How do I lock the Traveller? HC14

I am new at using my Hobie Cat 14. Is the traveller supposed to lock in the position I want it? seems like it doesn't. This limits my ability to adjust the power in the main sail. Please help. Thanks.

The end of the mainsheet controls the traveler movement per figure 36 in this manual: https://media.hobie.com/digital_assets/e_h14manual1.pdf

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

Yes it should. In the standard setup, the bitter end of the mainsheet is also the main traveler line. After the main blocks are attached to the boom and to the top of the main traveler car, the bitter end of the main sheet is threaded through the main traveler swivel cam cleat on the rear beam (in the proper direction), then through the rollers of the main traveler car (fore to aft), then through the eyestrap on the back of the rear beam. A figure eight knot is then tied in the end to act as a stopper. When properly rigged, the line is pulled (moving the traveler car in toward center) for upwind sailing and let out (wind pushes traveler car out toward corner casting) for sailing downwind. Once the traveler car is in the desired position, it can be cleated to stay there, but that's not always the best thing to do (another topic).

Pictures of your setup might help (https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8574) or perhaps a more detailed description of your difficulties.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

If your boat is very old (like late 60’s, early 70’s), then it may have been supplied with the original traveler system which had a single sliding car attached to the traveler track and separate lines on each side of the car that were led out to V-jam cleats riveted to each corner casting. This was a very crude and ineffective system that was pretty quickly replaced by the one shown in the manual. If your boat has this old system, then upgrading to the one shown in the manual would definitely be recommended.

sm

Here is a pic of my set up.

https://flic.kr/ps/42R1ad

The bitter (loose) end of your mainsheet is rigged improperly...it should be controlling the main traveler car. For standard rigging, follow this video but just tie the figure eight stopper knot at 4:05.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Grn5MCFI1aQ

Referring to your pic...From the cleat on the lower main block (attached to the traveler car), the line should go through the main swivel cleat (on the rear beam) in the opposite direction. Then thread it, from front to back, between the two rollers on the traveler car under the lower main block. Finally, run it, from the top down, through that eyestrap on the back of the main beam (near the hiking stick connection in your pic). Tie a figure eight stopper knot in the end and you're done. The section of line between the cleat on the lower main block and the cleat on the swivel is what you'll be working...one end controls the sheet and the other the traveler. Pulling on the traveler end of this line will bring the traveler car/lower main block toward center (cleat it there for going upwind). Releasing the traveler end of the line from the cleat on the swivel will let the traveler car go out (cleat it there for broad reaching). Set it near the hiking strap for beam reaching.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Thanks Jerome, I was pretty sure that something was wrong. It sounds like I need to remove the main sheet from both cleats and start fresh. I am a bit uncertain about re-threading the main block. After that the video is clear, likewise the pics in the manuals are helpful:

https://media.hobie.com/digital_assets/ ... guNjAuMC4w

https://media.hobie.com/digital_assets/ ... YuNjAuMC4w

Do you have a drawing or diagram of how the sheet goes from the boom through the main cleat? Thanks.

It sounds like you mean reeving the mainsheet through the main blocks?
That depends on whether you have a 5:1 system (two upper blocks attach to boom)...
https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=14058
...or 6:1 (one upper block attaches to boom)...
https://www.thebeachcats.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=81447

If 5:1 I'd recommend that you leave the two blocks attached to the boom once you get it sorted out. Otherwise, it's very confusing and easy to screw up again.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Thanks RNH! It looks like mine is simpler than that. See pic:

https://flic.kr/p/2oYWMDt

Shouldn't be hard to reeve this. But I am a bit unsure about the direction on how to re-do the main block.

Yup, that's a simple 3:1...
https://www.ronstan.us/marine5/mainsheet_systems.asp

Referring to your pic...
Untie the knot at the becket and unwind the line from the two small sheeves so that it's coming out the back of the large sheeve on the lower block. Then thread it CLOCKWISE around the large sheeve of the upper block, the small sheeve of the lower block, and the small sheeve of the upper block. Then tie it off to the becket (but with a nice, clean bowline this time!).

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Is this correct? It seemed to work great.

https://flic.kr/p/2p17bRU

Thanks.

The mainsheet is a 4:1 system. You have both the mainsheet and the traveler systems rigged correctly now.

sm

Woohoo! Thx!

Glad you got it sorted out, and srm is correct (as usual). It's 4:1...I always forget the extra bit of purchase when there's a becket.

Funny how, even on these old boats, things work well when they are assembled, maintained, adjusted, lubed, repaired/replaced, and/or used properly!

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16