Jib Snagging

I have a 1984 hobie 16 and when i go to tack the jib would start to go over and the battens will then come hung up on the mast. Is there anything you can do to provent that from happening? Thanks. [/b]

Hey CboatMan7

There are two things you can do. The first is to make sure that your jib battens are as short as they can be...leaving as little exposed to hang upon the mast.

The second is to purchase a halyard keeper, which keeps the halyards off to the side of the mast so they don't get caught on the battens. These are avaiable through Hobie or Murrays.

If you don't care about being class legal, you can get special, light weight, flexible jib battens or hinges you can add to the battens to help them not get hung up. There are some posts here about the hinges, but I haven't tried them before.

Good Luck,

Drej

Cboatman7

Have hinges on my jib. Work great. The jib will wear a little more where the hinge pivots. I also agree, keep the battens as short as possible.

John

I am a big fan of the halyard keeper... It's just a little hook that pulls the jib halyard over to the side of the mast. That's what your battens are hanging up on.. Mike