difficulty hooking sail

Recently I have had problems hooking the mainsail and with the mainsail coming off the hook, while sailing. Looking back to recent changes only two things have occurred: The grommet that holds the shackle and ring broke and the local sail shop does not have a replacement, so I taped back in place and it seems ok. The other thing that I did, was raking the mast forward (by one hole) at the base of the forestay. Which one (if any) did it?
Are there any alternatives to the hook and ring for a hobie 18?
Thank you for any help

robirobi,

I'm theorizing your sail to be the problem, the plate with the grommet being broken keeps you from pulling enough downhaul to keep the halyard hoop on the mast hook, OR the grommet is so loose that your not getting the sail high enough for the hoop to reach the hook.
In either case the head of the sail needs fixing, the 18 main, when the wind blows moderate to heavy, creates loads of speed when flattened by applying downhaul.
I don't think your mast rake would effect the main staying up and I don't know of alternative hooks.

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

The mast hook on a H-18 isn't too deep, therefore the haylard ring and attachment point to the sail must be secure. I sail with little mast rake and never had the hook become dislodged from the mast.

Given what you have stated I would look to get the sail gromet on the main fixed correctly.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

Upon further looking and checking, it seems that the ring sits on the distal tip of the hook instead of slippling into the groove. I applied more downhaul and that helps freeze the ring in place. If there is enough dounhaul (a lot) the sail stays in place, but I do not understand why all of the sudden the ring doesn't make it to the groove anymore, I think the mast is raked too far foreward

robirobi,

This is from Matt Miller



The ring rests, or all of its downward pressure, is on the hook itself. I don't understand the reference to the groove? If the groove is the luff track the ring need not be in the track. Unless you are getting some forward pre-bend by having "your rake too far forward" (which is virtually impossible) rake is not the cause. I like Matt's suggestion of laying the boat down on it's side (it's very difficult, for me at least, to see exactly what's going on at the top of the mast from 30 feet away).

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

John, Thank you for trying. It is difficult to "show you exactly where the ring sits, but I am going to try. Imagine looking at the hook from the side. There is a beginning, a midsection and a tail. Let's say that the tail is the part rivetted to the mast. I call the beginning "the point", the midsection or depressed part "the Grove", then by the time you reach the tail, you are not in the track, but on the starboard side of the mast. Well, the ring, in the process described by Matt, goes past the hook like it is supposed to do when I raise the sail, but when I let go of the halyard, it fails to hit the point of the hook and slip comfortably into the midsection or Groove. It just balances itself on the point, so, if there is a tremendous amout of downhaul it stays right there in this transitional position. However since the point of the hook is obviously convex and not concave, a wave or other trauma can easily male the ring slip back (aft) and the sail comes down. The problem never occurred before December. I have been sailing this cat for 5 years and I know how to rig it, I did not change the low profile knot, the halyard is preloaded, the knot faces the mast, in other words, I have not changed anything in my routine and the problem never occured in at least 80 - 100 outings. I hope I gave you a good picture, Bu I can easily draw it, scan it and e mail it to you, or even post it if there is a way to post *.jpg files... thanks -- Robi

With all else described as correct... Perhaps the hook has gotten bent? Perhaps the sail luff is pulling away from the mast a bit more due to wear or a problem with the luff track?

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

Have you tried a new ring with a welded hoop on the top? You then pass the halyard throught the hoop with the knot towards the mast. This pulls the ring forward into the mast hook groove. It may be as simple as spinning the ring around so the knot pushes the ring forward rather than back.

Had this problem. Rotate the mast so the sail is on the hook side, hook it and apply downhaul with the mast rotated. When dropping rotate opposite to easily disengage the hook. I use this technique successfully with the stupid flopper still in place. Not sure why it happens, sometimes it hooks without rotating, other times it won't cooperate.