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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:16 am 
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Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
wow ur boat looks friggen awesome!
Is she as fast as she looks? How much faster do you think she is than a stock 18


Also, what exactly is a self tacking jib?

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1971 H16 (sail #1768)

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:59 am 
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Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 7:49 am
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Location: North Carolina
Upwind she is really not any faster than a standard 18. Its the turn down where the boat shines. Running under chute the boat really rolls. It is soo easy to jibe as quickly as desired. Tacking is effortless and the boat feels very lively. My daggers and rudders were professionally faired and are absolutely quite at any speed. I do miss the hum I used to get at 15kts.

A self-tacking jib is just that, you set it and forget it. The jib sheets control the tension and the foot travels on a curved beam mounted to the front crossbar. The H18 was never intended to be self-tacking and it took much head scratching to figure it all out. All the F18s run them and the newer I-20s do as well. I was able to purchase a track that had been damaged during a charter and was replaced. The diamond wires had rubbed into it and damaged the track but the frame and supports were fine. I even got a new track in the deal. You can see it in the first series of pics of the front x-bar. The bonus is that you can remove the jib tracks and cars that come stock off the tramp and really open the boat up, no sheet lines for crew to get tangled up in. I strongly suggest making this change but understand that it is a fairly costly upgrade, costly but worthwhile!


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:37 pm 
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Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Did you ever put wings on it with the current set up? I bet that would be a blast downwind!

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:03 pm 
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Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
ncmbm wrote:
A self-tacking jib is just that, you set it and forget it. The jib sheets control the tension and the foot travels on a curved beam mounted to the front crossbar.



Im still confused. So the jib trims itself?? You cleat it and it trims itself. The word self-tacking makes it seem like the jib releases itself and cleats itself when you tack. But that does not sound like what it does. By your description it sounds like it trims itself is that right?

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1971 H16 (sail #1768)

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:48 pm 
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Location: eureka,california
The self tacking jib is just that. There is a traveler car that is on a curved track. It has a travel limiter that you set, and it attaches centered to the pole. Your jib sheets are separate. When you tack from port to starboard the traveler follows the track to the other side. It stays sheeted and never flapps in the luff.
so just set the traveler sheet in and when you get back to the beach furl. never touch the jib unless wind conditions change.

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:42 pm 
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Location: North Carolina
I haven't had the wings on it in a while. I'm not all that sold on the wings. I prefer to be trapped out, thats my favorite seat. I will trap before I let crew out. The wife likes the wings but on the beach its so wide and enticing to the tourists. Its much harder to get thru the umbrellas to get to the water with the wings on as well.


Thats a very good description of a self-tacking jib hobie 18rich posted.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:58 pm 
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Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
so you set it once and it switches sides on its own and trims itself? thats what im getting from this.

If so.. Wow. that sounds pretty nice but does the sail backwind thru the tack before it releases.

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:51 pm 
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It travels on a track never releases. Like your main traveler on a gybe. It only stayes till the wind crosses the forstay then pushes to the other side. the wind moves it from side to side on the track.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:05 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:26 pm
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Location: Lewes Delaware
Great photos Mike.
I also have an 18 that stays rigged-up on the beach all year. I recently installed a self tacking jib from an FX-1.....it works great, but It doesn't seem like I gained any speed advantage over the stock 18 jib. I'm not sure what the stock size is but the FX jib is 42.78sf.
Any pointers for me besides taking sailing lessons?

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:02 pm 
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Location: North Carolina
I really like the set-up. It took me a little while to get used to not using the jib to tack, backwinding. I have found that in the ocean its best to drive the turn hard and sheet in the main and as it comes thru the wind let off the main so it doesn't over drive the jib. Its really easy to over power that small jib. Technique and timing are so much more critical in the ocean. I also became a fan of the reverse rudder technique when I blow a tack. When it is tacked right its magic. Jibing downwind is a breeze, just duck under the boom and go. I really like to carve the jibe hard as well, it just feels better that way.

How does your crew like the clean deck, thats like the hidden bonus in the whole conversion? How did you install yours? FX and the Tiger should have a similar sized jib, not sure what size my jib is. Its F18 legal, I do know that.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:01 pm 
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Location: Lewes Delaware
As far as my crew liking the self-tacker....I don't really have a crew, just a couple of casual sailing buddies.
I only recently got everything set-up. I had more trouble with the cast rudder gudgeons than I did with the self tacker. It was like trying to get Corvette parts to fit a Buick station wagon.
I should have time this weekend to experiment, as long as the wind cooperates.
My next project is the spinnaker. I just have a few more parts to round-up and I will be on the beach with my drill and rivet gun, annoying the tourists.
How about you...what's next on your wish list?

Andrew

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PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:47 am 
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Location: North Carolina
I would like a Tiger mast to replace my SX mast more than any other thing currently. Retro fitted daggers would be the next thing, a plug for the existing wells that could be removed if wanted. Other than that I think the boat works perfectly for me!

Other than the daggers the H18 is the same below the water as a Tiger. The topcap lip would be the other difference but that rarely comes into play, as far as speed is concerned. There is no better beach boat than the H18 and apparently there will never be anything better.


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:34 pm 
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Location: Metuchen NJ
Well I finally got all the pieces together to rig a spin on my H18. Just need to get some anodized spin pole material.
Mike, what size line do you use for the spin sheet and halyard/tackline, and how long are each?

Forespar makes the perfect pole material in 2 lengths 7'6" and 22' !!! I'm assuming a 2 piece pole is not a problem? The joint would be located where the mid support lines would tie in.

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:50 am 
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Location: North Carolina
I'm not certain but I think its 3/16" line and I haven't a clue as to the length. Heading to the coast this weekend but with the hurricane not sure if I will be able to get the boat out. My new main has so far performed poorly but that was sort of expected for a new sail. I need to tape and burn lines anyway so I will try and measure them for you. You might also contact Jeremy @ Surfcity and see if he has the lengths available. Hobie may know as well, just ask about Tiger line lengths.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:18 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:24 pm
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Location: Grand Rapids, MICHIGAN
I have a 2000 18SX - where would I get a sail set like this? order or custom made?
thanks
Ron


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