Steve and Dave Clarks Unidentified Foiling Object

[P Flados]

Righting seemed easy enough most of the time. Sometimes, it seemed harder (choppy made it worse). Feet slipping and getting off center were typical problems. I had plenty of opportunities and never got worried about the outcome.

 

[GraniteGuy]

Is UFO easy to right single-handed?

Yes. (I'm 71 and 165 pounds.)

If you get to the boat before it turtles, it's a matter of grabbing the righting line (an extension on each one helps), putting your feet on the lower hull, and leaning a bit. It comes up very easily and, if you weigh more than 100 pounds, you should have no problem at all.

If it turtles, which it will do fairly quickly, it's trickier. The issue is keeping your footing on the slippery hull while you're bringing it up from turtled to lying on its side. Again, force is not an issue and I suspect (but am not sure) that a crew weight of 100 pounds would be enough for this.

One other thing. During a crash to windward when I just can't stay with the boat, I try hard to hold onto the main sheet (NOT THE TILLER!). The boat will then capsize and you have a line to pull yourself back in plenty of time to right it before it turtles. I much prefer doing this to letting the boat go. If it doesn't capsize, it will park itself but you may have a long-ish swim to it. It's generally easier for me to right it than swim to it.

 

[martin 'hoff]

If it turtles, which it will do fairly quickly, it's trickier. The issue is keeping your footing on the slippery hull while you're bringing it up from turtled to lying on its side.

It's as easy as GraniteGuy says.

I found that slippery point important (I slid a few times, spect-ouch-acurlarly) so I always sail with some grippy super thin dinghy boot. It's important that it's super thin so it goes easy under footstraps.

The big/heavy dinghy boots not recommended. Instead something like - https://store.offshorespars.com/products/ronstan-superflex-sailing-shoe - is better.

 

[LarryO]

Is UFO easy to right single-handed?

I'm also 71 years old, 6' tall 145 lbs (66kg) and have had no trouble righting my UFO without any assistance even if turtled. I always wear thin booties which both help on slippery decks and prevent me from scraping the front/top of my ankles so much.


Also agree with the 'rule' to hold onto the mainsheet rather than tiller on a capsize to windward. The boat is very well behaved with nobody on board, heading into irons quickly but as others have said, it can take longer and create more distance between you and your boat.

 

[Laz]

I want to upgrade from Sunfish. I want something fun. I am stuck between Weta and UFO. Both are awesome boats.

 

[Laz]

I think I am gonna go with the UFO. Almost half the price, brings some challange into the fun, car toppable...

 

[P Flados]

A warning in regard to the above discussions.

More than 95% of the time, it you separate from an upright boat it will "self park". Occasionally, the main sheet can snarl with the tiller (or other similar weird occurrence) allowing the unmanned boat to "sail off into the sunset". Been there, done that.

Do not let go of the mainsheet if you go overboard!

 

[Laz]

A warning in regard to the above discussions.

More than 95% of the time, it you separate from an upright boat it will "self park". Occasionally, the main sheet can snarl with the tiller (or other similar weird occurrence) allowing the unmanned boat to "sail off into the sunset". Been there, done that.

Do not let go of the mainsheet if you go overboard!

Once up on a time, like a long long time ago, I rented a Wave. It had a floating device on the top of the mast. The boat doesn't turtle. I learned that lesson well that day. I capsized and the wind took the boat away. I had to be saved. The second time - the very same day - I capsized I didn't let the boat go, but this round, after I righted the boat, it sailed away from me. I realized I had forgotten to unhook the mainsheet system from the sail clew before righting, so the boat just took off. The rescue folks were laughing at me. I also learned that as you right the Wave, you wanna end up in the middle of the hulls. I think every boat has its own bad habits.

 

[martin 'hoff]

I want to upgrade from Sunfish. I want something fun. I am stuck between Weta and UFO. Both are awesome boats.

I own both. Ask me anything (tbh I love both).

 

[GraniteGuy]

I, too, own both. If I had to give up one, it would be the UFO.

The Weta is both the highest performance boat I've owned (16 knots in a 14' boat with two aboard) and one of the most forgiving. I have really pushed it and haven't capsized in 12 years. It's fun in a huge range of conditions, from near drifting to maybe-I should-have-stayed-home. I'm comfortable sailing it alone in tough conditions, something I never would have done in my Hobie 16.

The UFO has been a challenge, frustrating at times, and I still struggle with foiling consistently after several years on it. I take it out only in a very narrow wind band because it's just plain dull in displacement mode and I am overpowered easily when the wind's even moderately strong. Others have become proficient in it quickly but I have not, and I have been sailing a long time in a wide range of boats.

The bottom line is that I'd recommend starting with the Weta if you want a high-performance boat that's fun solo or with up to two others, or starting with the UFO if you want a solo-only challenge. Both are remarkable boats and well worth owning.

 

[Alan Crawford]

I want to upgrade from Sunfish. I want something fun. I am stuck between Weta and UFO. Both are awesome boats.

I've not owned a UFO but have owned a Weta. A comment about the Weta is that it's a great boat provided you have a place to keep it assembled, rigged and ready to sail. If so, getting the Weta on the water is about as simple as a Sunfish. However, if you have to trailer the Weta to the water each time you want to go sailing.....

