Furler swivel

So...I'm not sure if i'm doing something wrong or if the swivel is on it's way out. Usually i can't furl or un-furl the jib due to the swivel not swiveling. What happens is the forestay begins to tighten and the mast comes forward and i stop. I got it to work once - i could furl and un-furl at will but usually it's a problem. I put a screwdriver in the adjuster hole and rotated the direction of the twist of the forestay and when it got tight i let off, then cranked a bit more then let off, and continued until it was working fine. My rig tension is not too tight and everything else is clear.

Do the swivels fail frequently or ??

The part (61230000) is $64.90 !!!!

Thanks,

Mike

Hmmm, that seems odd. Would the system work/furl (top and bottom) if you removed your jib? If I'm understanding you correctly, the swivel connector that connects your upper forestay to the jib halyard wire block is binding up? Perhaps try tipping the boat on its side and lubing the sucker. But based on your description, I doubt WD-40 or whatever would make that big of a difference. I dunno. I can tell you I keep quite a bit of tension on my rig and I've never had an issue furling the jib.

Is it the top swivel or the bottom furler drum that you're having trouble turning?
If the mainsheet is completely loose and the shrouds are loose to moderately tight, then there should be no issue getting the system to function under normal circumstances.

If your upper swivel isn't turning, then all you can really do is replace it. Lubrication probably isn't going to help, it's a closed system.

If the bottom furler drum isn't turning, then there is a rebuild kit sold by Hobie that should do the trick getting it to work again.

sm

It's the top swivel not the furler that's binding. The mast is down so i just checked it - the swivel is functioning perfectly (now that it's down!). I don't understand. It spins a little then binds and pulls the mast forward. ?????

I don't understand how it's pulling the mast forward. Is the forestay being twisted up so much that it's getting shorter? If it is you're going to damage your forestay wire by doing that. In any case, it's proably spinning fine when the mast is down because there's no load on it.

sm

May be a flat spot that only sticks under load.

Pulls the mast forward?... pulls the furler (Forestay) aft when you yank the line but it does not furl?

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

Yes - the swivel binds and twists the forestay basically shortening the forestay - which pulls the mast forward. That's why when i try to free it (the swivel) i twist hard only in the direction of twist of the cable - so i don't un-twist the cable.
With it down, I pulled the swivel hard apart and twisted back and forth, it swivels perfectly - no notchy movement, no evidence of a problem at all ?!?!?! It has given me problems every time i've had it rigged. I don't understand. It makes it impossible to furl the jib.
I am going to rig the boat on the trailer and spend some time with it. Every other time i've messed with it i've been trying to sail and in a hurry to get out. If i figure it out i'll post.
Any other ideas ?

The furler spins freely - i'm not pulling on the furling line - i'm trying to spin the adjuster. I put a screwdriver in the hole and spun hard one way (directiuon of twist of cable) and the let off, spin quickly, let off..... It worked once to free up the system and it worked fine - but the next time i rigged, back to locked up.

Matt - i bought my boat from original owner - i have the original sales receipt - and the mast is all aluminum. What's the deal with comp tip mast from Hobie ? I am planning on racing next season. Email me back if you want. Thanks

Your upper forestay swivel is shot. You can spend hours messing with it, but there's really nothing you can do. It's a simple piece and there's nothing about it that can be fixed. It will likely just continue to give you headaches. Maybe try to flush it out on the off chance that there's a piece of sand or dirt in there binding it up. I would just bite the bullet and spend the $67. If your shrouds are old, they should probably just be replaced for routine maintenance anyway - welcome to boat ownership!

Hobie stopped giving away free comptips a long time ago. You're 'supposed' to have one for racing, but at most local regattas, sailors are just happy to have another boat on the line and will look the other way until you start winning.

sm

"Until you start winning"......i'll probably not need the comp tip then ! Is there any benefit to having the comp tip ? Are there any cons ? I think i read that you can't run a spinnaker with a comp tip ?

I've sailed my whole life and windsurfed for the past 15 but never paid much attention to what was really going on. I am almost done with the book "catamaran sailing for the 90's" and i can't wait to get out on the water now ! Reading that book has opened my eyes to a whole new world of trying to imagine what's going on with the wind as it "attaches" to my sails and the telltails luffing and stalling - sucks that it's October and i'm up north !

Thanks for the replies.

...any benefit to the comptip? - Sure, if you run your boat into a high tension wire, you're significantly less likely to get electrocuted. I'd call that a benefit. And don't think it can't happen. Earlier this season I luckily noticed and stopped a fellow competitor from almost pulling his mast into some wires (about 3 feet away and moving right for them). This was at a regatta site where we've all sailed for probably 15 years or more.

I think the other benefit is tunability. The comptip is more bendy than a solid aluminum mast, so the top of the sail can be tuned via downhaul adjustment.

As far as the racing scene, as I said MOST local regattas don't mind. I know in our area no one would say anthing. But that doesn't mean that everyone everywhere will look the other way, and technically you are breaking a rule which means you could be protested and thrown out. If you go to a nationals or other major event you'd better have one. So check out the scene where you race to get a feel for the vibe, but if you do become competetive you'd better plan on getting one.

sm

Hi,

The previous poster is quite correct .... I to still have a friend of mine still walking this earth when he touched his mast a 14,400v overhead power line because of a comptip mast!!!

But FYI ...

The older "factory" sails where made w/ a luff curve that works w/ a all- aluminum mast ...

The new "factory" mainsails have been redesigned for the luff curve of a comptip mast .... the new "factory" sails I purchased for the 2007NA's .... are great!!!! Well made w/ excellent quality/workmanship .....

Were will you be racing???

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

I think the sail shape change is an old wives tale. I don't recall a sail change due to the H18 CompTip and I raced the 18 extensively back at that time.

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

Well Matt,

Either way my new set of sails are much better made then my three older sets !!!! I have sails made 1978(?)/#1200 white w/ single red panel .... 1982(?)/#5058 "Cat Fever" .... 1984/#9458 "Blue Hawaii" .... and my newest set 2007/ (self numbered)#9458 "All white" w/ blue numbers ... a excellent set of sails .... better and faster, then my "previous" best set which were the "Blue Hawaii's" (and closest match when measured against each/all others). All sets were new when I purchased them but #1200 and #5058 had been in "dealer inventories" for years before their going out of business, allowing me to acquire them cheaply.

So you may not believe there is a difference .... I know there is (at least according to my "Stanley" tape measure) .... but the newest set is the BEST!!!!!

So, Keep up the good, high quality work coming out of that Hobie Sailloft ..... I'll be needing a new jib soon .....

You know there is usually something to those "ol wives tales" ..... thats why they're still around!!!!

Harry

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

Certainly happy that the current sails are the best!!!

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