Hi everyone,
Well, I have learned quite a bit since I installed my Hobie 16 spin on my Getawayin the spring. I hope to update the installation instructions document this winter, but for now, I have updated it with my to-be-updated to-do list.
http://freepdfhosting.com/7891285579.pdf (valid for 30 days on this hosting site)
Here what I have learned:
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After a season of sailing with the Hobie 16 spin on my Getaway, I have a few more thoughts to add on this topic. I plan to update this document this winter with updated text and a few new pictures, but for now here is my short to-do list for these instructions.
a) Add to Section F; Sailing. On a medium to heavy wind, snugly sheet in the main sail. It acts as a backstay and stops the mast from bending too far forward.
b) The spin sail rips really really easily. I put four holes in my new spin in the first few months. I eventually figured out that the rings holding my cotter pins just below my furling reel were poking holes in my spin. I duct taped over everything sharp-ish below my front stay roller furling, down to my front spreader bar. After the duct tape was added in June, I didn't have any more holes in my spin. Luckily, spin sheet repair tape comes in the exact same red as my spin.
c) The spin pole bag/sock is kinda crap. The part that has not been covered by my boat tarp is very faded. And out of the blue, I have a hole in it! This thing should be bullet proof. I am disappointed in the spin bag, but it should last a few years. I have a sexy patch of duct tape over my spin bag hole.
d) Spin pole pre-bend. The spin will pull up on the spin pole. To prepare for this, the front stays of the spin pole should be tight enough to pre-bend the spin pole in a downward direction. Without pre-bend, the spin pole takes on a dangerous up-bend in a medium or heavy wind.
e) Height of spin mast tank is not correct. According to other spin sailors, the luff of the spin should be pulled to a tight straight line when sailing a broad reach. When my spin is pulled up to the mast tang block, my spin luff is not tight. It needs about another 23cm of length, which means that my spin mast tang is too low by about xx cm. Crap !!!
f) Side stay spin sheet blocks. Hmm…. I flew my spin in a medium wind the other day. The side stay spin sheet blocks really bent my side stays at the bottom. That cannot be healthy for my side stays. The location also does not seem to give enough down pull on the spin. I think I might move the block from the side stay to the base of the front outer wing seat pole.
g) Holding the spin sheet by hand is not comfortable. I am considering adding a cam cleat to my side spin blocks somehow.
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But I do love my spin !
Cheers,
...Dave