Here's a Hobie Forum thread for the Adventure kayak with the sailing kit. Lots of details, photos etc. Most of these people are the sailing end vs fishing end of the kayak world.

Hope it's o.k. to link this:

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=39247

yeah that is the idea. I just can't stomach spending $75 on a cam cleat....There has to be a cheaper set up...I just need to keep looking.

yeah that is the idea. I just can't stomach spending $75 on a cam cleat....There has to be a cheaper set up...I just need to keep looking.

+1 (which means more $$ for ammo  )

LL

The cost is @$45 and worth every penny IMO.  Holding on to the sheet line gets tiring.  You can use cheaper cleats, but you get what you pay for.