randii
Member
Uncommon... but what a blast to ride!
Windrider 16?
- Thread starter TBW
- Start date
Tom Kirkman
Anarchist
Interestingly, the greatest foiling boat ever devised, the TriFoiler, uses that same concept of steering with your feet and sheeting with your hands.
craigiri
Super Anarchist
I've sailed WR17's and owned a 10' for two years - funny sailing that one - in RI and then on Sarasota Bay. Easy to launch from anywhere. You can sometimes find a used 10 for $500 or so.
The 17 is massive - that is, the 16 seems a more sweet spot unless there is a real reason for upsizing. A 17 can be modified to be a real boat - 4 or more adults on it!
The 16 is just perfect.
One advantage of these tris is the generally small sail area. I have seen Hobie tris out in the dangerous RI inlet around the rocks...in places I wouldn't have taken my Sprint 750. Other than the wet ride, a 20 MPH breeze is A-1 in those things.
Very few for sale up north these days. There were quite a few around Florida as I remember.
I think the "can't easily repair hull" thing is mostly BS....that is, for those using them on lakes, rivers, close in and recreationally it seems you could do a repair in various ways....as long as you aren't doing the Everglades Challenge.
Yes, I think the 16 with a few mods is the sweet spot for that boat.
The 17 is massive - that is, the 16 seems a more sweet spot unless there is a real reason for upsizing. A 17 can be modified to be a real boat - 4 or more adults on it!
The 16 is just perfect.
One advantage of these tris is the generally small sail area. I have seen Hobie tris out in the dangerous RI inlet around the rocks...in places I wouldn't have taken my Sprint 750. Other than the wet ride, a 20 MPH breeze is A-1 in those things.
Very few for sale up north these days. There were quite a few around Florida as I remember.
I think the "can't easily repair hull" thing is mostly BS....that is, for those using them on lakes, rivers, close in and recreationally it seems you could do a repair in various ways....as long as you aren't doing the Everglades Challenge.
Yes, I think the 16 with a few mods is the sweet spot for that boat.
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- Thread starter
- #24
Feild repairs aren't as easy as for composite boats, but if you are able to get the boat home to the shop between Gflex and plastic welding I think there are good options for longer term repair.
https://www.nickelsboatworks.com/products/80-watt-iron-plastic-welding-kit-choose-from-white-blue-or-yellow-plastic-patch?variant=40839629111457
Winston29
Member
I've had my 2001 WR16 for about a year and a half and have done a few things to improve it.
One of the first things I did was to add an external tiller so I could control the boat from outside of the cockpit; a nesessity (IMO) when approaching, or leaving, the dock. It's also nice to have a backup steering system, should you break a rudder cable.
Then I added a motor mount to one of the akas.. A Minn Kota Riptide-45 paired to a 100 Amp/Hr. LiFeP04 battery, located behind the seat, means I'll never have to paddle again. The whole system is pretty lightweight. I also added a spray skirt, boom vang, wind vane and tethers for the Ama hatches (they don't float).
Mine didn't come with a trailer either, so I built one out of a Harbor Freight model. It turned out pretty sweet, but in hindsight I wish I'd used something with a galvanized finish. I ramp-launch in salt water, and the paint is starting to show signs of corrosion and flaking. Yes, I rinse it every time.
They're fun boats and super easy to sail. Stable as hell too, which, with the dodgy discs in my lower back, I really appreciate.
Mine came with the cracks at the Aka mounts, but I'm able to run a plastic welder off the inverter in my van, so repairs are easy.
View attachment 513136
The spray skirt that works well with the 16's cockpit combing, is the Wilderness Systems TrueFit in size W12 ($109 from Amazon).
I have since added more bunks for the Amas.
View attachment 513138
One of the first things I did was to add an external tiller so I could control the boat from outside of the cockpit; a nesessity (IMO) when approaching, or leaving, the dock. It's also nice to have a backup steering system, should you break a rudder cable.
Then I added a motor mount to one of the akas.. A Minn Kota Riptide-45 paired to a 100 Amp/Hr. LiFeP04 battery, located behind the seat, means I'll never have to paddle again. The whole system is pretty lightweight. I also added a spray skirt, boom vang, wind vane and tethers for the Ama hatches (they don't float).
Mine didn't come with a trailer either, so I built one out of a Harbor Freight model. It turned out pretty sweet, but in hindsight I wish I'd used something with a galvanized finish. I ramp-launch in salt water, and the paint is starting to show signs of corrosion and flaking. Yes, I rinse it every time.
They're fun boats and super easy to sail. Stable as hell too, which, with the dodgy discs in my lower back, I really appreciate.
Mine came with the cracks at the Aka mounts, but I'm able to run a plastic welder off the inverter in my van, so repairs are easy.
View attachment 513136
The spray skirt that works well with the 16's cockpit combing, is the Wilderness Systems TrueFit in size W12 ($109 from Amazon).
