H14 to H16 part compatibility?

Hi,
I live in an area where there are almost no Hobies. I currently have an H16 that I purchased in the spring, but have been having a lot of problems with.

There is a 1978 H14 for sale near me for a good price ($500 w furl jib & trailer), and I was thinking about purchasing it for parts, to use with my H16, or just wholly making the switch to the 14 (the rigging problems we're having with our 16 have kind of ruined the season for us).

The H16 I have rigs with the boom much too low, and I was thinking the H14 sails might be smaller, and thus rig up at the correct height.

Any thoughts on H14 to H16 part compatibility?

Thanks!

Not compatible and the boom is also low. A LOT less power and low weight capacity.

The low boom could be changed by modifying the sail. That is how they all are though. You have to duck low.

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

Hi Matt, thanks for answering. The boom on my 16 is extra low. I visited a friend on Long Island a few weeks ago and we sailed his 16 for a few hours. His boom sits up at a height where you can see boat traffic while seated on the trampoline. The boom will swing overhead with some gentle ducking in a seated position.

Conversely, on my boat it is not possible to see other boat traffic behind the sail, even ducking. In addition, it hangs so low that being in a prone position is not sufficient to have the boom pass overhead-- one must be prone, and completely pressed against the trampoline in order to avoid it.

I believe part of the problem is that the mainsail on my boat is binding and won't haul enough to set in the hook. I have another thread where I'm trying to figure that out. I intend to try some experiments to get more data on whether it is binding and if so, where.

A second part of the problem is the location of the entrance to the mast track. I suspect the previous owner(s) cut some of the bottom of the mast off, such that the feeder entrance now sits where the boom's gooseneck/keeper normally would. I'm not sure how to fix this. I am considering welding another foot of aluminum sheet metal to the bottom of the mast as a mast extension, or cutting (and re-sewing) a foot from either the bottom or top of the sail. Both seem extreme and make me uncomfortable. I'm also considering replacing part 8020421 with an 8" bolt, so that the gooseneck keeper could cross the gap and sit in the lower track.

We don't have a Hobie dealer here, and have very few Hobie cats around the area. I'm trying to think up creative ways to meet the people who own the boats I have seen.

Don't confuse the issue dunebug. You can't hoist your sail... that's the problem. Boom height and all of that is just a consequence.

If you think your mast was shortened, measure it and tell us the length and what you measured to.

On my 2000 boat, with the sail fully hoisted the gooseneck is hovering in the feeder opening, toward the bottom.

_________________
'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

On Craig's list, there is a $500 Hobie 16 with mast and no sails in Newport, a $900 one that looks like it might be in good shape in Bangor, and a $950 one in North Berwick. With your situation, I'd be looking at the one in Newport, which you could probably pick up for $400 or so.

Measure the mast and make sure it has been cut down. If so, it needs to be replaced. Or it's a mast from a different boat But welding on the extra length is not a smart idea. A lot of stress and a potential break in a dangerous location.

But before doing anything, measure the mast and see if it is right. It should be 26 feet long, within an inch. If it's short, then you need a new mast. (And makes me wonder if that could be why you're having problems raising the sail. If the mast has been cut down, something serious happened to it.)

Work at getting one problem solved at a time. If you discover your mast is short, and you want a simple and inexpensive solution, you gather the excess material at the boom like you would if you were reefing the sail, then take heavy duty thread and sew it up. It will cost you some performance, and I wouldn't go this route, but it's a solution.

Jim Clark-Dawe

Hi, thanks- I have two measurements written down: 23 ft (which I think we did the math wrong on) and 26 ft, 1 inch. I'll remeasure this Friday.

If your gooseneck hovers in the feeder opening, how do you secure it? Do you downhaul it and try to sneak it in as you downhaul? I think I have minimum 6 inches to downhaul it if I go that route- will it pull that far and still fit the track?

I think I have a triple block somewhere in my windsurfing gear. I'll try that out for some downhaul leverage.

I think we measured 26 ft, 1 inch. That may have been to the tip top, instead of just the top of the black aluminum extruded part of the mast. Will remeasure on Friday.

I emailed the $900 hobie as soon as it came on craigslist, but haven't heard back from them. I saw the $500 parts boat, but didn't want to buy a parts boat without sails of some kind, just in case I do have to do some sewing on the sails (I'd like to have a beater sail set to practice and learn with before doing the real thing).

One of the forum members is driving past me on Friday, so we will meet and swap sail/mast to see if there are binding points. He may have a spare mast for me as well. Will update after the weekend.

I just measured mine, right at 26', maybe 1/2" more. That is just the extrusion, not counting the base or top. The mast slot starts 24" above the bottom of the extrusion. Matt Bounds posted a drawing of the mast at some point in the past but I don't know where that post is.



Yes, but I wouldn't characterize it as sneaking it in. It's in the perfect starting place, and I pull it down into the lower part of the track with the downhaul. I hardly need to guide it at all. I probably pull it about 5~6" down.

I think your sail's luff tape is the problem.

_________________
'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

Thanks, I think I can breathe a little easier now, knowing that I'm fighting just one problem and not two.

If it is the sail's luff tape, what do I do about it? Buy a new sail? Jack open the mast track opening?

If it's the sail's luff tape that is causing the problem (because it's doubled up and too thick, or just misapplied in some other way) then you could try removing the extra layer if there is one and dealing with whatever damage is there, or have the repair re-done, or get a different sail. I'm not a sail loft so I don't know what would be feasible time-wise for repairing the tape, based on the condition of the sail. Maybe you just buy a newer/better sail from someone who wants to upgrade to brand new for racing.

Forget trying to widen the track, but it's possible that you have a narrower mast slot than other masts have. I have that, but my sail still goes up fine.

At any rate, you'll know today, right?

_________________
'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

I met with dunebugmi yesterday on my way north. We discovered the problem feeding the sail up was due to his battens having too much pre-tension.
This allowed the first few feet to feed up the mast ok but then rapidly needed more force to get the sail up or down. Once we released the battens and put a light pre-load on the sail went up and down fine.

_________________
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

So many problems have simple solutions. It's just hard to figure out which one it is. Glad this one got solved.

Jim Clark-Dawe

Thanks for your help everyone!