Mast binds to one side

I bought a 1985 Hobie 16 last year and found that the bridle chain link has always been difficult to attach even with the shrouds attached near the top. I recently bought new rigging wires but found the shrouds and forestay wires still have the same problem. The last few times sailing the mast has been getting bound off to one side. The mast rotates fine on shore but underway it soon becomes pretty much forced off to one side. I'm not sure what is going on anyone know what would cause the mast to do that?

Silly question probably but, You do have the mast bearing in right?

You might try running the shrouds one hole higher than you normally do and see if that makes a difference unless you can not go lower than the top hole. If that is true then you probably have the later shrouds which are shorter.

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp

Thanks for your reply. I always use a Teflon Bearing. I have watched pretty much every video on Youtube with otherwise no instruction. Best videos I have found are published by Joseph Bennett. Who also goes into rigging adjustments for Hobie 16's. Perhaps it's because I have an older model but there is no way I could get the bridle chain link attached below the 4th hole from the bottom on the shrouds. Next time I go out I thought I would try loosening up the outhaul on the main sail boom perhaps it is forcing the sail against the gooseneck too much. Thanks again for your help.

You can add a short pigtail to get some extra forestay length for rigging. The Jib luff wire becomes the forestay when sailing. Likely Jib halyard tension. First, be sure you are not over tensioning the halyard. The mast rotates hard to starboard when on a port tack? The jib halyard if running down the port side of the mast acts as a bowstring. You can try to route it most equally down the middle. The newer boats have an "Aussie" jib halyard to alleviate the load running down the mast length. This reduces the prebend that is likely causing your issues.

Check out this video.



Forestay at 11:11

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