hobie 16 falling mast while sailing

I recently got back into sailing a hobie after not sailing one for many years. The first two times I took out my new to me 81 Hobie 16 I had no problems and had a great time. Yesterday however was a different story. shortly after getting on the water I noticed my main sail was not hooked in up top and had come down some. I decided to find a place to beach and fix it. however the first heavier gust of win to hit me cause anther problem , the mast and sails came crashing down. On inspection I saw that the forestay shackle had come off , would the sail not being up all the way cause this? Any ideas?

Which forestay schackle came off, the upper tang or the lower bridle shackle? Once you have the jib up it supports the mast load along with the two shrouds. Most guys use a double chainplate and a little section of shock cord to pull the forestay forward to eliminate the sag created when you tension your jib, if not the forestay tends to rub away at your jib.

Without actually seeing how you had your boat rigged or knowing which shackle you're talking about it is difficult to speculate. If it was the upper shackle which attaches to the mast tang then heck yeah your mast would come down, that shackle holds both shrouds as well as the forestay(s).

If it was the shackle that holds the bridles to the forestay chainplate, then again the mast would come down due to no forward support because both your forestay and your jib are attached to the same chainplate.

I'm guessing it was one of the ones mentioned above?

My boat was rigged on the beach. I was about to go out when someone walked by and told me that the shackle on the bridle was loose. I tightened it, amazed at how loose it was. Had I gone out that mast would have gone down. It is a good idea to do what pilots do before going up. Walk around the boat, checking all the connections, shackles, pins, rings, and lines.

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Howard

To answer your original question, the main not being up / mast falling down have no relation to each other - just coincidence.

Always tighten "structural" shackles with pliers.

yeah it was the shackle that attaches the bridle wires to the forestay adjuster . Its not one I take off so probably just spaced out and didn't check it for tightness ( I know , stupid). I figured it had nothing to do with the main , being that people reef there sail without a problem . Kind of a messed up feeling having your rigging all hit the water and your boat still being upright , one I hope doesn't happen again . thanks for the comments and pray for wind bros.

also I have many extra parts . but of coarse i wasn't able to find a bow shackle. I do have a quick release bow shackle , any reason not to use this?

It's not a good idea to use any quick release devices on standing rigging. I know more people that thought they would be cool saving time rigging up by using these devices only to find themselves trying to get to shore after demasting. I personally use the next size bigger screw pin type shackles than what is spec'ed out in the users manual. Carry a pair of pliers in your hobie tackle box and do a quick check of all standing rigging before stepping the mast and after each cruise.

The only thing I have quick pinned is my jib clew and my main block/traveler connection.

I try and only buy shackles with the wire hole in the pin so after they are tightened I use small diameter wire to secure the pin to the shackle so it can't work loose. Even though they are tight and wired still give them a quick inspection each time out.

Another thing to watch out for is used or tired ring dings, they seem to have a way of working themselves loose and can ruin a good day of sailing.

Good Wind!

In addition to tightening all shackles with pliers, I always put loctite on any shackle that isn't removed on a regular basis, particularly those shackles that support the standing rigging.

sm