Mast rotation downwind

Hi, second post... a lot shorter, I promise!

During the downind leg, keeping the wind at 90 degrees, I noted the the mas rotation is not enough to make the mainsail entry be at 90o (same direction of the wind). The cunninghan is easied and the mast can rotate freely (I push against the boom in light wind to keep it fully rotated). If the mast could rotate a little bit more, I think it would be in a better angle to the wind, more close the mainsail angle. I saw that the class rules explicitly say that the stops can be adusted but not completly removed.

Anyone already played with the rotation stops in the mast base? Does this make sense? (our is the newer, I'm sure)

Rodolpho

The mast rotation stops are what they are. If you cut them back for downwind performance, then you sacrifice upwind performance.

It's part of the simplicity of the Hobie 16. It's not 100% optimal, but since everyone has the same problem - it's not a problem.

Ok. Understood and agreed.

But our mast doest rotate full when heading upwind most of the time (I think its because the place we sail is not windy on average). So it would not make a difference in the upwind, only on downwind... what you think?

Another thing that made me curious: our mast base has a stainless steel plate attached to the frontal part of the base and it envolves it (apparently) protecting where the mast stops contact the limiter. I do not see this attachment in any new HC16 mast base. Did you already have seen this?

Rodolpho

That was an add-on (accessory) for worn stops at some point. May actually be limiting your rotation so check the stock rotation setting against it.

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