Mainsail raising problems

I bought an older 16. I used to sail in the 70's on a 16 with a circular tip on mast top for raising the mainsail. My boat now has a tip with the two wheels at the top. Typical new style. My problem is I bought a new mainsail Hallard line and the locking bead gets caught on the top cover as it starts going througH the second wheel. Prevents me from raising the mainsail to the cleat. Anything I can do. The cover does not look damaged or bent.
Thanks Paullg

I had the exact same problem. I thought it was a problem with the halyard and ground down the "locking bead", which helped, but then it fell off because the heat had melted the glue! I bought a new halyard thinking that would fix it, but it was worse.

I assumed the spacing between the pulleys and top "cap" was tighter than it should, and maybe I needed to replace it. With nothing to loose I used a dremel to cut a slot into the top cap part about 2-3 inches long. With trial and error I lengthened the slot until the bead could pass over cleanly, with tension on both sides of the halyard.

I left the 2 ends intact, which I think means Ive not really weakened it. Anyway, it fixed the problem, and Ive raised the sail about 10 times since with no issues

Unfortunately I don't have a picture, but the next time I take the mast down I can take one
Mark

It's unclear from your post exactly where the halyard is hanging up in the mast head. Is is catching on the aft edge of the sheave housing? Or is is hanging up inside the housing?

If the mast is rotated relative to the sail, then the slug on the halyard may snag on the aft edge of the housing. The proper technique involves ensuring the boat is nearly head to wind, then pulling down and away from the mast directly in front of the mast (in line with the sail) to get that last foot or so of halyard up and through the sheaves. If the mast rotates when you pull on the halyard, you need to better align yourself with the mast.

The masthead with two sheaves is for a comp-tip mast. Is that want you have? The comp-tip mast takes a different halyard than the old all aluminum masts. If the halyard you purchased was for an all aluminum mast, that could be the problem.....no?

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Thanks Jerome, mbounds, and markemark for all for your advice. I thought about cutting the housing cover. That will be a last result, The bead is hanging up in the middle of the comp tip, not on the sides. I though it was my angle also while raising the sail but it does it when the mast is down too. I checked the new bead wise with the older one I had and it is the same size.

The only other idea I have is to try bending the top part of the cover so it's more round. I'll try to get
A picture and maybe that will help if I figure out how to download it.
Again thanks.

How about elongating the sheave holes to lower them a tad? I think there is room.

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

Thanks another good ide

On my new boat I was having a problem with the stop on the halyard hitting the top edge of the mast just slightly on one side.. I just bent the top of the 'cover' as you described.. it just needed a tiny bit to pull through very smoothly.

I used a #3 phillps screwdriver and just gently worked it prying off of the sheeve.. It is relatively soft stuff, and wouldn't be hard to it to get whacked just enough to cause the type of problems you are talking about.

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