Little help, please?

I see how to install the front trampoline side bolt ropes in the video-hard but do'able because of the grommets and the front crossbeam can be used for mechanical advantage. But HOW do you install the front trampoline rear bolt rope into the main crossbeam? It has such cheap cotton rope that squishes so it gets caught in the track--haven't been able to pull it beyond 18" after working on it for 2 hours. ANY SUggestions? I'm tempted to try to pull the cheap cotton rope out and install a smaller diameter but firmer rope, but I may have to unsew the whole thing and then resew it which would be a PITA. There are no side grommets like there are for the edges that go to the front crossbeam, and no crossbeam in any case to help get mechanical advantage. SO...HOW IS IT DONE or does everyone sail without the front tramp?

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

You can definitely sail with a front tramp. It is not considered structural to the boat, unlike the rear tramp.

I sailed mine for a few weeks without the front tramp, thought it made the boat look nicer, but I sure missed all that extra real estate while I was waiting for my replacement.

I used a Tampa Cat replacement tramp, which I love. I did have an initial problem with the bolt ropes on that though - apparently Hobie has used two different track sizes for the front tramp and the first set of bolt ropes provided were too large. Once they replaced the bolt ropes, installation was a snap.

If you are using a tramp that is not original to the boat, that might be your problem as well.

The tramp I have for the boat has never been used and since I bought the boat second hand, I don't know whether it is OEM or aftermarket. Oh well, I guess I'll just remove the bolt rope and slide in a pultruded epoxy rod of a little smaller diameter instead. If I were to build my own tramp, that's how I'd do it anyway--I'm not a big fan of boltropes although they do a good job if sized correctly and made with a firm rope instead of cotton.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I did remove the boltrope today (came out easily). Replaced with a pultruded epoxy 1/8" rod (sewed one end shut so I could push the thing down). 1/8" seems a bit small so I also added a 1/8" dacron cord. Seems to work well--at least it was possible to get it in the track this way.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II