Reefing bead - in or out?

I have been using my comp tip mast since I started sailing my H16 but it is now toast so I am using a spare mast that was from a 1972 H16.

This mast has a second locking bead (I assume for reefing the mainsail).

Is this bead supposed to be inside or outside the sail track when hoisting the mainsail?

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1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

I always had mine on the outside of the track, that way it went over the top pulley easier. But I may have been doing it wrong for the last 20 or so years lol.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

I'll give anyone a dollar if they could actually control whether the beads were inside of outside the groove.

It's pretty much hit or miss as to whether one, none or both of the beads stay inside the mast when you drop your sail. I have never seen it make a difference in any of the three positions. We've always had alu H14 and H16 masts, never comptips....

It really doesn't matter. If it bothers you, then before hoisting the sail, tie the loose end of the halyard line to the shackle, hoist it up and the bead will pop free when it gets to the top. Lower it back down and hoist your sail.

I've never noticed a difference when hoisting the sail whether the bead was in/out. I used to free it up to when storing the boat mast up (halyard tied loosely to the trapeze handles so it wouldn't slap against the mast).

sail681 I'll take that dollar.... I have two knocks on my halyard and it drive me crazy to see it slide out side the mast, so I paid attention to when it did it and when it didn't. I found out that when I let the sail down fast, and I had little tention on the halyard then it slid out of the sail track. So long story short, I make sure it goes inside. so you can come to Oregon territory to diliver the buck.
PS bring your cat and we'll race for double or nothing

"nwsalr" is correct. Keep a bit of tension on the halyard.

Both beads should be outside of the track or it causes a lot of unnecessary friction when hoisting again.

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