Halyard Catch Problem

I have been sailing hobies for 30 years, never ran across this-

A frind of mine is refurbishing his hobie 16. We get it on the beach, and get the main up, but cannot for the life of me get the main halyard catch to engage. It appears that the ball on the halyard catch is too close to the shackle, not allowing enough distance to get the sail up and lock it off. The head of the sail is almost coming thru the pully at the top of the mast, and it still won't lock..

1. What is the distance below the mast/ pulley interface this catch should be at?

2. how far should it be from the ball on the halyard to the tip of the shackle? I am wondering if its easier to move the halyard lock up the mast towards the pully, or just get another halyard made with the ball further from the halyard shackle.

I have never heard of this happening- anyone else run across this? I can't get at a 16 that is operational this week to check out the dimensions myself.

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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

Rock - what type of mast is it? Comptip or old style?

Is is a OEM halyard or an aftermarket?

Hi Matt, hope all is well-

non comp tip mast, think its an original halyard, suspect it was maybe shortened after a failure???

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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

By the way, Matt, got out 2 weeks ago on the James, blowing 18-22, went out solo for about 2 hours.. reminded me why life is worth living.

yee-haaaaa!

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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

I sometimes have to fight mine. Looks like the comp tip just flexes all over the place if I don't pull straight down and then out.

Probably best just to replace the halyard. Wire halyards aren't that expensive. I wouldn't mess with the catch - two more holes in the mast, then you've committed yourself to a custom halyard forever.

Today, I had the 16 on Lake Erie in Port Clinton, OH with my 15 year old daughter. Was blowing steady 15, gusts to 20 - enough to chase most of the spinnaker boats in the regatta off the water. Sissies.

Still, it was sad that the only other 16 in this regatta was a 30 year old boat with all original sails and equipment. I spotted him 5 minutes at one start and still beat him to the first weather mark.

Next week will be much better - other end of Lake Erie (Buffalo) will have a Division 16 regatta with maybe 25-30 16's.

My wire-rope halyard was like $42 at the dealer a couple months ago.....I'd just replace it. It would suck to have it fail and not be able to get the sail down.

You just tip the boat over on it's side and take it down that way. Not a ton of fun, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

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Sail Like you Have a Pair
Bluish gray 73 - 83 H16
Super Nice Yellow 84 H18

Yup, that's the easy way. One time the halyard got away from me and it went back through the masthead sheave. Used a trap wire to tip her over, re-threaded the halyard, tipped it back over, and hauled up the sail. Easier to do than say!!

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

I saw a guy on a monohull climb the mast once. And it was not a big boat. I'm thinking 20' at best. I thought for sure he was going to send it full turtle while he was up there.