Aussie Jib Halyard

I've just got back into an H16 after 30 years on other boats including a 14Turbo I still have.

My boat came with an Aussie Jib Halyard and I find the jib battens catch on it where it runs down the front of the mast.

I'd thought of using the plastic guides fastened to the mast to move it out of the way but figured that would effect the way it tensioned.

I mounted a small cam cleat at the junction of the bridle and have run the halyard tail down to this cleat. This makes it easier to tension, moves the head of the jib forward (as the halyard is not running back at an angle) and helps the jib slip past the mast when tacking.

Can anyone see any reason why this won't work or why it shouldn't be done?

I don't race race so don't care about the rules.

I run the remainder of the halyard back to the forebaem much like an H14T furler or 14 rake adjuster so I don't see that as a problem.

All comments/opinions appreciated.

I would think that could be not so great for a few reasons. First being that the halyard could come off the bridle cam cleat mid-sail, the second being that it would make halyard tension and also total rig tension difficult if not impossible to adjust while on the water.

Even if you're not racing, on the water tuning can be helpful if while your out for a daysail and find yourself vastly over or under-powered. The jib halyard can really help with that and if you can't get to the cleat, then you can't adjust it.

You are also adding tension to the jib luff and that could do weird things to the sail shape. You may also be stressing the bridle connection, which I have seen fail on older boats even without this mod. The resulting demasting isn't fun as the mast can come straight back at you.

To me, it would seem like adding a few clips offcenter on the mast to keep the jib from hooking the battens would be a safer idea. I also see racers with clear plastic jib pocket extensions sewn onto the sails, making the jib slip side to side more easily.

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

The jib halyard is the most important adjustment on the 16. It sets your rig tension, your mast rake and ultimately the power level of the rig. You need to be able to adjust it on the water.

Trim the jib battens so they extend only 1/2" past the leech of the sail, tape them off (with electrical tape) and install a fairlead on the centerline of the mast for the halyard just above the top jib batten.

The jib battens catch on the 16. It's the nature of the beast.

I don't se how it will incresase the load on the bridle.

The bridle is being pulled upwards by the jib so running the halyard back down to the bridle won't double (or change) the pre-load it's under.

The cam cleat has a fairlead so there's no more reason for it to fall out than the traveller or jib sheet falling out. If it's so loose it falls out the mast would be flopping about.

Not sure how a mast would fall down if the halyard broke/fell out as there is always the forestay to catch the mast.

I can see adjusting it on the water would be more difficult but as I've yet to adjust the tension on a jib in 20+ years of Hobie sailing I guess I'll take my chances.

I would rather not drill anymore holes in the mast and running the halyard down the side of any mast will assist it bend on way and restrict bending it the other.

I'll see ehow it goes over ourr Summer and make a decision.

Its your boat, rig it how you like, but my intial reaction is that this setup will have more drawbacks than advantages.

There is tension on the jib luff, but your taking all the tension that runs down the mast to the cleat and adding it to the bridle, rather than spreading it around, like the stock setup.

I thought a demasting could come from the halyard, which is way out on the front of the boat, not the most accesable place when sailing, could come loose unexpectedly and put all the rig tension suddenly on the forestay, which could fail and then, whammo, mast in your lap.

I sail my 16 solo 80% of the time and Ive found getting the jib stuck on the halyard is really only a problem in light air. Then I just scooch up front and give the halyard and jib sheet a few tugs. When the wind is up, the jib will typically pull right on over, no snags. If its does, I sheet out a bit more jib line and it will ease it over or also I just wiggle the jib halyard a bit and sail off on the new tack.

Again, your boat, and just my 2 pennies

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152