how do i rig the trapeze?

Im getting most stuff figured out, but how do i set up the trapeze harnesses? Theres two of them, original from the 77 i bought. Is it for two people on each side, or for one person to use on each side of the boat?

Also it came with three quick release pins. About three inches long, flared bell at the end with a pushbutton release. Where should i be using these?

The ratchet block that connects to the rear traveller car has a pull pin in it. Is this correct? Im guessing so you can disconnect it real easy when i flip it?

And if anybody knows where you can download a manual for an older cat, that would help a ton. Hobie's PDF is so dark you cant make out the pictures, and im a picture kinda guy.

You and your crew each wear one. However if you only have a single trapeze wire on each side, then it's more like you -or- your crew wear one and you have a spare.

Ref: this picture of me



There's not really enough wind to trap in that picture, but I felt like hanging on the wire a bit.



The boat came with those? Or the harnesses? If it's the boat, I mainly would use one for the forestay-bridle connection (if you raise and lower the mast a lot.) Also one where the lower mainsheet block connects to the traveler, and one where the tack of the sail attaches to the gooseneck. Make sure they're all lanyarded to something convenient in case you drop one. (Learned that lesson the hard way. )


I don't know why you'd disconnect that after a flip. I just do it when I'm taking down the boat. A mainsheet system is kind of expensive so I put it away with the sails when the boat is not in use. Quick-release makes it easier.


If the H16 assembly PDF is hard for you to see, I might have pictures of what you need to know about. Give me some specific requests and I'll see what I can do.

_________________
Warm regards,

Jim

If your boat is pretty much stock, in 1977 they came with a single set of two trapeze wires, one for each side. They can be kept "in place" by tying a piece of shock cord to the adjustment line end of one side, then run it underneath the trampoline straight across to the other side and tie it off on that adjuster line end. Make sure they are "clean" (not twisted) all the way up to where they attach to the stainless tang on the front of the mast. There should be a d-ring or rounded bow ring (like the one the stay wires are connected to) in the hole just above the forestay. If they are individual trapeze wires (i.e. one wire to one thimble) just make sure they're not wrapped around the shrouds (side stays). If both wires are swaged to one thimble you have only one side of the newer stock double trapeze wires. In this case don't use it until you buy another one like it for the other side, as cable could be damaged rubbing against the mast tang.

These pins seem a little long. A really convenient place to use one is when stepping the mast through the forestay. Stay away from a long one through your main sheet block to traveler car, it might hang up on the swivel cleat. Check it first in all different possible positions by moving the car from port to starboard side while on the beach.

You'll probably be OK, when you dump it over , with leaving the main blocks attached, (besides you might lose the nice pin in the water) just make sure all the sheets are uncleated and "clean", get the mast headed into the wind a bit and she should come right up. That is if your boat has a "righting line". If not, you're right you'll need to use your main sheet and pull the pin.

Don't know about the manual but hey, try a search to find out where the closet Hobie fleet to you is, email 'em and go visit, those living pictures with living audio can clear up lots of questions real fast.

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

i have four wires total for traps. Two each run to 1 connector, which has an extra pigtail that i havnt tried using. Does this mean i have the full double setup, each person gets 1 wire 1 handle? You hook in, and the bungee stays on to hold the other wires on the opposite side?

Do i need to quite jerking around with this and get to the water? Ive just been running through all this in my backyard with no wind, hard to see how it all works like this.

When i see another hobie cat im definantly gonna ask some questions, but ive yet to see any here in Bellingham WA.

Yup, you're good to go!

You've got the double trapeze setup, one wire on each side for the skipper and crew.

If the wind is not blowing again today you could put on your harness and practice going out and coming in off the wire, hooking and unhooking in the backyard. Seriously, it's kind of ackward at first. Make sure you have someone to hold a handle, or two, on the opposite so you don't pull the boat over and don't do it with the boat on the trailer.

Most of the damage to boats occur when they're not in the water. Just take your time and think about what you're going to do before you do it.

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

Jaime's right about lanyarding the quick release pins to something on the boat near the connecting point. The QR pins are expensive and too convienient when rigging to risk losing. I swaged fishing leader lines made of thin cable; one to the travel car and one to the forestay adjuster. I experimented a little with twine, but it seemed too flimsy to me.