8
Handling and Maintenance
Before sailing, check the following points :
1/ Install the drain plugs (if any) – do not overtighten, hand tight is suf-
ficient. Overtightening may cause the drain plug flange to distort and
cause leakage.
2/ Tension the rig. This can be accomplished by having your assistant
hang from the trapeze or you can use mainsheet tension on one side
at a time so that you can adjust the shroud position in the side stay
adjusters.
3/ Check all fastenings :
- Mast tang shackles and shrouds (to prevent the mast to fall down)
- pins and trapeze rope locks (to prevent falling out in the water if the
trapeze is not well fastened)
- pins and spring rings on the forestay and shrouds (to prevent the
mast to fall down)
- spring rings on the rudder pins (to prevent loosing the rudder as-
sembly in case of capsizing)
Transport
In order to avoid hull damages :
- Always use a dolly to transport your Hobie on the beach (even if it is
sand beach) and for launching. Step into the water with the dolly and
once the cat is afloat take out the dolly.
- DO NOT BEACH. Beaching, even smoothly, may damage the hulls. use
your beach dolly to take the boat out of the water.
- For towing, always use an homologated road trailer with cradles.
Launching your Hobie Cat
Launching the boat is easiest when the boat can be pointed into the
wind to keep it de-powered and floated into deep enough water to
lower the rudders.
It is possible to launch in shallow water with the rudders partly up.
Try not to steer with too much force on the rudders until you lock them
in the down position.
Keep the sail loose and trimmed out completely until you can power up
and steer away from any obstacle.
