Hobbie 18 Questions. Updated with photos please read!

1- Could someone explain what the function of a trapeze return bungee is? I have installed one trapeze wire on each side of my h18 to try it out this summer, Maybe will install 2 per side next year...
Is this part indisspensable? I have simply passed some normal line thru the fairlead to tie the dog bone when trapeze wire is not in use...
Is this correct? Safe¿? or do I need to install a return bungee...So I dont fly all over the place!!!!!

2 - I have installed a new jib but it does not furl very well at the top of the sail its as if it is to stiff up there...I have thought of taking the jib down and rolling it manually arround some tube say for a month...to help it get the shape? any ideas?

3 - Has anyone used this jib protector kit?
http://www.mariner-sails.com/partdetail.asp?id=23405
They save having to tape the mast spreaders and cotter pins no?
Thanks!

Here are my answers to your questions:

1) Trap return bungies. Yes, the shock cord make life substanitally easier, especially if you are soloing the boat. With the shock cord you do not have to let go of the tiller and main sheet to tie off the trap. If it is blowing hard enough to trap out you will want both hands controling the boat rather than tying off trap wires.

For the forward trap look under the lip of the hull about 2-3 feet from the bow and you will see a padeye. I looped one oend of my shock cord around this and the used hog rings to secure. Feed the other end of your shock cord through the fair lead near the center of the hull. I put another loop in this end. This accomplished 2 things. One, it acts as a stopper so the shock cord won't go through the fairlead and two, give me an attachment for the caribeaner I have on the end of adjustable trap rig.

2)Jib Furling. Before you put your sail away for a month to set the furled shape and stay at home instead of sailing try this. Dis connect your jib sheet from the sail. Pull out all of the line from the furler drum as if you were furling your sail. Cleat the line off tightly. Manually wrap the sail around the forestay as tight as you can get it. Then, reattache teh jib sheet to the jib clew.

As you use the jib it will slowly soften and furl easier. Even my 20 year old jib doesn't furl as tight at the top of the sail. It's not the end of the world and definitly not worth one month off of the water.

3) Jib protector. Anything that covers possible snag points and keeps the sail off the diamond wires is a good thing. Install the kit, take a look at it and determine if you still need to add anything or tape any thing.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Hi Splash,

Let me first say that I haven't had my 18 out on the water yet (soon... very soon...), so this isn't experience talking - just what I've learned/found/noticed while fixing up my project boat.

1. Trapeze bungee - I guess it's not really "necessary", but it does 2 things - first, it keeps the trap wire from flapping around when not in use. More imporantly though, because it is tied to the other end (end not attached to you) of the trap adjustment line, it helps you keep the dogbone attached to your harness before and while you are easing out over the side. The bungee pulls the dogbone back up towards the trap wire, keeping tension on it so that you don't have to worry about it.

2. Not much I can say there

3. I just installed that kit last weekend. The rollers on my diamond wires are in pretty sad shape, and this kit cost 1/2 of what new rollers cost. As I said, I haven't tried it yet, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

_________________
-Bill

Conesus Lake, NY
1976 Hobie 14

The bungee return allows the trap to extend out for use and then snaps it back to its stow position when you unhook. I can not imagine not using this. There are two bungees per side on the 18. One per wire. This runs into the farule in the rail and forward for the front wire to an eye in the rail. Pass through and tie a knot. The aft wire bungee runs aft to a different eye.

Furler system problems like yours are most likely due to a sticky swivel up top. Pull it down and lubricate or replace. There are likely flat spots on the bearings.

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

Could you explain where I should tie the bungee return? I have a clamcleat on my trapeze assembly as you can see in the photo below
If i tie it to where I think you are saing (where the blue ball is) it would uncleat the trapeze line under tension.No?
Also what thikness should the elastic line for the bungee return have?
How long should the line (purple in pic) be? Is there a standard or should I leave it very long and shorten it when I have gone out on the line??

At the bottom there is a pic of my jib...can you see it furls a little strange at the top, any ideas?

Thanks

The wires you have are too short!

When you are sitting on the trampoline/hull, you should be able to easily hold onto the handle at about your shoulder height, maybe a little lower.

The adjusters you have are great, but not required. Since you have them, attach the shock cord to the area just below the block just above the loop where you hook up. You may need to make a short length of wire at the top of your current wires to lower the handle to where you need it to be.

Find a local fleet and dealer, I am sure they will be glad to help you.

Best of Luck.

Hi Splash,

Sharp looking boat! I see you installed the spreader-bar protector kit. I'll be out of town this weekend, but I'll send you some pictures of mine when I get back. How hard was it for you to step the mast without the tramp on? I'd been holding off on stepping mine all this time because I thought I'd need to walk on the tramp to do so. How hard was it to do in general? Can one person easily pivot the mast up? The Hobie manual recommends having 2 people on the tramp lifting... just wondering how serious they are.

We should definitely post some "unveiling" pictures of our project boats when we're finished! I'm hoping I can put mine in the water next weekend, but it depends on the weather... Still need a second coat of wax too.

I agree - your trap wires look short. The H18 assembly manual (http://www.hobiecat.com/support/pdfs/H18&SX_Manual.pdf) has a pretty good picture on page 11 of what they should look like. This is the stock setup, so it doesn't include your height adjusters, but you can get the general idea. I think you said somewhere your boat is an 18 SX? Isn't the mast on an SX a few feet taller than on a standard H18? I'm not sure how different the standing rigging is, but I do know they're listed separately for ordering. I wonder if you have standard H18 trap wires on your H18 SX boat...

_________________
-Bill

Conesus Lake, NY
1976 Hobie 14

Hi! Harryw the last time I stepped my mast whe were 4! Dad pulling on forestay to balance and keep it up onces rised.
Me and 2 uncles slowly rising it manualy from the back!
If you have lots of people arround best to be on the safe side!


The jib protector kit on my boat is like 2 plastic covers that cover the spreader ends...that I always have to tape on with lots of tape! that gets loose with winds...It looks horrible...
I have not got the kit I showed you...with the little plastic balls
I would really apreciate if you could post me some pics to see the final effect!

Also does anyone know the exact measure of trapeze wires?