The sticking cams are a pretty regular problem with Hobies. Sometimes you have to loosen the plunger spring and then use vise-grips screwdrivers, etc. to pop em up. I carry a cam wrench, but it often strips the hole and fails to get the cam back up. I like the idea of using the main sheet. I guess the problem is getting enough leverage. If the boat hasn't been used in a while, the cams are probably dry. Use wd-40 to get em to pop back back up, then lubricate the cams and plunger with white lithium grease. You can get a spray can at most hardware stores. The batten problem is fairly common as well. You probably have a little more tension on the upper batten than the lower ones. Try to let off some of the tension of the backwards batten. If thats not enough, you may have to cut some of the batten off. Someone could have previously put in the wrong length batten.