Spinnakers for Hobie 18

Two questions:

Does anyone know of a good resource to purchase either a used or new spinnaker and installation hardware for a Hobie 18?

Are they worth the time and money to install?

Jeremy at Surf City Catamarans has a killer H-18 spin kit. I have ran one on a H-18 and it makes the boat kick up like you wouldn't believe. I have also ran his spins on my tiger and love them.

He is a Hobie dealer in Santa Cruz. 831-475-7245.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Thanks a lot! I'll give him a call.

FYI: I think HP jet printers printers have become garbage too!

Jeremy recently posted a video about his 18 spin/installation kit on Youtube.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmckx-DuQt0

I got a spin from Chip @ Whirlwind Sails. The Pole is a 12' carbon fiber windsurfer mast. Can not figure out how to post pics to this site, log on to hobie network, clicl 18 social network look up members, Jim Graves I have pics there. I have a comp tip used mast tang with "drop line" down to dynema bail line like surf city uses for halyard pulley. I love the spin, adds a new demension to my 18.

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ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL

Ditto on the spin kit from Surf City Catamaran's.....love mine!

Would suggest buying the best load sensing pulleys you can, the bigger the better. Start off with a second hand spin - you will not cry when you see tears etc. For me a seperate tack line is better, but not easier for trying for the first time. Snuffers - everyone has their own opinion, ask to try the different types. Aluminium or carbon fibre - similar weight. Make sure you get the extra spectra lines that will go to the pole under the roller furler. Prevent spin burn by pulling in spin with line on inside.

Buy new and practise with a 2nd hand spin. Maybe try the 16.9 sqm spin instead of the 21 sqm. Despite small physical size difference it makes a huge difference.

I added mine to my Hobie 18, and love it.

Bought it from SurfCitySailing.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmckx-DuQt0[/youtube]

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Clint Ellis
#16918
1982 H18
[email protected]

Thanks to you all. It is clear where to buy and the suggestions regarding rigging will be helpful I sure. So far all the pointers received in the last few months since sailing have been gems.

Is it me or does anyone else have concerns mounting the spinnaker sheet blocks on the shroud adjuster, as shown in Jeremy's video? 1- will there be too much side force on the adjuster when the wind pipes up? 2- I have not seen a block location that far forward before. Is Jeremy's spin cut narrow?

thanks

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Chris
'88 H18SE Arís

The cut is more of a modern cut F-18 like spin. It's not the old SX spin that was a deep run spin.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Will this kit work with the SX mast? Mainly just wondering if I can use the existing tang for the halyard? Also Jeremy, where is this on the Surf City site?

Thanks,

Adam

here's his site

http://store.surfcitysailing.com/

And yes they do have a cut for the sx or the standard rig.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

The cut and dimensions of the spin will dictate the location of the spin blocks. I have a Whirlwind spin and have my blocks located at the front of the jib tracks and on the inside of the front x-bar where the hicking strap is. They are ratchmatics, the sheet comes in at the block that is in the jib track up to the x-bar block and is sheeted from there. I have also seen some attached to the deck foward of the dagger well using a backing plate. You want to have the first block located so that you are essentially pulling equally on the foot and the leech of the spin. Hope this helps.

_________________
ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL

Is anyone concerned with putting a spinnaker on a comp-tip mast? I really want to put an F18 Spinnaker on my SX, but I don't trust the two-piece mast. I'm really trying to find a tiger mast for my 18, but they are not easy to come by. I'm hoping to start storing the boat with the mast up as well, so its difficult to protect the comptip in that case.

Has anyone flown an F18 Spinnaker off of a normal H18 mast? I do have a solid 1-piece 18 mast.