after my rear cross bar developed a crack originating from the bolt hole on the bottom, i have found a used one for sale. this one i have found has a harken traveler rail and car mounted on it. see photo. does this system work well? has anybody had experience with this set up?

HERE'S the photo

i can't attach a photo!

Some of the first Hobie 17s came with the much better Harken traveler.
For some stupid reason they changed to the Hobie crapola traveler and made everyone change.
A boat with a Harken traveler IS NOT class legal.
In order to race, you will have to buy a new Hobie track and traveler.

Sam, since 1995 the H-17 has had the deep profile traveler track. The first H-17's had a lower profile track. The Harken track system was provided for a couple of years, I think 1993 and 1994, check with Hobie. It was my understanding if your boat was furnished with the Harken system, it was class legal. It could not be added to another boat, also it was shorter, and some felt they could not sheet out as far.

Caleb

I thought the H17 Sport, with the boomless main, was fitted with the Harken traveller system while the original H17 (aka H17 SE) has/had the Hobie system. I don't recall seeing Harken on early H17s but I wasn't really looking, either.

ok, great, at least i know it was at one time issued as a stock item. my boat had the low profile track and i had heard of the high profile track, but never seen the harken one! JUST A WARNING- my rear cross bar developed a crack thru the underside bolt hole and rivot holes and then wrapping aroung to the top. probably caused by corrosion and electrolisis between the aluminum and the steel plate rivoted on the lower bolt hole!, i think!

still cannot attach a .jpg

Send me the photo and I'll put it on my webspace so it can be displayed in a message.
Jack
jmhoying@bright.net

Cross beam cracking at the bolt hole is not an uncommon failure. Can occur in the front cross beam also.

We found early on, in 1986, that keeping the crossbar bolts tight was critical. They must be tighten EVERY day. The other critical point is the end cap, screwed to the hull. If the end cap is not secure, damage will occur. Easy check, while on the water, put you hand on the end of the cross bar where it is attached to the hull. If there is any movement between the two, fix right away. With proper maintenance, the cross bar should not fail.

Caleb Tarleton

I "Had" the Harken system fitted, but after a capsize the wind shook the main and the Harken track was promptly removed ....the reason being the Harken track is screwed to the Crossbeam....then corrosion set in...you can guess the rest....now i've got the Deep Profile that is riveted....much more secure .

Happy Sailing

Nige