Hi Matt,

I bought my 1980 Hobie 18 last fall too and I'm a new sailor, so this response is a bit like the blind leading the blind... (Maybe some more experienced folks will see this and help out.)

I have had similar problems -- not so much with disengaging the ring when bringing the sail down as with engaging it when raising the sail. I bought a "Murray's aussie main halyard ring" from Murrays just last week. Basically it's a ring and shackle welded together. The idea is that you should then have more control when engaging and disengaging the ring, since it's a rigid system now. In the installation instructions they also tell you to "Drill out and remove the rivet and latching mechanism from the mast hook." Apparently the new boats come without this mechanism and work much better.

I've installed the new ring but I've only been out twice since, so I can't really tell you yet whether it makes a big difference. I have not yet removed the latching mechanism. Can anyone tell us about their experience with this?

Kirk