14 Turbo Retrofit Question

I was wondering if a dolfin striker is a mandatory item that you have to add when you retrofit the hobie 14 into a turbo. If so what is it for.

Im no expert but i know it helps supporting the front cross bar and mast specially when trapezing. Specially if you weigh > 150 'ish.
I think you can buy one for around $80 or so.

Ok well i will take your advice but i would also like an experts opinion.

The dolphin stricker is designed to stop the front crossbar from bending and distorting when under load. If you go out on the trapeze without one. You could completely ruin your front crossbar. GET ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah. The crossbars are just hollow aluminum extrusions. Put too much load on them and they'll bend. The dolphin striker takes up a significant amount of the load, greatly reducing the chance of that happening.

I plan to get one for my H14 this year so I can start trapping out.

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Warm regards,

Jim

If you are not going to upgrade to the turbo do you still need the dolphin striker.

No. my family have had a H14 for over 20 years in standard form and it was absolutley fine without a dolphin stricker.

did they trap out on it

No, it rigged like the original. Therefore it only had a mainsail, no jib and no trap. If the wanted to go out on the trap they would have had to purchase a dolphin stricker to avoid destroying the front crossbar.

what do reckon a dolphin striker costs. and on a scale of 1-10 how hard do you think it is to install

Hobie makes a kit that would take about an hour to install. The only tools required are a drill, pop-rivet tool, Vise Grips and a 1/2" crescent wrench.

Part number 80200010. Catalog price is $80.90

I had an old H-17 front crossbar that I scavenged the dolphin striker off of to retrofit my 14. That took cosiderably more work, but it resembles the "factory installed" dolphin striker in that it goes through the crossbar and screws into the bottom of the mast step. Ultimately, a lot stronger.