mainsail halyard slugs

We just bought a used Hobie 16 and took it out for a spin. We seem to have trouble with the slugs on the halyard getting stuck - either in the wheel at the top of the mast - or maybe in the track. We ended up taking the mast down to lower the sail - as the halyard was stuck - both ways.

I hope that someone out there can give me some advice - our current plan is to file the slugs off the halyard!

Thanks in advance for helping.

Don't file the slugs off! You need them......at least one of them. The slug closest to the shackle should lock into the little fork on the front of the mast. Not sure why you would have trouble with the slugs getting stuck. Mine may hang up slightly, but just a little jiggle of the main halyard will have it loose easily. You may run the halyard back and forth with the mast down while watching the slugs pass through the sheave and track to see if you can duplicate the problem and find where they are getting stuck.

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

On my H16 they are always getting stuck in the track. I think my main problem is letting the halyard have a little
Slack right before they run through the tip of the mast, they then ease down into the track , and hang up. It's a little annoying but something I have learned to watch for.

What ET Hobie Guy said. Also, when you're raising/lowering the sail and the nicopress fittings are near the top of the mast, pull from out near the bow/bridle, rather than near the mast base. This will help keep the fittings from getting hung in the mast track and/or masthead sheeve.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Thanks for all your advice. We have an older mast - with one sheave, and found that the bolts for the float on top were catching on the halyard slugs. We removed the float, and will probably get a newer rig for the top of the mast.