Hobie 16: what's better - jib halyard vs. Aussie halyard

I'm re-doing my new (to me) H16 year 2004, and have been reading up and studying on all issues. Need to replace both halyards, and now the question presents itself: regular Hobie jib halyard or the Aussie sysem jib halyard?

The way I understand it is that the Aussie halyard makes the hoisting "a bit easier" to put good tension on the jib .... is that it?

Seems to me that hoistung the jib is not really muscle work, or is it? Never really had a problem with a "regular" jib halyard .... please tell me: are there any other (special) issues besides the easier hoisting?

Is it worth the extra $$$ to get the Aussie system???

Thank for your recommendations and comments,

Ralph

Besides being easier to set the jib and mast, the Aussie rig, because it shifts the tension point on the mast, is easier for the mast to rotate.

I switched because of the rotation factor. I sail in a smaller lake with frequent tacks. With the original rig, it would sometimes take the mast a minute or two to rotate, a problem when your tack only lasts a couple of minutes before needing to tack again. For that reason, it was well worth the money.

Merely to make raising the jib would not have been worth the money.

Jim Clark-Dawe

Interesting, I didn't realize that the attachment point on the mast changed with the Aussie set up.

I thought the benefit is that you can more easily adjust the rig tension on the water. A looser rig for downwind or low wind conditions, etc.

I don't have an Aussie rig, and the only times I have had issues with mast rotation was when I have tons of downhaul on the main sail. It put so much bend in the mast it wouldn't rotate properly.

_________________
Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

For a rather thorough discussion on the Aussie rig -- https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36618

Jim Clark-Dawe

It does require some muscle to get the rig sufficiently tight. Are you tightening it enough such that the forestay is slack and shrouds are snug (not just raising the sail)?

Which halyard do you have now? (A 2004 should already have the Aussie halyard.)

What are you replacing and why? (Normally only the line portion needs replacing in either system.)

_________________
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16