hobie 18 spinnaker

Hey all, just wondering will any F18 Spinnaker work on the Hobie 18? Hope to have one for next season to make it that much more exciting!

also, will any races allow a hobie 18 compete with the F18's? the 18 would prolly always loose, but then the spin could be used in the race.

I have a standard 18 rather than the SX (or whichever came with a spin)

thanks!

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

And one more question! I'm reading that one needs to keep the main sheet sheeted in while running downwind with a spin, as a back stay. Can one custom make another set of steel wires that run from the shroud anchors to wherever I place the spinnaker hoist (pulley high up on the mast to raise spin) , which might act as a backstay? Any ideas? It seems like a bad idea to keep the mainsheet tight while running downwind (is that needed because of the risk that the comptip will snap? , or that the stays will rip through the fiberglass and destroy the boat...)

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

F18 spin is too tall for a standard 18 mast.
A spin creates alot of air and if the main is not centered it will get backwinded, downwind under spin is nothing at all like without. You do not want the sails out and you will not run as deep but your overall speed will make up for the angle.
You can race with the tigers but you will never beat them. The design of the foils on the 18 are old school and provide very little lift as campared to the tiger foils. The tiger simply lifts away from you to the mark, there is nothing the 18 can do but watch the tigers walk away. And with the corrections for the extra equipment, forget it!
The main must be sheeted as a backstay to protect the mast, not just the tip. The power of a spin can fold a mast quickly.

Hope that answers your questions.

Thanks! Makes sense then to sheet the main all the way in (how tight would you keep it?, can you let it out a bit to help catch some air?, since the wind will come around somewhat if the boat is moving so fast and then the main might be useable if say, 25-30* out.).

When you create the point to attach the spin to the top of the mast, does it attach to the fiberglass, or the aluminum? could I just make a point higher up on the mast so that I could attach the F18 spin? Or would that destroy the mast? Any other useable spinnakers (used) for the hobie 18? buying a new one is quite expensive.

thanks again

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

You would only travel the main out to slow the boat down. The spin creates apparent wind that is constantly moving around in front the faster you go. With the spin you set it and then head up to "heat it up" and then bear away carrying the speed with you. Its a wild and crazy ride!

The F18 spin needs to be mounted too high on a standard mast, even a solid one. Jeremy at Surf City in Ca has a system that is properly made for your boat. Its a complete system and the price is fair.

It should be possible to alter a spin to fit but it may cost as much as a new one. Plus, spin cloth is very fragile and wears quickly.

What NCMBM said.

Also, you don't need to be cranked in on the mainsheet. You basically want to trim the main like it is going upwind.


Here's a good picture of mainsail trim in lighter air, (not a H18 obviously), with the spinnaker up. Leech is fairly straight, with a pretty consistent shape top to bottom. Its nice and full, and making all the power it probably can. It might be a bit over sheeted if anything.

Thanks for all the good info! Makes sense, and the picture helped a lot, the main sheet has to be tight, but the traveler can be let out (that's what it looks like). Ya I emailed surf city, 1600$ for kit + spinnaker. I think i can rig my own pol and such, and then I guess I should buy the spin from him (for such a big sail the price is about right).

thanks for all the great info!

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

Hey Karl Brogger... that picturelooks like it was taken at Union reservoir, Longmont, Colorado? Do you sail there?? - I think I recall seeing a blue spin on a F18 there while I was out on an 18...

haha and one more question to throw out there: how do you gybe? I've done it on a monohull, have to do all kinds of adjustments... impossible on a cat, how do bring the spin to the other side, as you'd have to reattach it properly to the pole (of course there is something i'm sure, i just can't figure it out)

thanks!

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

Wow, good eye. That is Union Reservoir. My boat, but not me sailing it. I loaned my F16 to some friends to use for a training camp while they were waiting for their new F18 to arrive.





The tack stays in one place, (the end of the pole), while gybing. Its asymmetrical. Turn down, gybe, sheet it in on the new tack.

To be perfectly honest, if Jeremy is selling everything for $1600 that is a damn good price, I wouldn't bother trying to source things out yourself as you'll probably end up spending more than that unless you are a Jedi of scrounging.

Cool - hope to see the boat again next summer!

So do you just pull over the Spinnaker like a genoa? Would make sense, thanks! (i was envisuallizing all kinds of crazy contraptions to get it over haha).

I'd like to buy the whole set, but I'm a college student which don't help with funds, but, I think i'll get the Spinnaker for sure, and i'll look at hardware before deciding to buy his kit or not, it seems (i'm sure i'm being naive here) that the hardwhere is pretty basic, pully up top (strong), many lines, several pulley's around the boat / cleats + the spinnaker pole (hardest part of the whole setup)

thanks for all the info!

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

i too am trying to piece together a spin or genoa set up. my boat is a '78 so i am not real interested in 1600 bucks, albeit a good price, i just can't justify(afford) it. the gen would be furling or the spin in a sack.
more pics of you guys with the really new/cool stuff would help.
this site has been helpful,interesting, and entertaining. Thanks to ALL!

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eric, sail #205

When looking through the hobie parts catalogue, is the reacher tang different from the mast tang? Sounds like it's meant for a spin...thanks!

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

You don't want to use the hard Tang on the mast. Use the newer style rope tang.
Much nicer setup.

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

i had this babe on my boat this summer in light air... i really don't know if i like looking at her or this pic of the boat above.... i slept on one of them,,,,,,(not that boat but mine) (censored)!!! it was the boat!!! LOL
i don't know how to put a pic on this site darn it...

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eric, sail #205

rope tang isjust a strong bit of rope going round the mast near the top (74 inches or something..., number shown in the video from surfcity), that is held in place by another rope going to the top of the comptip right? it has a pully then.... if that's all, very simple!

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1985 Hobie 16 86068