I gave my recently acquired '86 HC 16 a sea trial this past weekend. While there is still work to do, it sails wel, plus I got some air time. The hulls (rudders) really sing!!! (see items (4) and (5) below). The boat is in really great shape. The hulls are sound and solid with only two cosmetic repairs. Not a drop of water from the drains.
I still have a number of things I want to do:
(1) replace a few lines including upgrading to Aussie jib halyard, and shorten jib sheet.
(2) install trap wires
(3) install new cunningham and main sheet blocks
(4) install new cams, stiffeners, and other misc. rudder parts
(5) work on rudder shape- flatten trailing edge, etc. to reduce singing..
(6) tighten frame to eliminated annoying creaking at the castings.
(7) build a folding extension on the trailer's mast support to ease stepping the mast.
Unfortunately the hull flying wind was few and far between. It was also really tough to get out of the protected cove where the dock was located (gonna buy a folding paddle.)
I need to work on my sailing skills also:
(1) learn to tack better so I don't decel as much
(2) figure out the best way to handle tiller stick when tacking
(3) work on overall sailing technique
Headed out of the cove. Not quite becalmed.
On the beach, waiting for some wind.
Anyways.. some marine grease and spinning it with a drill seemed to fix my issues.. but I still have hum and what not, but I don't mind it. I should buy a new rudder assembly as one of my tiller things is bent slightly and it sort of annoying to deal with when putting it on the dock because it can come down and hit the hull on top.
I also noticed that you wanted to install a cunningham. I've never seen a cunningham on a H16. I'm a newby but I'd surely be interested if the setup was available.