new owner of very old boat

I think this 14ft hobie is late 60's early 70's Could not find indentification on the back of hulls by the screws that keep the water out of the hulls, forgot what they are called at this moment.. I need some help with the part that attaches to the boom at the mast. They have a giant metal hook. Which when I sailed it for the first time just came out and the sail was up and the boom attached at the track by the rudders. but flapping away at the mast part, not good. Plus there is a metal little gorment on the metal pull that pulls the sail up and once the sail is all the way to the top goes over the top and then hooks up under a hook on the opposite side. The first and only time I took out the boat and raised the sail, I couldn't get the sail to come back down. It shows that this is correct, but I am afraid to do that again as I couldn't get the sail to come down, and had to take the mast down, and it fell and ripped the sail badly.
ANy great ideas.
BOnQui

The part you're missing is called the GOOSENECK. Yes, you need it. I would suggest looking at the back of the Hobie cataloge in the illustrated parts section, figure out what parts you're missing, and then order what you need from your Hobie dealer. You can order a paper Hobie catalog sent in the mail, or you can look at it online on this site.

As for hooking the halyard, it sounds like you did it correctly, you just need to pull down and then forward to disengage the halyard from the fork at the top of the mast. If you have trouble in the future and can't get the sail down, flip the whole boat on its side (on the beach) to fix it- don't try to drop the mast with the sail up.

sm

thanks!!!!!!