Kayak Sails especially for Hobies
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Tugboat,
Personally I found the Hobie sail to be a bit too much. If the wind picks up to 20 knots or so then you could find yourself in a spot of bother with the Hobie sail.
If you were just going to sail for the day then I would recommend it, but say you are out fishing and an onshore wind blows up. Just whip out your Spirit Sail, whack it on and away you go.
As a matter of fact you can sail into the breeze with this sail as well. When put away it takes up minimal space.
And if the wind gusts too much just let the lanyards slack and the sail masts will bend allowing the excess wind to flow over the top.
Try that with the Hobie sail!
So it all depends on what you are after.
Here are some pics I took a while ago, I'll get some more this arvo showing the mount etc.
Cheers,
Jake
Personally I found the Hobie sail to be a bit too much. If the wind picks up to 20 knots or so then you could find yourself in a spot of bother with the Hobie sail.
If you were just going to sail for the day then I would recommend it, but say you are out fishing and an onshore wind blows up. Just whip out your Spirit Sail, whack it on and away you go.
As a matter of fact you can sail into the breeze with this sail as well. When put away it takes up minimal space.
And if the wind gusts too much just let the lanyards slack and the sail masts will bend allowing the excess wind to flow over the top.
Try that with the Hobie sail!
So it all depends on what you are after.
Here are some pics I took a while ago, I'll get some more this arvo showing the mount etc.
Cheers,
Jake
Attachments
Also some close up of the home-made mount - using the supplied Spirit yoke piece which actually has a Scotty fitting and comes with a Scotty mounting block.
I just had to mount that to the 22mm steel tube which fits perfectly inside the existing Hobie sail mount tube.
I just had to mount that to the 22mm steel tube which fits perfectly inside the existing Hobie sail mount tube.
Attachments
Joined
·
522 Posts
Hi Jake,
Thanks for the comprehensive info, I've had a look at the Hobie sails and have been wondering about what happens if the wind picks up too much especially on a little Hobie sport. I'll probably go down the path you have. Where did you get your sail kit from? and if you don't mind how much was it? I noticed you have an Outback and a Sport according to your signature. Have you used your sail kit on the Sport?
Tugboat
Thanks for the comprehensive info, I've had a look at the Hobie sails and have been wondering about what happens if the wind picks up too much especially on a little Hobie sport. I'll probably go down the path you have. Where did you get your sail kit from? and if you don't mind how much was it? I noticed you have an Outback and a Sport according to your signature. Have you used your sail kit on the Sport?
Tugboat
The Sport belongs to my missus and she has the identical setup, and we have had some cracking days on the river when the wind is too great for fishing.
I bought the sail from a kayak shop at Wynnum (about $400?), but Im not sure they still exist. Go to the website it may be easier to just order it from them.
http://www.spiritsails.com/
I see they have online (full size) for $330 Canadian dollars which at today's rate is about $371 AUD.
The mount is pretty easy to make, you will need some good timber (I used an offcut RedGum timber decking) and stainless bolts as well as the tube.
Tube and bolts/nuts/washers at the local chandler (Whitworths in the Gabba right next to Mossops Tackle).
Cheers,
Jake
I bought the sail from a kayak shop at Wynnum (about $400?), but Im not sure they still exist. Go to the website it may be easier to just order it from them.
http://www.spiritsails.com/
I see they have online (full size) for $330 Canadian dollars which at today's rate is about $371 AUD.
The mount is pretty easy to make, you will need some good timber (I used an offcut RedGum timber decking) and stainless bolts as well as the tube.
Tube and bolts/nuts/washers at the local chandler (Whitworths in the Gabba right next to Mossops Tackle).
Cheers,
Jake
Found some plans a while back for a diy sail kit that is similar to the pacific action sail kit that may be a cheaper option.
http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/grantgla ... tssail.htm
http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/grantgla ... tssail.htm
Joined
·
11,115 Posts
Might be good advice there Jake, a few weeks ago a bloke in an outback in about 15 knots and was having a lively time of it on the dam, and thought at the time it might have been more pleasant with not quite as much grunt up front.Jake said:
On coming ashore he said it had been a bit of a handfull although in no danger at any stage, and further I don't know what experience he had under sail prior to my seeing him and know he dropped the sail and used mirage the rest of the time
Joined
·
522 Posts
Hi Jake,
Just went out an had a look at the Spirit Sail and also the Pacific action sail.
The Spirit Sail appears to be fixed in its mount, thus to sail across the wind I'm assuming you need to lift it out of the scotty mount and rotate?
