Sounds to me like if you really want a spinnaker rigged boat that you ought to be thinking about a different boat altoghether.



Whenever you're looking at remodeling anything, whether it's a house or a boat, at some point you have to step back from the situation and say to yourself, is it really worth it?



This is a question of expense, and your time. I don't think I'd add a spinnaker to any boat with a comptip, that's for sure. My boat had a spinnaker with the previous owner, and based on the two sets of tang holes in the comptip, there was some discussion that occured regarding where that tang should be mounted.



You will no doubt run into the same questions with your Hobie 17.



Don't do it!



Good luck,



Tim J.



P.S. If you do add the spinnaker, remember to NEVER let the tension off the mainsheet too much when you've got the spinnaker honked. The mainsheet acts as a back stay, and releasing it could break or seriously bend the mast.