main sheet and travel car problems

I've sailed scows for most of my life until a few months ago when I bought an 81 hobie 16 so bear with me. Whenever I'm in a situation where I need to sheet in the boom a considerable amount, the block system just pulls the boom in and down, so its almost touching the starboard, aft corner of the tramp (if I'm on a port tack). I cant get the travel car to move towards the winward side of the boat so I'm limited on how much I can sheet the boom in (the travel car just stays on the far starboard or port side of the tramp). It seems no matter what I do the travel car wont move unless someone physically grabs it with the boom and pushes it. Any suggestions or help would be great. Thanks

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Never trust a man that doesn't like baseball or beer.

-Harry Caray

Do you have a line through the cleat in the center of the crossbar, traveler car and fairlead on the crossbar?

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I don't think so. Is there supposed to be a separate line (other than the main sheet) that runs from the back of the crossbar, thru the travel car, and into the cleet on the front of the crossbar? b/c that would explain everything.

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Never trust a man that doesn't like baseball or beer.

-Harry Caray

No, it’s the same line. The other end of the mainsheet threads through the cleat, through the traveler car, and through the fairlead on the back of the crossbar. Then you just tie a figure 8 on the end that just went through the fairlead.

The mainsheet controls the traveler car too.

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1984 H16 - #80541

is there a photo of this setup somewhere? I've poked around and i'm unable to find one.

http://static.hobiecat.com/2010_archive/support/pdfs/H16_Manual.pdf

Page 17

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

I'm kind of a rebel on this, I do have a seperate line just for the traveler. As I leave the boat rigged all summer, I like being able to just unpin the mainsheet mess of lines and off I go. I leave the traveler as is. I'm no racer, almost the only Hobie on the lake, so if I need to really head up I can move the traveler as needed. On a side note, the taveler line is handy for tying the mast down when trailering
Jay
Rebel with out a clue!!!!

I have the same set-up Jay. That is how the previous owner had it when I bought the boat and I saw no need to change...........unless someone here can convince me otherwise. I am too new to the sport to know any difference.

Libertas,

Your assumption of how the sheet is to be threaded is accurate. I have a photo for you (of the main traveler assembly) but Beachcats is upgrading their site and I have no other way to display photos on-line. The area I use to put photos on-line is not working properly yet so I can't display them in this post. However, if you send me your e-mail address I can e-mail them to you.

I'm an advocate of the use of the traveler. When I first got my boat, it was tied to the center of the rear crossbar and I sailed like that for about a month until I understood it's purpose. Without the use of the traveler, you're only experiencing half of the performance for which the boat was intended. If you've figured it out by now then "Happy Sailing." If not, I can e-mail you the photo.

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Happy Sailing,

David

why dont u just grease it up with WD40 or some lubricant. Maybe if it can slide easier it will move.

Avoid using lubricants like WD40 as they attract sand and grit which will make the problem worse. Use a silicone spray lube or other dry lube like McLube.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

See my post under H18's re tying a figure 8 stopper knot inboard of the traveler cleat. That is, thread the 'other' end of the mainsheet through the traveler cleat, traveler car and fairlead, then move the traveler car to 1" short of the end (port or strboard,) mark the sheet, and then tie the fig 8 knot so that the stopper knot will prevent the traveler car from banging into the end of the traveler track in the event of an emergency gybe. This has been known to explode traveler cars, don't ask how I know.

Test the stopper knot each time before leaving shore. Go fast and go safe.

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'