Hobie Cat Forums

I know it's not the standard set up, but I was wondering if anyone could help me with the length of line needed for a 7:1 mainsheet for an 18? Also I don't race, but could I use this block set up if I decided to start racing?

Thanks guys,

Adam

7:1 is the original stock setup according to the catalog parts diagrams, line length is shown there as 48'.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

The Hobie Line Guide on hcana.hobieclass.com shows:
HOBIE 18 & 18SX
Mainsheet Line 7/16" Spun Braid x 48'

And a 7:1 mainsheet is class leagal for racing.

Edit: Damm Matt got the anwser before me!

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1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

Thanks for the help Matt, I dont know why I thought origional was 6:1.

Alright I guess I should have asked this in my original post, but does anyone have a diagram for how to reeve a 7:1 block?

Thanks,

Adam

Rough sketch from an old post (2004)

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Thanks Matt. How would that work if I have a triple
Upper w/ a becket?

Thanks

Adam

I went on murrays.com and copied what they had on their site. The pic is found here:

http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant.mvc ... gory_Code=

Hope this helps.

There are detailed 6:1 and 7:1 reeving instructions in the Hobie Parts and Accesories catalogue. They can be found on page 23 of the '09-'10 edition.

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Irie, mon....
'82 Hobie 18 SE with '85 Nationals Prism (White) sails
'73 Laser HID# 3463

Others' mileage my vary. I personally do not care for the murray's style 7:1 setup. I did not find that the rope fed very well through that additional small block. There may be ways to remedy this, but personally I'm going with an 8:1 (even though its not class legal -- i don't class race) on my next setup. If you do decide to go with the low profile 7:1, I think you can build it for about $50 cheaper than you can buy it whole, assuming you can find it all at one location.

Har 2605 top block - 103.53
Har 2629 bottom ratchamatic (cheaper w/o ratchamatic) - $209.14
Har 2659 extra block for 7:1 - $26.27
Har 137 eyestrap - $2.17
Har 071 spring - $0.85
and you need some longer stainless screws

Hi Guys,

A couple of points ....

For once Matt Miller was not quite correct ... (and this maybe the first time that I'm aware of) ... The Hobie 18 origonally came w/ a 6X1 mainsheet system (using Seaway blocks), but a "upgrade" to a 7X1 Mainsheet stack (origonally Harkens "Big Block" series) was allowed under the "Class Rules". The three seperate blocks (of the 6X1 system) on the boom do not allow the mainsheet stack to rotate enough (in the horizontal plane) to allow for easy cleeting and un-cleeting of the mainsheet especially from the "skipper's" position the further aft that they are on the boat.

So most of us have "upgraded" to the 7X1 mainsheet stack that is class legal and since it is all "in-line" vertically it can swivel. I use a "spinnacker snap-shackle" on top so I can disconnect the mainsheet stack quickly .... (I dropped several shackle pins into the sand while rigging/de-rigging ... and a captive pin shackle on the bottom ... as I also lost a lowwer shackle during a race once when the pin came out).

With the new stronger mainsheet lines availible ... (Note: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SHEET ROPES!!!! ONLY LINES!!!!!!! on land it's a rope, attached to a boat it's a line, w/ the exception of if it's attached to a "ship's bell" ) ... you do not need to use 7/16" LINE .... I have downsized to 5/16" Yale Conception line (which tends to run alittle large in dia) ... it is very soft ... does not absorb water ... and feeds through the blocks quite well (especially in lite air). I like the Marfolli clones the best for sheet lines. As for length, 48' is for H18SE's ... for H18's w/ wings you are suppose to add an additional 10' according to the manuals ... but this does mean you have alot of mainsheet line laying on the tramp ... and it tends to like to wash overboard, hence the 1 1/2" foam pipe insulation attached to my mid and after tramp lacing lines w/ zip-ties. I actually have two mainsheet stack set-ups due to the different lengths of line needed ... one for class racing and one for sailing w/ wings.

Now I also have a P19MX w/ a 8X1 mainsheet stack to control the square top leech on the mainsail. I have on occasion tried this set-up on my H18 and found that the extra line you need to take-in or let-out not worth it IMHO. Unless you have a medical issue w/ your shoulder/elbow (and I DO know of skipper's w/ this issue) the increased ratio is not needed.

Now as for the lacing of the 7X1 Mainsheet stack .... First (a very importantly), see that single block tied to the lowwer triple on top of the camcleat .... turn it across/sideways to the other three shives. Now weave the mainsheet stack as follows .... in through the camcleat ... up to the top center shive (back to front) ... down to a outside shive (front to back) ... up to a outside shive (back to front) .... down to the single block tied to the camcleat ( passing from side to side) ... up to the other outside shive (careful here!!! going front to back) ... down to a remaining outside bottom shive (back to front) .... now up to the becket and tie-off there. While you have "crosses" if you hang the mainsheet stack and tension it it will find that the "crosses" clear each other since the shives are off-set w/ no rubbing.

FYI: My mainsheet stacks are either a ol' Harken Big Block stack or Lewmar Racing Blocks. (I've used the old Seaways for other uses ....) The new Harken Carbo Blocks were not availible when I upgraded my mainsheet stack awhile ago .... I really like the lewmar's since the angle of the camcleat is more finely adjustable

I'm sorry that I do not know how to "post" pic's or diagrams .....

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HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

The Hobie 18 has always had a 7:1 purchase, as the original promo piece from the May/June 1977 HOTLINE clearly shows:

It's also specifically called out in the April 1980 update to the class rules. Prior to that, the class rule said "cannot exceed purchase as provided by the manufacturer."

Matt,

I could be wrong .... but I thought that I remembered that the origonal H18 mainsheet stack was three single "Seaway Blocks" on three boom beckets and the bottom was a single "Seaway Rachet Block w/ a double "Seaway Block w/ becket stacked on top of it. This would be a 6X1 Mainsheet stack. I know that I immediately upgraded to the Harkins "3" Big Blocks using a Triple Block w/ becket on top and a Triple Block w/ a camcleat and a additional single block mounted to a padeye attached to the camcleat mounting bracket at the SS thru-bolts/hardware for the cancleat, when I origonally purchased my H18.

Can you locate pic of the bottom of a origonal H18 mainsheet stack using "Seaways"???

Maybe I getting confused w/ the mainsheet stack on the ol' H14 or my used ol' (3) digit H16 that I first started w/ ..... now such a loooooooong time ago.

(I'll look around and see if I can find the "Seaway" double block w/ becket that (I think) was stacked onto the single "Seaway" rachet block ... I may have that stashed in one of my "extra parts" boxes out in the garage.)

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HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

The old seaway is a double on top of a single.