Mast rake - shroud length older boat

I took out an '81 Hobie 16 I bought last fall for the first time yesterday. The guy gave me new shrouds to replace one he dragged on the ground while trailering.
The new ones were genuine Hobie 16 written right on them.

I raised the mast and my fore stay was about 8 - 10 inches short but which is a guess because I was shaking trying to hold the mast up and figure out what was going on. After 3 or 4 times of raising the mast I finally got it rigged with two extra adjuster plates added to the bridle. By this time I was so frustrated I almost wanted to pack up and go home.
I guess the shrouds I got are the late model high rake type and you have to buy a fore stay to fit.

I went sailing with the high rake rig and it worked fine but I have no way of knowing if it was faster and I don't like the low boom.

I have never really been able to find anyone good explanation of why Hobie went to all the mast rake. I've seen mention of it being faster up wind.

If it is just for racing then I would rather not have the rake. Less rake = more boom clearance over the tramp and easier to raise the mast up and hold it in position.

So - should I get longer shrouds or learn to live with mast rake?

What is the proper length shroud for a 1981 Hobie 16? The Hobie wire guide only goes back to '95.

Not sure of the older shroud length, but Salty Dog has them:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HOBIE-CAT-16-SHROUD-WIRES-BLACK-2-1971-1994-NEW-2-259412-/131728669101?vxp=mtr&hash=item1eaba3f9ad

There's a lot more to running more mast rake than just the shroud length. If you have the older 5:1 main blocks and/or your mainsail is over stretched vertically, your main blocks will go block to block before the main is fully sheeted. More rake also loads up the rudders more, so other upgrades/adjustments may be needed there. With the info provided, it sounds like the older length shrouds are the way to go.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Thanks for the link,

I think that is the answer for me!

I have a 1978 boat. Just replaced the shrouds.

I think you like 19’2” side shrouds and 18’ front with the extra front chain plate to bungee scissor it away from the sail

I had purchased a Aussie jib system also. The new jib shroud that comes with it was 18’ 10”. Really long. Even with the original single chainplate on the bow.

Bridle wires are stock factory. Doesn’t look like the size changed. I also put on brand new but they came the same size.

With the new front shroud it was really loose even on the tightest lowest side hole so I shortened my old shrouds to the 18” 11” recommended new ones.

With the change The mast rake was so severe the boom was way too low and the stops on the mast rotation were missing their mark. Also mast rotation was stiff and binding. Needed to go back to the top hole on the side shroud which basically brought me back to the original length

I ordered new shrouds from Murray’s and can do custom up to 3” longer. This brought it back to what it originally had. 19’2” for the shrouds. Then I shortened the front shroud to 18’. I added another 10 hole adjuster on and a bungee so that with the Aussie system when tightened the shroud stays taught and out of the way of the sail as the upper chainplate scissors forward under the bungee.

Now I can usefully use all the side plate adjustments. Although it seems like 2-3 from the bottom works good with the max rake and the mast still contacting the rotation stops with enough free rotation.

New 6:1 main blocks can go block to block with reasonable tension.

Working pretty good now.

Wire Lengths for the Hobie 16
Location Wire Type/Grade Finished Length Quantity
Main Halyard-non Comptip C/L shackle to near side stop=15 5/8' 3/32 7x7 25' 7 3/4' 1 ea.
Jib Halyard Rope 20'6' of 3/16 halyard 1/8 7x19 16' 5' 1 ea.
Shroud thimbles both ends 1/8 1x19 19' 1/4' 2 ea.
Trapeze Wires thimbles, stops and handles 3/32 1x19 16' 9 1/8' 4 ea.
Forestay Pigtail thimbles both ends 5/32 7x19 6' 1 ea.
Lower Forestay thimbles both ends 1/8 1x19 17' 6' 1 ea.
Bridle thimbles both ends 1/8 1x19 3' 8 1/4' 2 ea.

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H16 2002 "Islands" Sail No. 107432