The forestay swivels on my Hobie 18 have been binding to I decided to replace them. Problem is, looking at the Hobie parts catalog only shows one swivel, on the top of jib halyard block.

I've attached a picture of my upper forestay assembly.

Anyone know why the previous owner may have rigged two swivels. Seems to me like this could be a problem - if the lower swivel were to turn, it would twist the sail around the forestay right? This may be the problem I was having when I thought things were binding.

It also begs the question, is my lower forstay shorter than stock to account for the additional swivel, or is the whole assembly too long as the result.

I'm thinking about just buying a new forestay assembly (top and bottom wires, single swivel, and block) to just be done with it, but I was hoping to understand is going on a bit more before I do that.

Any help would be appreciated.

thanks - dan

Yea, I believe there should only be one swivel, above the sheave for the jib halyard. I could see how that might cause some problems. First thing I would do would be to try without the bottom swivel. Also, furling the jib is much easier when the mainsheet tension is released, it will definitely bind if the main is tight. Also, turning downwind (particularly in high wind) allows the main to blanket the jib making furling easier.

Regarding the forestay, it was probably not shortened. The adjuster plate on the 18 allows for a lot of adjustment. It may be a good idea to replace all shrouds & forestay if they are old (best to replace all at the same time).

sm

I guessing the the forestay is not the right one. (The short wire with the swivel is the pig-tail) There should be a end that fits into that block. The end of your stay must have a forked end and fits over the extra swivel. Yes??? If so then the stay is wrong and replace just that......Or,the the stay is upside down. What does the other end have for a end.

Get rid of the lower swivel and you should be back to stock (assuming your forestay is stock length).

My older 18s have 2 swivels. Every new forestay I've bought only has 1. Guess Hobie used 2 swivels pre-SX and then changed to 1. As far as I can tell there is no advantage in having 2 swivels.

I think that double swivels may have been very early on... or maybe a temp situation, because I don't remember seeing one with double swivels.

Single swivel on the pigtail is stock.

I agree, he needs to get rid of the lower swivel.

He needs to do more than that though. The end of the forestay that fit on the lower swivel now will not fit into the block.

The stock H-18 forestay has what I call a dead eye at one end and a forked eye at the other. The dead eye attaches to the block and the forked eye attaches to the adjuster plate that fits into the furler.

I have this system on my boat.

I have seen this a couple of times.

First a frozen swivel makes a pretty good spacer or fork to eye adapter, if you are on trying to get ready for a race 30 miles from the nearest source of parts or if you are sloppy and don't know any better.

Reasons to use frozen swivel for spacer:

-You want to rake the mast further aft.

-You bought or made or found the wrong forestay. It has a fork on one end or swaged ends or it is too short.(you screwed up and now are making it worse)

-You think the jib will furl better with a swivel on both sides.

-It came with the boat and "It's not smart to have parts leftover after the boat is togather" (This was the reason there was a swivel on a H16)

-You don't feel as bad giving someone a old frozen swivel compared to loaning them an expensive shackle to make their screwy idea work.

Seriously:

I don't think a stock forestay will fit the system you have.

I would suggest replacing all the rigging including the pigtail. If you can't, go through the whole boat and make sure it is just like the rigging diagram. Be sure to check the diameter of the rigging.


Carl