Sailing and Trailering Guide Sailing Your Hobie Cat Page 2-4 Balancing Steering Sail Power Turning Launching Righting Docking / Landing Rudder Tuning Trailering Page 4-5 Page 5 Loading Towing Launching / Retrieving Maintenence Safety Tips Page 6

Refer to the sail trim diagram below for approximate sail settings for the different points of sail or directions you will be sailing. Note the "can't sail zone". You cannot sail in this direction due to the fact that the sail will luff constantly when pointed into the wind. If you get stuck in irons (or stop pointed into the wind) you will need to reverse the rudder and push the sail forward to back-wind it. The jib should be back winded by the crew to assist. This will back the boat up. Reverse the rudders and let the sail out until the boat is positioned more across the wind (close reach)....

into the wind. Drift backwards with the rudders in the up position and your weigh towards the front of the boat. Stay forward as the boat drifts into deeper water.You can hold the sail out to catch wind backwards to increase reverse speed. Then move to the rear and lower the rudders. It will be easiest to lower only one rudder while moving backwards. Then lower the other when the boat begins to move forward again. Be aware of the intended direction you wish to sail when lowering the rudder and steer the boat as the rudder drops into the water. There will be a lot of force on the rudder to turn...

edge of the blade and draw a pencil line along that length. Measure the distance from the pencil line to the most forward spot 12" down the blade from the bottom of the casting.. 12" DOCKING Docking the boat properly will prevent damage. Always dock and rig on the leeward side of a dock (the side the wind reaches last). Come in slowly and always be aware of the wind direction so you can properly de-power the boat when needed. The stronger the wind the more difficult the docking will be. Until you feel confident, you may want to practice with a friend who will remain on the dock and help slow...

The mast support on a trailer is subject to a lot of side-to-side motion and consequently may fatigue where it is welded to the trailer. All this can be reduced by tying a line from each bow to the mast support. This will stiffen the rig up and prolong the life of the trailer. 6) Hobie Cat rudder blades are preset to break away from the locked down position at 17-26 pounds by testing with a line around the rudder blade seven inches above the lowest tip of the blade. Once the rake is changed, the breakaway tension should be rechecked. The tension may be adjusted by turning the 3/4" internal screw...

CAUTION / SAFETY TIPS • Watch for overhead power lines. Never rig, trailer or sail the boat near overhead power lines. Contact with a power line could be fatal. • Sail to your experience. Do not try to do more than you can. Do not take the boat out in the surf and do not head out for the ocean unless you are a real professional. • Wear a life jacket. Wearing life vests while sailing is important for everyone. Due to the large number of novice sailors that have purchased the boat, it is even more important to review this safety issue. Wearing a life vest is a smart thing to do. Also, a sailboat...