Wave: reefed mainsail pulls out of comptip

My mainsail has two reef points, as required to enter the Everglades Challenge. When the second reef is in, the head of the sail is just under 2 feet above the junction of the comptip and the aluminum mast. I have a 6:1 mainsheet so I can crank down on the sail. Also, the comptip is NOT glued to the aluminum mast.

In winds above about 35mph, the sail will pull out of the comptip. How can I prevent this?

Ideas that come to mind are:
1) Putting an aluminum track on my comptip. Is this even possible?
2) Installing an aluminum comptip - does one exist?
3) Getting a one piece mast

Any help/advice appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken

This is a common problem with every boat I've tried running a reefed sail on. The problem is that the direction of pull on the sail head from the mainsheet block is pulling it out of the track because the head is lower and further away from the top of the mast where it wouldn't be able to move in the direction.

Sadly, I've not been able to devise much in the way of a solution. Make sure you are running plenty of downhaul which at least ensures that there is good tension against the sail head in a downward direction.

There is a snap on section of aluminum track we created for some issues way back. This could work for your issue.

50404101 LUFF TRACK UPDATE (12.5")
US$ 65.09



Generic instruction: https://static.hobiecat.com/item_attachments/50404201z52.pdf

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

Thanks mmiller,

The linked directions show that aluminum track going at the top of the comptip. I'd want to install it about 1.5 feet up from the bottom of the comptip. So from bottom to top, I'd have 1.5 feet of the original plastic tract, 12.5" of aluminum, then the original plastic the rest of the way up. How likely is that to worK? I'm worried about the bottom two short pieces coming loose. Is it feasible to replace the entire track with an aluminum one?

Thanks Tom,

I hadn't really though about the downhaul tension. I'll experiment with it in the next good breeze.

Cheers,
Ken

Yes. The 21 Sport Cruiser used that concept for reefing. There was this aluminum section mid CompTip.

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

Thanks Matt,

Will that part, 50404101, fit the Wave's comp tip? I've seen it referenced elsewhere as a Hobie 18 part.

All but the Hobie 16 use this track type.

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