Traveler is not very travel friendly

New Hobie owner here of 1970 Hobie 16. Obviously parts are stiff and worn at this point. Boat sails great but traveler won't travel except on the outward movement with no line tension. How to fix so I can actually pull boom in under sail? Other week in great wind in N.C. we could fly a hull but since I could not pull sail in to the "middle" area of tramp I felt like I was missing the best flying. Surely I don't grease this do I? Sorry for my lack of knowledge but only got a really old assembly manual, no instructions.

Also wondering about the rudders, won't lock down, think cams are worn out and I am ready to order the cams, but don't I need to order the spring loaded pin as well? I don't see the spring loaded pin advertised in the parts catalog on the rudder repair page.

What is the best book/video to order to show me answers to these types of questions as my rudder system needs a complete rebuild and I can't wait to get it right as the wind picking up here now with all the tropical activity!!! YEEEHA!!

PS, my sign on of FLIPIT suits me as on a tack the other day when turning into the wind the boat rared up and stood on its hind quarters?!?! What a gas... If turtle is upside down,... what do you call that?? a Wheelie? I gave it a little shove, she fell over sideways, we got on the righting line, righted her and took off again.
What caused this backward flip? My only guess was I still had the main cleated in or it may have been my honey with the jib setting, BEATS US?? Anyway, this boat is a GAS!!! Can't believe how much fun we have with it already...

Have you seen the Beverly Hillbilly's?? GREAT, it is nice to meet ya... Call me Jethro and honey is Ellie Mae...

You all would have had a great laugh seeing us sailing with neither rudder locked in..... What a blessing it was to read in the catalog last nite that if the rudders are locked in and adjusted properly, there would be very little pull on the tiller!!!!! My oh my... That is great news as I though I would have forearms like Popeye soon cause the pull on the tiller was enormous with both rudders unlocked for almost 3 hours of sailing!!! What a laugh... guess there is no substitute for experience eh??

Thanks for your time and thoughts...

Welcome to the community. I'm a pretty novice sailor but I may be able to offer some help. I'm not sure you can pull the traveller into center when the sail is fully loaded, I know I can't. I don't think there is nearly enough purchace there. What I do is ease the mainsheet as I pull on the traveller line to get the traveller where I want it. Then I sheet the main in.

The backflip isn't all that difficult a thing to do if the wind is kicking. I think your assumption of not uncleating the main may be spot on. When you tack in high wind, be very careful of how long you allow the jib to backwind and that the mainsail is uncleated. I learned this from someone else, but when I tack in heavier air I pull the mainsheet in tight as I head into the wind and as soon as the jib starts to backwind I ease the mainsheet and scramble to the other side of the boat, very much ready to uncleat the jib.

Hope this helped a little. Others will also chime in I'm sure. Some that probably have as many years experience on Hobies as I do on earth.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

A lot depends on what kind of traveller you have.

The 1970 stock traveller was a flat piece of metal shaped into an inverted "T" that fit into the track. The part that stuck out of the track had three holes in it - center one for the blocks, and two on either side for the two traveller lines that went to V-jam cleats on either side of the rear crossbar. There was a rectangular teflon bearing that fit on the top of the traveller "car" (inside the track) that lasted about 4 seconds under normal use.

In 1972, Hobie Cat made the "Tracker" roller bearing traveller car standard equipment and it's pretty much the same today.

If you don't have one, get one. You may have to replace the track, too, since 38 years of use with an original stock traveller has surely boogered up the inside of the track.

Matt,

So, assuming that you have an updated traveler, should you be able to pull the traveller in while under sail? Let's say that you are sailing upwind, with a 15 mph breeze. Maybe I need to update my traveler and track, or hit the gym a little more often. I havent' been able to do it very well in that air.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Yes.

At the 16 North Americans a couple of weeks ago, I started to weather and a little behind Jason Hess (Guatemalan, 21 years old, ended up 4th in the event). The wind was solid double trap, but not overpowering - about 13-16 kts.

I watched as his crew played the traveller constantly over every little wave and puff. He put 20 yards on me by the time we were halfway up the leg (and ready to tack). It would have been a lot more distance if we had been in big waves.

I looked at my crew (Christine Bradshaw) and said, "Chris, you up to doing that?" She just glared at me.

We would work the traveller upwind, but she was having a hard time uncleating it from the wire, so it was a sporadic thing. I don't think Jason's crew (who was as young as he) ever cleated the traveller.

Appreciate all the answers, will order new style traveler! Happy Sailing!
John