Do wires stretch?

I just bought a H18 and was reading about how to rig it up when i noticed that the jib halyard system was different from a H16. The manual said to tighten up the forestay before raising the sail or else the weight of the mast + force of the mainsail would break the jib halyard, which makes sense. But, when i went to tighten the forestay it wouldn't take up all the slack even with the shrouds all the way tight. Did these wires stretch? I noticed an extension attached from the mast to the pulley that pulls up the jib, is this normal?

Yes, wires to stretch, but not much. It would be odd to be at the bottom setting of all wires and still have a loose rig. This is not stretched wires, it is something else.

Forestay adjuster at furler is all the way down?

Shrouds at bottom holes of their adjusters?

And this boat / wires use to work?

Check the forward crossbar. If the striker failed and the crossbar was flattened?

Check each wire length against the wire chart. Measure from "pin to pin" where the wire bears on the pin / shackle:

HOBIE 18
Forestay Pigtail Thimble both ends w/swivel 24 1/2" (Not including swivel)
Lower Forestay Fork and eye 17' 2"
Bridle Fork both ends 3' 51/8"
Shroud Thimble and eye 20' 5"
Jib Halyard D-shackle, thimble 17' 1"
Diamond Wire Fork and turnbuckle 17'
Trapwires Thimble, stops and handles 19'

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