Good evening all.

Just moved into a house and guess what? There is a Hobie 14 in the back yard. Neat trick! I've been sailing my Laser for 10 years and I am itching to fly on the backyard bandit. Just needs a good cleaning and TLC.

I was rigging it up in the back yard today to see what is missing, etc. Looks like there is a tang for a boom vang on the mast, but nothing apparently to attach it to @ the base of the mast. Also no vang present in the gear.

Do Hobie 14's usually have a boom vang? Obviously the laser does and that is my point of reference - but methinks the presence of the traveller negates need for the vang.

Also, what is the best way to clean out traveller tracks on a boat that has been parked outside for gawd knows how long?

I meant to say that the tang is on the boom. Not the mast.

The best thing to use is a 20" to 24" heavy duty rubber bungie. These are flat (shape) black rubber types with hooks on each end.You must put eyestraps on each rail up forward. You use it as a preventer to hold the rig out on downwind legs.

Kurt,
You are correct that a cat with a traveler does not need a boom vang. I think one reason the earlier Hobies (14, 16 and 18) were set up for boom vangs was because so many of them were sold into rental service, and rental places wanted to keep things simple for novice cat sailors and also not have to mess with maintaining a traveler system. So lots of rental boats did not have travelers at all and used the boom vang instead. That's just my theory, but it makes sense.

On my 14, I use a shockcord boom vang. Since there is no jib to help the wind accelarate across the leeward side of the main, I strap this into the corner casting to help keep the leech tight and not raise the boom. It works great in chop as you can slightly sheet the sail in to help keep the mast rotated. Also, I reversed my trampoline (laces forward) and vang out about 12-18" upwind in chop to keep the mast from banging around. Vangs work on 14s!!

Bob

You are ACTUALLY supposed to the boom vang???

I thought it was there to hang your fuzzy dice!