can't release the jib while on trapeze

Hey folks - your thoughts on how you've solved this problem...

problem: the jib car on my Hobie 21SE releases downward. Even with the block adjusted in it's most upward position - when the jib sheets are under a lot of pressure - it's hard to release. No amount of slapping the jib sheet results in a reliable release. The problem is compounded when you get out on the wing and on the trapeze - of course this is when you want to be able to release the jib at a moments notice every time...

My jib car has a block with a becket and an adjustable cleat that the sheets are led through that pivots up and down. The block has a spring underneath it and is shackled to the jib car. I'll post a picture tonight. I'm sure it's stock / original equipment.

I've noticed that for the Hobie 16 you can get a jib car that releases upward - but I'm concerned that will not take the load of the H21SE.

Any thoughts on the best way to resolve this issue? Anyone else experienced this?

Thanks - Andy

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Andy Gardner
Hobie 21SE "Lickity Split"
Cowan Lake Sailing Association
Foster, OH

In the Prosail series, Pete Melvin and his crew solved this problem by taking the cam cleats off the boat. John hand held the jib sheet. I changed mine to the big Harken fixed base swivel cams mounted in the track, that release upward, since my Wife crewed for me.

Tom - got any pics of that set-up? "the big Harken fixed base swivel cams mounted in the track, that release upward"? Can you still buy that set-up? that could be the trick for my girlfriend as well!

cheer - Andy

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Andy Gardner
Hobie 21SE "Lickity Split"
Cowan Lake Sailing Association
Foster, OH

I have found that I have better luck snapping aft and down with the emphasis on aft. I'm not sure why it works, but it does.

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Todd
Hobie 21SE
Bellingham, WA

I removed the cams from the blocks and screwed them to the wings so I could quickly cleat or uncleat the jib from the trapeze. I like it so much that I mounted two more cams per wing, one for the main and two at different places for the jib sheet. This all worked well until I purchased new wing covers. I did not want any holes in my new wing covers ,so I filled in those old screw holes on the wings and have sailed without the cams on the wings.....I sure miss those easy to use cam cleats.......

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Bill 404 21SE

I'll post some later. I'm away from home, where the boat is, this week. They are the big cruiser swivels. I can't remember how I mounted them. That was 26 years ago. Very easy to cleat and release from any position.

It's this one: http://www.harken.com/productdetail.asp ... &taxid=375

Not cheap though. The cam swivels are mounted in a fixed position-not on a slide.