Forestay how tight?

How tight should the forestay be when attaching the mast. I usually have someone push the mast forward as hard as they can then use like the fourth hole down. I find if I do not do this the mast is all over the place in choppy water with no wind. Is this bad?

The forestay should be placed in the top hole, when the jib is raised pull all the slack out with the jib halyard, this will cause the forestay to go slack and the rig will be nice and tight.

Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com
Hobie Division 15 Chairman
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard/Hunter Dealer
[email protected]
850-235-2281
Panama City Beach, FL

Unless... you are rigging a 16 with a recreational jib / furler system. Then you need to tighten the rig. Place the jib at the top usually and take the slack out of the shrouds by having someone pull the trap wires over to one side and then the other. You remove the shroud pins and lower them on one side and then the other. When you get it right / equal and tight... remember the setting. When you de-rig, pull the rig over to one side and move the pin to the top hole. That will be loose enough. Next time you rig, move that pin down after attaching the forestay.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt, So you still agree that the forestay should be in the top hole? Only you just recommend tightening the shrouds? Thanks for the input guys.

Typically the top hole, wether recreational (furling) jib or the standard batten jib system. With the recreational jib you would normally be using a furler drum that has just two holes. Certainly with the standard jib there is no reason for the forestay to be anywhere but the top hole. It is a temporary rigging wire and is intended to go slack (completely slack) when the jib halyard is tensioned. The wire inside of both types of jibs becomes the "forestay".

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt,

This is what I thought about the forestay. What I don't understand is how people sail the Hobie without a jib. The mast seems like it's too far back and the main is too low. Is there anything they do different? (Like shorten the forestay or tighten the shrouds?)

-Rich

Newer boats have shorter sidestay wires and longer forestays. Raking the mast aft will give you much better pointing ability and is a must for only main sail sailing. You could shorten your sidestays and add an extra chain plate to get the same effect of a longer forestay to rake your mast aft fi you want to sail this way. Remember though that older boats do not have the adjustable rudders to add rudder rake with the mast raked back. This will put a lot of weather helm pressure on you. But, sailing with the mast aft whether single sail or both sails is the modern way, is faster upwind, and reduces your chances of pitchpoling when going on a screaming reach or downwind.

Without a jib?

I can't imagine that. Wouldn't handle well I am sure, but you would have the same shroud adjustment and you would have to pull the mast forward somehow. Maybe using the jib halyard still. Shorter forestay maybe and tension the rig like an 18, 20 or Tiger. Loosen a shroud. Attach the shorter forestay. Pull the rig over to the loose-shroud-side using the halyard, trapeze or main blocks. After the main is rigged, you can travel the main over and sheet hard to slacken and adjust the shroud to a lower point on the adjuster to tension the rig.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

i've got a length of wire that i attach to the jib halyard and 4th hole then take up the tension as if it was the jib, just no sail. This, obviously, tensions the rig as if there was a jib, but there isn't!! Usally use this if im sailing a bit hungover and cant handle two sails!!

James:

This was on an old boat in late 70's early 80's, but I use to let the forestay go till it was even with the front of the window in the jib (make since)? Worked good and w e had plenty of mast rake. May not work now. Matt I once went out with no jib (rigged something up to pull mast forward and with a reefed main) 40 knots and 40 degrees at Blue Balls regatta in Div 6 in 1980. We were the only ones who went out. Tried to tack, no way, so we jibed and almost lost the traveler. It was a HOOT!!!! (LOL).

Doug

As long as the wire in the jib luff is tighter than the "forestay" you are fine. The "forestay" on a 16 is only for rigging. Once the jib is up and tensioned... the "forestay" should be slack. The jib luff wire becomes the forestay.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt:

That was just the reference point we used. That was a LONG time ago, but my first start was on a 16. I bought a boat from an A fleeter and he crewed for me. I went from C fleet on A fleet in 1 1/2 years. It was a fun learning experience.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
Sunfish
Soon to be Mystere 4.3 for Grand Daughter
www.tcdyc.com