Jib Pigtails

How long and do you terminate them with stainless rings? I'm worried that the off ring will beat the mast to death.

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The ox is slow but the earth is patient

Probably about 12". You need to leave a couple of inches gap so that when the jib car is all the way forward you can still sheet in tight without bottoming out the blocks.

As far as attaching the blocks. My personal system is to tie the pigtails direclty to the clew and tie the blocks directly to the pigtail. I don't use any shackles, I just leave the blocks permanently connected to the sail. I've had shackles get hung up on the diamond wires or just come undone all together. I have to thread the jib line each time I rig, but that's no big deal. It's also best to make sure the clew fitting is smooth otherwise it could cut through the pigtail line.

sm

I'm a second season sailor of my H18. Ive heard bits and pieces about the jib pig tails. How do they help? Is it better performance, ease of use, etc. A picture or diagram would be nice if anyone could easily direct me to one.

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1982 Hobie 18

The pigtails are not a major upgrade. All they really do is allow you to use slightly less jib sheet (a couple feet). I also like that they allow me to get away from using a shackle to connect the jib blocks to the clew which prevents hang-ups.

The set-up is very simple. You take about a 3 foot piece of line. Tie it in half to the clew of the jib, and then tie one jib block to each end of the line. The rest of the jib rigging is exactly the same.

You can find a picture of the setup on the Hobie Miracle 20 assembly manual (fig 5.6). This was standard rigging for the Miracle (obviously the barber haulers are not on the 18).

sm

Sounds good to me. My wife certainly won't mind pulling less sheet thru those old seaway blocks

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1982 Hobie 18