maast rotation

at the base of the mast there is a small pin that that slides through the mast and a metal clip to keep the mast from rotating.. Am i supposed to have the pin in while i am sailing or not?.because today i was sailing without it and it bent my (ring-ding) on the boom where it slides ton the mast track?

The pin is for stepping the mast only. The pin should always be removed while sailing. Just do not forget to re-insert the pin when you begin lowering the mast. I almost did that one time and realized it before I lost the mast. I shudder to think what would have happened had I lowered the mast any more.

Old mast - Big BOOOONNNNGGGGGGG!!

New mast - New CompTip to replace the shattered one.

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Personally, while sailing, I take the entire "ring ding" assembly off so it doesnt interfere with the mast base. And boy do I have a story to tell about forgetting to put the pin back in. Please bear in mind that this was about 2 years ago when I was first learning how to rig up my boat.

Well I brought the boat home all proud and dandy, and began to rig her up just to get a feel for her. The boat was on the trailer and still attached to the car (i was afraid it would tip) and I followed the instructions to raise the mast and get everything rigged up. After a bit of tinkering, I thought I would try my hand at lowering the mast by myself because I singlehand pretty often. Well, either its not in the instruction manual, or I completely missed it, but I forgot to put that pin in the hole. So I released the forestay, and slowly began to lower the mast, completely oblivious that the little pin was still dangling there. Everything was going well for my first time I thought, until all of a sudden the mast base slipped out of the step and fell with a crash to the ground. I was very very very lucky however, and when i told my other buddies they didnt believe me, but it just so happened that this day was garbage collection day, and it just so happens that my garbage is located directly behind my boat, and it also just so happens that I have a LOT of garbage. Well down came the mast, and up went the garbage, everywhere. Now this scared the poop out of me so I inspected the mast to the best of my ability at the time and called up a friend to get another opinion. Well after he died of laughter upon arrival, he told me that I got lucky and didnt have any damage besides a scratch here and there, and boy was i relieved.

So, moral of the story: PUT YOUR PIN IN....or keep your garbage behind your boat, but i would trust the former much more

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~vinny

I hate to admit it but I have dropped a mast or two, my unmentionable boat didn't have a captive mast base, and sure enough it was hard to raise and lower alone, but I did manage to do it. But I dropped it twice, both times onto grass but still it scared it.

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

How can I stop the mast from turning?

For example if i'm out on the lake, and theres no wind, the waves start turning the mast, really doesn't sounds nice, when the mast hits the stoppers.

Nice Weekend
Chriss

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1994 HC16

Most sailboats have fixed masts. I am curious why the masts on Hobie cats are designed to rotate. Is this for racing purposes? Do catamarans from other manufacturers have this capability?

Thanks for the insight!

Bill

1981 H16

Most real cats have rotating masts. Even some monohulls have them.

A rotating mast gives improved laminar flow over the leading edge of the sail. Especially important at higher speeds. Turbulence at the leading edge is BAD.

Brian C

>>How can I stop the mast from turning?

>>For example if i'm out on the lake, and theres no wind, the waves start turning the mast, really doesn't sounds nice, when the mast hits the stoppers.


Your best bet is probably to either install a boom vang to hold the boom over and keep the mast rotated, or simply tighten the mainsheet a little. If your boom has two mainsheet hangers, mount the main blocks on the back hanger- when you tighten the mainsheet, the boom will push forward and keep the mast rotated one way. Or, if all else fails, have someone sit on the boom.

I suppose you could stick the mast step pin in, but you would want to be sure you removed it before actually sailing otherwise you would risk breaking the hinge when the mainsheet is tightened.

sm

Atthe 81 nationals in REALLY light wind, people were using the vang as a mast rotator, wrapping it around the windward side of the mast, and hooking it to the downhaul cleat, then tensioning it. IN a broiad reach or downwind, it kept the mast from banging around.

In a sloppy sea/ light wind, it kept the mast on a 16 from rotating, and it substantially quieted the rig , making it alot faster. I'm talking 2-3 knot windspeed.

Hope that helps.

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Raced extensively as a kid (against Matt Bounds!!), just bought a 20 year old 16 and am refurbishing it.

Sail # 21888