The Lanyards that are attached in your photos, are they extra bits you have added?
I only got to see the small Spirit sail. Is yours the larger one?
The Pacific action sails seem to be able to fold down which I like, however I'm visualising this getting in the way of the Mirage drive.
:roll:
Just went out an had a look at the Spirit Sail and also the Pacific action sail.
The Spirit Sail appears to be fixed in its mount, thus to sail across the wind I'm assuming you need to lift it out of the scotty mount and rotate?
The Lanyards that are attached in your photos, are they extra bits you have added?
I only got to see the small Spirit sail. Is yours the larger one?
The Pacific action sails seem to be able to fold down which I like, however I'm visualising this getting in the way of the Mirage drive.
:roll:
Tugboat,
Because the Scotty is attached to the stainless tube, the tube is free to turn inside the Hobie mast tube, so it swivels freely 360°. There is no need to adjust the Scotty once you put it together.
I have added the lanyards, that is correct.
I have the full size sail.
The Spirit cannot be folded other than to put it away into its bag. A mate has the smaller Spirit for his Outback but it is not really big enough. Possible ok for the Sport but my missus still uses the large one no worries.
Cheers,
Jake
Because the Scotty is attached to the stainless tube, the tube is free to turn inside the Hobie mast tube, so it swivels freely 360°. There is no need to adjust the Scotty once you put it together.
I have added the lanyards, that is correct.
I have the full size sail.
The Spirit cannot be folded other than to put it away into its bag. A mate has the smaller Spirit for his Outback but it is not really big enough. Possible ok for the Sport but my missus still uses the large one no worries.
Cheers,
Jake
Joined
·
545 Posts
Hi Guys,
I actually forked out for the Hobie sail when I bought my yak (outfitter fish) and I must say I thoroughly recommend it!
With a reasonable breeze it doubles my lazy pedal speed of 2 knots to about 4 knots. If you pedal harder it goes faster - adding 2+ knots to your peddling speed on average.
The sail is not as good as I had fantasised about however - using the sail without pedalling seems to be a bit slow (2 knots in a breeze). This is based on my outfitter fish which is a bit of a fat lady (being a tandem kayak); I'm sure the sail would perform better on the sleeker yaks.
I was hoping to be able to simply sail around Sydney Harbour while reclining enjoying a margarita, constantly pulling in fish from the lures being effortlessly trolled behind.
Oh well, at least I can dream....
As far as safety and comfort is concerned - I simply roll the sail around the mast when not in use, which adds to the yaks visibility on the water. If you want to deploy the sail it is simply a matter of pulling the main line and it comes right out. You can also pull the mast completely out while on the water and easily stow it down the side of the yak. Not much of a hassle at all.
Overall, I would recommend the sail kit.
PS: You are welcome to test my sail out on your yak if you want to join me on a Harbour fishing trip one day.
I actually forked out for the Hobie sail when I bought my yak (outfitter fish) and I must say I thoroughly recommend it!
With a reasonable breeze it doubles my lazy pedal speed of 2 knots to about 4 knots. If you pedal harder it goes faster - adding 2+ knots to your peddling speed on average.
The sail is not as good as I had fantasised about however - using the sail without pedalling seems to be a bit slow (2 knots in a breeze). This is based on my outfitter fish which is a bit of a fat lady (being a tandem kayak); I'm sure the sail would perform better on the sleeker yaks.
I was hoping to be able to simply sail around Sydney Harbour while reclining enjoying a margarita, constantly pulling in fish from the lures being effortlessly trolled behind.
Oh well, at least I can dream....As far as safety and comfort is concerned - I simply roll the sail around the mast when not in use, which adds to the yaks visibility on the water. If you want to deploy the sail it is simply a matter of pulling the main line and it comes right out. You can also pull the mast completely out while on the water and easily stow it down the side of the yak. Not much of a hassle at all.
Overall, I would recommend the sail kit.
PS: You are welcome to test my sail out on your yak if you want to join me on a Harbour fishing trip one day.
Interestingly, and inspired by the recent talk of sails, I put mine up yesterday when fishing with Ken and Ash. This was the first time I have tried to combine sailing and fishing and it is also the last!
There was actually too much wind for me so I gave it away after a little while, but I certainly got some good speed up (but no...not 11 knots :lol: )
Cheers,
Jake
There was actually too much wind for me so I gave it away after a little while, but I certainly got some good speed up (but no...not 11 knots :lol: )
Cheers,
Jake
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
