Hobie Cat Forums

I would recommend you fit a 4:1 with 2:1 cascade. This gives 8:1 mechanical advantage with fewer blocks than a straight 8:1 system. A lot of Hobie 20's use this system in my area (Texas),

Stick with me here 'cause I don't have a camera handy and this can be hard to describe in words...

Fit a double block (e.g. Harken micro 226) to the grommet on the main using a shackle.

Tie some thin line (3/16") to the end of a single block (e.g. harken micro 224). A couple of feet should be ample. Repeat this on a second block. So you now have two blocks, each with a piece of line 2ft long tied to then (bowlines work well).

Thread each line from the back of the boat through one of the pulleys on the double block on the bottom of the main. Pull the lines until the single blocks are up against the double.

Then thread the lines inside the mast rotator to a likely looking spot about 6-8" up from the base of the mast on each side. No magic in choosing the spot - just make sure the angle on the line from the double block looks good and it isn't rubbing on anything. Once you have marked your spot on each side fit a suitable jam cleat (I used self tapping screws and drilled a pilot hole first).

Jam the lines through the cam cleats on each side and tie the tails together at the front of the mast (just in case the cleats were to slip). Trim the excess line to suit.

Now mount your self a couple of pivoting exit cams (e.g. Harken 291) on either side of the mast a few inches up from the base. Fit a single block (e.g. harken micro 224) on the back of the mast down low. I think I rigged some kind of bracket off the pin that secures the pulley for the mast halyard at the base and then tied my single block off to it.

Now thread your down haul line through your pivoting exit cam, up to the single block which is jammed up against the double on the main, down to the single block at the base of the mast, back up to the other single block at the main and down the the other pivoting exit cam. Viola - a kick ass down haul with very little friction. You can leave the down haul lined long enough to tie it to your trap wire or to the end of the cross bar - letting the crew play the down haul while out on the wire.

If you want to cut down on the cost then just use jam cleats instead of the pivoting exit cams (you may have jam cleats in this position already).

If I get time I'll take some pictures of this set-up.

Chris.[/url]

Sounds like we need some 'on the water' sharing time....

Here on the SE coast you are lucky to have 2 H18s at any event. Seems the midwest and west coast have more 18s than anywhere else in the world.