H18 forestay, Matt can you help?

So my boat is a 1978, just picked up a new lower forestay. the one I got has these ends:


The problem is the old one has both ends same as the end on the left, the fork style.
Heres my jib sheave:


Up is to the left. I'm wondering do I have an extra swivel on the bottom of the sheave? If i remove this swivel the new forestay would work.

If somebody knows what i have, any help would be good, thanks

_________________
Bruce
78 Hobie 18
#1159

Yep .... it looks that way ....

Those swivels are $$$$$'s ... if it swivels well .... save it, do not throw it away.

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

So do you think somebody had a custom forestay made with the fork/clevis fitting on both ends, or is this how the 18s came back in 78.

Also I guess it won't make much difference running it with only the top swivel, in respect to furling the jib

_________________
Bruce
78 Hobie 18
#1159

Bruce,

I purchased and started racing a H18 in 1985 ... before that I sailed/raced a ol' H16 (sail #572) starting in 1983. So I can not testify to how a H18 was equipped when "sold new" before that ... but I can not remember ever having seen a pre-1984 H18 rigged/equipped like that before. (There are others on this forum who started sailing/racing a H18 before me .... maybe they know???)

I would verify all the rigging dimensions/lengths of the forestay and bridle wires according to the specifications including rigging the boat "mast-up" and checking the "mast rake".

Ref: H18 Performance Manual/Mr Phil Berman pg 48-51
1) Measure up from the bottom of the mast 48" ... and mark
2) Measure from bridle clevis pins to mark on mast .... diamensions should be in the range between: 105 1/4" (min/"heavy wieght" crew) to 106 3/4" (max/"light wieght crew")

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

So I removed the bottom swivel, installed the new forestay, it ended up about a 1/2" different in lenght.
I was talking with Jay from Backyard boats (where I order my parts) this morning and he never recalled the H18 being rigged like that either. I'm just intersted if anybody can shed some light on this.

I'll rig the boat this weekend and check the measurements. I have the performance manual also. I would think the 1/2" difference won't make much difference, I'll just end up using another hole in the adjustor.

Thanks for your input Harry

_________________
Bruce
78 Hobie 18
#1159

The previous owner probably had problems getting the jib to furl and added another swivel. Really not the right thing to do though because the halyard sheave needs to be able to turn too, not just the lower forestay. So definitely remove the lower swivel. If you have trouble furling than either your mainsheet and/or shrouds are too tight, or your furler swivel is shot.

sm

Yes, I believe this was the standard setup early on. Not sure when it changed, but have seen it before.

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

Thanks Matt, I removed the lower swivel and it worked fine.

_________________
Bruce
78 Hobie 18
#1159