 

[WCB]

I, too, own both. If I had to give up one, it would be the UFO.

The Weta is both the highest performance boat I've owned (16 knots in a 14' boat with two aboard) and one of the most forgiving. I have really pushed it and haven't capsized in 12 years. It's fun in a huge range of conditions, from near drifting to maybe-I should-have-stayed-home. I'm comfortable sailing it alone in tough conditions, something I never would have done in my Hobie 16.

The UFO has been a challenge, frustrating at times, and I still struggle with foiling consistently after several years on it. I take it out only in a very narrow wind band because it's just plain dull in displacement mode and I am overpowered easily when the wind's even moderately strong. Others have become proficient in it quickly but I have not, and I have been sailing a long time in a wide range of boats.

The bottom line is that I'd recommend starting with the Weta if you want a high-performance boat that's fun solo or with up to two others, or starting with the UFO if you want a solo-only challenge. Both are remarkable boats and well worth owning.

Are you trying to foil on the UFO on a lake in NH? If so, that could be part of the frustration. I have a UFO (there are three here actually) and we have fun foiling but it's not consistent due to the shifty lake winds. I'm thinking about sending the UFO to Cape Cod where we get some great wind.

 

[GraniteGuy]

I've not owned a UFO but have owned a Weta. A comment about the Weta is that it's a great boat provided you have a place to keep it assembled, rigged and ready to sail. If so, getting the Weta on the water is about as simple as a Sunfish. However, if you have to trailer the Weta to the water each time you want to go sailing.....

Yeah, the rigging part...

Both my Weta and UFO sit on their dollies, mast up and covered, so sailing prep is limited to uncovering and raising sails before wheeling them into the water. 25 min for the Weta, 15 for the UFO (OK, I'm slow...). If they were completely collapsed (mast down, amas stowed, etc.) as they would be either behind (Weta) or on (UFO) a car, times would be wildly different and the UFO would be launched while I had a long way to go with the far more complex Weta, and that could well change my feelings about which boat I'd keep.

What the two boats need for launching is another factor to consider. I'm incredibly lucky to have a perfect launch spot for both -- a gently sloped sand beach on a lake. If I had to launch off a float (hello, Kelly), I wouldn't even consider a Weta.

As for becoming proficient with the UFO, I'm on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH (71 square miles) so I don't have to deal with small-lake squirrelly winds. It's just me.

 

[Sailboat&Ships]

Hi all, just finalized a move to Portland, ME. I'll be bring the UFO up (from Buffalo/Cleveland) at some point this summer. Just putting up a flag in case anyone else active on here is in the area and/or is interested in getting together to learn about the boat. Just got it in December but had a very sucessful time picking things up doww in Savannah - big thanks to both Kelly and Dave. @GraniteGuy I might even have to come check out Lake Winnipesaukee, not too far a drive and I do love some fresh water. Picture from the Rally (proof of flight!).

 

[LarryO]

Hi all, just finalized a move to Portland, ME. I'll be bring the UFO up (from Buffalo/Cleveland) at some point this summer. Just putting up a flag in case anyone else active on here is in the area and/or is interested in getting together to learn about the boat. Just got it in December but had a very sucessful time picking things up doww in Savannah - big thanks to both Kelly and Dave. @GraniteGuy I might even have to come check out Lake Winnipesaukee, not too far a drive and I do love some fresh water. Picture from the Rally (proof of flight!). View attachment 581539

Love this picture! I'm stealing it for my laptop's startup image.

 

[Sailboat&Ships]

Love this picture! I'm stealing it for my laptop's startup image.

Haha, glad to hear. Enjoy!

 

[Joseph Lapp]

Question about finishing the ends of the shroud lines. I recently replaced them but using a barbecue lighter does not melt the ends. How do you finish the ends. Really hate fraded lines even if they not mine. A bit OCD I guess.

 

[Joseph Lapp]

I know the question above may be a bit trivial but that what happens when there's 3'of snow on thr ground and water temperature of 33°!

 

[LarryO]

Question about finishing the ends of the shroud lines. I recently replaced them but using a barbecue lighter does melt the ends. How do you finish the ends. Really hate fraded lines even if they not mine. A bit OCD I guess.

I whip every line! It's easy to do and stops the fraying and sloppy look. Keep it CLEAN AND NEAT!

The Oldest and Best Method for Whipping a Line

The end of a rope on a sailboat should be whipped to prevent unraveling and fraying at the end. Learn how to whip a line.

www.liveabout.com

 

[Kelly Federal]

SFoR '23 UPDATE
I've always said you should foil with friends: it makes you a better foiler.


Thanks so much for all the participants: Ledge, John E, John M, Yichi, Kyrle, Cary, Zulmarie (and Doug!!), Joe, Julian, Jay, Lloyd, and Ben. I loved having all you guys down here. Thanks, too, to Dave for the parts and boat support as well as the on- and off-water instruction.

Based on all the feedback from y'all and from other stakeholders, there seems to be support for this to continue as an annual event. Now that I've been reacquainted with my family, I'll see what I can do to lock in dates for next year.

In the meantime, and as I've stated before, there's an open invitation for anyone to come foiling on the flat waters of Savannah at any time. We now have THREE boats down here at SYC, so just bring some sunscreen and bug spray.

Cheers,
Kelly