I have since added more bunks for the Amas.
View attachment 513138
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- Thread starter
- #26
@Winston29 great tip on the spray skirt. Makes sense, Wilderness Systems makes some boats with some huge cockpits.
craigiri
Super Anarchist
I dug around to see if there were any for sale in the North - found one for about 2K (no trailer).
It doesn't look perfect - I'd say "good" condition.
If one shows up at a super good price or in excellent shape I'm game. I would also do the external rudder thing for starters. Given the choice I'd sail it from the tramps in brisk conditions.
I wouldn't want to attempt structural hull repairs but basically since it's a day sailer all you have to do it keep most water out of it. That's another reason for finding one that hasn't sat in the Florida or other sun for years. Plastics can break down.
It doesn't look perfect - I'd say "good" condition.
If one shows up at a super good price or in excellent shape I'm game. I would also do the external rudder thing for starters. Given the choice I'd sail it from the tramps in brisk conditions.
I wouldn't want to attempt structural hull repairs but basically since it's a day sailer all you have to do it keep most water out of it. That's another reason for finding one that hasn't sat in the Florida or other sun for years. Plastics can break down.
craigiri
Super Anarchist
Anyone know about the strange colors that some of these Windriders seem to be? I even noticed a pink one!
I wonder if the factory was just messing around with color schemes or if these are painted (which would be terrible).
I found some brochures and no gradient or rainbow colors were mentioned - I did see a pic of a Rave model that was similar.
I wonder if the factory was just messing around with color schemes or if these are painted (which would be terrible).
I found some brochures and no gradient or rainbow colors were mentioned - I did see a pic of a Rave model that was similar.
Winston29
Member
I've seen that green color you posted a few times, so it's likely factory. I've also seen white(ish), red, blue, orange, yellow, and the orange/yellow like mine.
The strangest thing I've seen done to the -16 was a guy who welded tubular hinges to his aka tubes so the amas could be folded up above the boat. This was done to make assembly much quicker. It looked pretty slick, but I've no idea how well it worked.
- Thread starter
- #30
So, a out a month and a half with the Windrider 16. Still loving it.
We camp off grid in our travel trailer May-October, so we need a boat we can keep chained to a tree on a beach with relatively public access. Needs to be light enough to drag up and down the beach, needs to be not too attractive for trouble makers...
Until this year the job has gone to our Hobie Bravo, which I love, but my wife hates, too small...
We are getting the WR16 out multiple times a week, beaching it each night.
It still seems like an extremely good boat for our purpose.
Either I or my 8 year old son sail the boat. My 8 year old and 3 year old sit on the port Trampolene where my son can reach my home made push pull tiller. I sit in the cockpit. My wife lounges on the Starboard Trampolene. Cooler with lunch and beverages go behind the seat.
The upwind performance could be better, but the boat will tack upriver with 4 people on board on the St Lawrence River, which has a substantial current. So it's good enough and performance reaching is pretty exciting.
I don't think I could drag a bigger boat up the beach on my own.
We camp off grid in our travel trailer May-October, so we need a boat we can keep chained to a tree on a beach with relatively public access. Needs to be light enough to drag up and down the beach, needs to be not too attractive for trouble makers...
Until this year the job has gone to our Hobie Bravo, which I love, but my wife hates, too small...
We are getting the WR16 out multiple times a week, beaching it each night.
It still seems like an extremely good boat for our purpose.
Either I or my 8 year old son sail the boat. My 8 year old and 3 year old sit on the port Trampolene where my son can reach my home made push pull tiller. I sit in the cockpit. My wife lounges on the Starboard Trampolene. Cooler with lunch and beverages go behind the seat.
The upwind performance could be better, but the boat will tack upriver with 4 people on board on the St Lawrence River, which has a substantial current. So it's good enough and performance reaching is pretty exciting.
I don't think I could drag a bigger boat up the beach on my own.
Winston29
Member
Have you looked for parts lately? They're getting very hard to find, and word has it, soon they won't be available at all.
Most items on Nickels Boat Works site are sold out.
Fortunately, the -16 doesn't have a lot of parts you couldn't just source for yourself, if needed. Not like the -17.
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- Thread starter
- #32
I tried to buy a wr16 sail from them in the fall, they said they would get back to me with a shipping quote, then silence. Figure I could just have one made by a local sailmaker if I need one.
Supersailmakers still offer WR-16 sails made to order.
Windrider 16 - Main (Solid Color, No Cover)
Durable, affordable Main (Solid Color, No Cover) for the Windrider 16 by Super Sailmakers, America's leading small sail sailmaker.
www.supersailmakers.com
MultiThom
Super Anarchist
There's really not much involved in cutting down a larger sail for this boat. Just buy a second hand jib and place the old sail on top of the jib and cut around the edges. Move the reinforcements to the new corners and you are done (some hand sewing needed). https://sailtrader.com/used-sails/
