Hobie 18 rigging help

Maybe its just a trick of the lighting/shadows, but in your most recent downhaul picture it looks like you might have a broken wire strand in your diamond stay- if this is the case you should replace that diamond wire ASAP.

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1990 Hobie 18SX #2077

On the note of other small comments, it looks like your jib sheet is secured to the jib block with a figure eight knot underneath the becket (pin on top of the jib block)... seems like an odd way to secure the line. The more appropriate way to tie it off would be to use a bowline knot to tie a loop around the becket. I think the figure eight knot will just make sheeting in the jib tougher, because it's getting jammed against the sheave.

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Mike

'79 H18 standard 'Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP
'78 H18 (unnamed) sail #14921
'08 H16 sail #114312
'97 H21SC sail #238

That's actually the jib halyard wire. The picture was taken before I raised the jib and the halyard was kind of wrapped around the mast which makes it look like the diamond wire is broke.

Good to know. I was going to ask you guys that but I felt like I was already bombarding you guys with too many questions, lol.

The figure 8 knot is a legitimate way to terminate the jib sheet - if you're two-blocking the sheet (pulling it in until the blocks actually touch). A bowline takes up space and won't allow you to do that. It's something a racer would do - especially on a Hobie 16 jib sheet, but I'm a bit fuzzy on the need to do it on an 18. User srm would know.

I've always used a bowline to tie off the jib sheet and make the loop as small as possible.

If you're two-blocking the jib sheet, then your jib sheet pig tails are too long.

sm

I use pigtails with figure 8 knots.

Looking at your pictures of the boom, you may want to move the mast rotator cleat back (towards the stern) a touch.
On my H18SX, the cleat is probably 8" to 10" from the end of the of the rotator bar...I'll measure later.
email me off line, and I can send you pictures...

that's what I like about the H18, so many adjustments, so we can set it up the way we like.....

Good winds

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

I'll definitely have to move that back and maybe then I'll just keep that that pulley on there too.

You don't want a pulley on the rotator bar, trust me, it works perfectly fine with the line running straight through the bar. The pulley will cause more problems than it solves.

sm

Ok never mind, I'll take it off then.

Me and my wife took the boat out today for the very first time and it was amazing. We had a very fun time and sailed around for about 4 hours. The hobie 18 is very easy to sail although the wind speed only averaged about 10mph with short gusts around 16mph so it wasn't too challenging for the most part.

At one point a gust hit us and we flew a hull and ended up almost tipping the boat. My wife was sitting on the opposite hull from me when the gust hit and she managed to quickly climb the tramp and grab onto the hull edge I was sitting on and just hang there. Luckily the wind died and the hull slammed back into the water. We probably would have been in trouble because if it turtled for some reason i dont know if we could have righted the boat by ourselves, we got very lucky.

What was kind of stressful was landing on the very small "beach" at the sailing club. We had to try about three times before we finally caught the right wind to bring us in.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

The Hobie 18 really is a great boat. The more I sail it, the more I love it, and the more frustrated I get that Hobie decided to discontinue it in favor of the less versatile Hobie 16 and the plastic getaway. The best we can hope for is that our hulls hold out, and parts remain available for a long, long time!

I recommend investing in a righting line... $50-70, but trying to right the boat without one is not fun. I didn't get one until after I capsized the first time and wound up on the rocks. You shouldn't need to worry about turtling, the masts are usually pretty well sealed. If yours is all aluminum, it's not likely that it'll leak. If it's got a comp tip, it may be a little more likely, but not if it's properly secured. You can check it by submerging the mast and looking for bubbles. When you first capsize (and you will) you'll get the feel for how much you can push the boat. You can go a lot further with it than you might think! Capsizing is no big deal, once you've done it once or twice. Two people can easily right the 18... it only takes ~300 lbs.

There are a lot of nuances and little tricks to cat sailing that make it easier. You'll get the hang of it with time, but if you pick up a book specifically about cat sailing, it'll make it much easier. I like "Catamaran Racing for the 90's." In particular, there is a "roll tacking" technique which makes tacking much easier and quicker.

_________________
Mike

'79 H18 standard 'Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP
'78 H18 (unnamed) sail #14921
'08 H16 sail #114312
'97 H21SC sail #238

There is some kind of a righting line under the tramp but I am unfamiliar with how to use it. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to just pull on this rope when the boat tips or untie one end and then pull.

The best righting line is 4 metres (approx. 18') of 10 mm line, (approx. 3/8"), tied to the dolphin striker rod, and bundled up into a pocket on the tramp. We use an old jib sheet, 44', and it doubles as a painter.

That gizmo underneath is a righting line, but need more pulleys and a bungee.

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Really, you can use just about anything as a righting line... it's a rope (or two) that goes over the top/outboard side of the upper hull (better leverage that way) so that you and your crew can hold onto it, lean back and pull the boat back upright.

I use the easy rite system from the Hobie catalog. Simple & effective.

_________________
Mike

'79 H18 standard 'Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP
'78 H18 (unnamed) sail #14921
'08 H16 sail #114312
'97 H21SC sail #238