Hobie Cat!

[Clatter]

OK, not really a bus thing per se, but close enough...


Wanted to share an adventure that finally culminated last weekend!

A friend was giving away a Hobie 16.. Thanks Karl/Morgan!
(Nothing as expensive as a free boat, right?)
I think i paid too much!

These things take up a lot more room than you think,
And it sat in my driveway, in the way, for like, um, five years or so..

However,
The boys were getting a bit older, and especially my oldest, took an interest in it,
So we threw a couple of weekends at it, doing a mast job, replacing a few sheets,
And rigging it one time in the back yard, to be sure it was all there.
Plus trailer wiring, safety chains and all that stuff..
The whole project came in under a hundred bucks, which was a nice surprise.
It had a home-made sail box on it made from a huge piece of PVC that weighed 270#(!)
So obviously, pulling with a Bus, that had to go (the boat itself weighs 320#).

Another thing i learned about these from having one years and years ago,
is that you are better off with some somewhat-experienced help with rigging and setting up.
In the past, everyone would be standing around, hands in pockets, complaining about the heat, wanting to get going,
And i would be struggling to step the mast and rig everything, by myself, while on the wobbly trailer.
So having my kids big enough to help was key..


So... Saturday morning was too windy for surfing...
And windy is what we want!

We loaded up and went over the hill - Highway 17 - and went to a small reservoir - Lexington, by Los Gatos.
While 17 is a steep pull, my trusty type 4 did it all no problem, along with traffic, albeit in the right lane.
Thank you Jake Raby.

It was pretty funny when we got there..
Back last time i was here (1999? ) there were at least a dozen sailboats on this lake, and always a few Hobies.
The ranger guy there said he had been there five years, and had yet to see a sailboat on the lake.

There was this moment where the two rangers were obviously stumped if this was OK,
And they tried a few 3rd-world shut-down techniques to get me to go away.
You know the types.. "You don't have your mussel tag".. "Yes i do, it's right there".. Etc. Etc.
"You have a current drivers license?" "You'll have to pay three different fees" "The water is too low for the dock, you'll have to launch off of the gravel".
The kids were getting really disappointed and upset by now.
When i got the "You have the registration paperwork for the boat on your person right now?"
I finally got irked and started giving it right back at them, so they backed down and let me go load the boat..

Needless to say, we had the place to ourselves..

It was hot that morning.
Stepping the mast and rigging the whole thing in the sun, heat radiating off the gravel, not a spec of shade..
Add an annoyed Dad, and two beginner kids helping a first-time setup,
Things got a bit testy, but we rigged it and slipped it into the lake..

Just then, by friend Jason showed up with his two boys, and away all six of us went!
This is more than you are probably supposed to have on a Hobie 16,
But they knew better than to keep messing with me by then, no doubt.

It ended up being a great day on the lake;
Didn't take my phone on purpose.
There is of course no swimming allowed,
So we found a great isolated hidden swimming cove.
No diving either, so we of course didn't jump off the big jumping rock..

Water was warm, wind was up, boat worked well, pure luck shined down upon..


At the end of the day,
the bus was retrieved, and a light boat makes for an easy load-up.

Kids are grabbing snacks,
And Jason is digging around in the bus, "There's got to be another beer around here somewheres.."

The two 13-year-olds made a strong showing; helping to load, and knock the rig down.
Nice to have good help after a big day; Proud of them!

All in all, a great day!
1976 Bus and 1981 Hobie 16 - classic combo from a time gone by.

Obviously, all of the real, outside things people used to do,
are getting replaced with indoor activities on a computer screen..

Go out there and do things, people! Real things..!

Subvert the dominant paradigm!
_________________
Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[tkgeorge_99]

Sweet combo. I love Hobie cats and Buses. I've pulled our 16 with the Vanagon but never our bus. Looks tight.

[aeromech]

The first place to look would be the battery cables. If those seem okay then slide under and make sure your ground strap at the transmission nose is there and working...... oh wait.... this thread is about a sailboat, sorry

My bus and boat around 1980

_________________
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Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[TomWesty]

[Clatter]

[Abscate]

A Hobie 16 is like a Bug with a454 in it....seriously powered up.

Don’t forget the righting line...

...and PFDs go on when we exit the car at the ramp.
_________________
.ssS!

[TomWesty]

[wcfvw69]

Never mind!

Nice boat
_________________
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[Xevin]

You need to rock some old school shorts next time you on that cat. These pictures of you and the kids take me back to a good place when I was a kid. Love it Word of the day is “Pitchpole”

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Keep on Busin'

[TomWesty]

[white74westy]

[TDCTDI]

[vwwestyman]

Those are some bitchin' shorts, too! Sky's out, thighs out!

Good on you for making your kids play outside! Much better memories than Fortnite kills or whatever. Too bad the rangers were doing their best to make everyone go back inside, glad you beat them!

I love boating and the water and all that, and enjoyed the little sail boats we used years ago at Boy Scout Camp. But with a ski boat, 3 canoes and a kayak, I already have my own armada and no room and time for such a boat! Maybe one day I'll have the time, which will dictate that I find the room!
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Abscate]

[Clatter]

Yeah, 20 years ago I lived in Phoenix and got a Hobie 16 for $600.

We used to take it out on big reservoirs during the monsoons;
Learned all of those lessons at least once.

Make sure you put the pin in before righting,
Otherwise you might drop the mast out in the middle of the lake.
Didn’t have to learn that one twice..

Kept that one on the beach here in SC for a couple of summers,
And got to do the trapeze, and jump swells and all.

You really have to experience the CAT to really understand the thrill..

Still,
This lake thing we’re doing with the kids ain’t nothing like that.
This is just piddling around, basically using it like a mobile swim platform..

We’ll work our way up, if we can continue to pry the kids away from Fortnite..


And, yes, the mast will hit the top coming down out of the drive.
(Good catch)
It’s just bungee’d in place, so it will give as needed.
Wanted to weld an extension, but that’s galvanized,
So,
Y’know.. We make due for now..

I’m really digging this ‘play around’ thing on the lakes;
Cooler full of snacks/drinks, exploration of little coves..

On the ocean here you have to wear a wetsuit,
And on windy days its bang-bang-bang thru the chop..
A thrill, no doubt,
But,
Way out by the mile bouy,
Hanging way out,
It’s really not a place for kids and a ‘free’ boat, dig?
_________________
Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[alinghi12]

Wow I can't believe you went over 17 towing that thing, I feel way better now going over the hill. Ya'll ever want to sail that thing in the bay hit us up!
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1986 Westy Stock 2.1l
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[dstimm]

I love my Hobie 16. My dad introduced me to Hobies when I was a little guy and it was the first boat I could sale on my own. I started learning with the jib, then my dad graduated me to the main sail. I have so much fond memories with them. I never thought a bus would be good at towing something like this, interesting.

[Zed999]

I used to go all over the UK with my eldest and a friend of his towing two lasers on a double decker trailer with my 1700 westy. The only problem was that they played the music so loud I once found I'd gone 15 miles in 3rd at 60mph without noticing. No harm done fortunately and it was very smooth at those revs.

Great pics and story, it's good to show your kids that more fun is had away from the internet.