hobie 18 spinnaker

i don't think a rope tang works on mine... the sail goes all the way to the top...

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eric, sail #205

I think... (not sure on this), that you are supposed to drill holes though the sail track where you install the rope tang, so that you can pull you're main all the way up... (drill into the track, not the actual mast) - someone correct me if i'm wrong please....

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

I have a H14 tang mounted on the comptip with dyneema down to a micro block threaded on the dyneema bail. The bail goes thru holes drilled into the comptip track, where the sail track snaps on. I don't think the bail support goes to the top of the mast in the surf city system but it may.
If you flew the spin off the H14 tang alone it would most likely pull out, but by pulling down on the tang it has substantially more shear strength. With the bail circleing the tip you get all the strength available from the tip. If the mast fails it will be at the diamond upper hounds or at the spreaders.