Hobie Forums
http://www.hobie.com/forums/

17 Sport conversion to Race Ready.
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=950
Page 1 of 1

Author:  STEVE BELL [ Wed Jul 14, 2004 2:23 am ]
Post subject:  17 Sport conversion to Race Ready.

It would seem that I have purchased the only boat in the fleet that cannot sign up to race without some slight modifications first which sound like BIG $$$ going out. I have not called hobie to confirm, but here is the situation.

I have a 1994 17 Sport which has the boomlett. I saw that there is a conversion to equip it to an SE boat. However, I think I have to buy a main sail. Is it that I have to have a boom to qualify to race. If so, It just might be in my best interest to buy another boat and race it. If this racing thing pans out I might just step up to a Tiger or Miracle. Can anybody give me the 411 on this. Any advice on what to do?

Steve Bell
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. :cry:

Author:  samevans [ Wed Jul 14, 2004 3:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

Steve, Your mainsail might be an SE sail.
Does the sail have a clew plate to fasten the boom to?
Or does it only have the bolt rope for the boomlet?
A "true" Sport sail is slightly smaller than an SE sail.
A new Hobie 17 sail, there is only one type made now, will have the bolt rope and clew plate.

To be a "true" SE, you would have to replace the forestay and bridle wires, remove the jib, spreader and furler, and change the boomlet to a boom.
The only part that gives you an advantage is the jib.
If you only took off the jib, you would be at a disadvantage because you would be carrying extra weight and the boomlet is not as efficient.
Most Fleets would let you race Hobie 17 Class without the jib.

Author:  mmiller [ Thu Jul 15, 2004 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  What do you have?

The early 17 Sports (pre 95) were designed to be a different boat than the SE. They wanted it to be a two person and/or family boat. It was made with the boomless (yet had a Harken track and car boomlet) feature. To make it boomless, they cut the sail differently. The foot was shorter. Area was removed at the leech (aft) because it was overhanging the rear beam and to do boomless, they thought they couldn't support the extra sail aft of the boom.

In 1995 I redesigned the boomlet to enable the sail to be universal between the SE and Sport. This allowed Sport owners to race without having to buy a new sail.

Sorry, but if your boat is a 94 with a harken boomlet, the sail is smaller and will not work with a boom.

Author:  Benge [ Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:40 pm ]
Post subject: 

The good news is you have a 17 and you don't need a crew. You will feel better about racing with new rigging and a new sail. The only bummer is buying a boom. You will enjoy the boat and Welcome to the fleet. Racing is the most fun you can have sailing and you have a great boat.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/