Hi there - I just bought a 1984 Hobie 16 and I have a few questions
about rigging it.

To date I've been raising the jib before I raise the main. I was told
that the overall rig tension relies heavily on the jib halyard tension
so I've been putting as much force on the jib halyard as I can before
cleating it off.

The main is much easier to raise before the jib is up and tensionsed -
what is the reccomended rigging order? Main or jib first?

I'm missing the teflon washer that sits at the base of the mast - I
read about fabricating a temporary one out of a plastic milk container
- to date I've been sailing without one and have noticed that the mast
very rarely rotates. In addition to the lack of a washer, I think it
may be partially due to my jib-halyard tension. Could I possibly be
putting too much tension on the jib halyard?

My boat is missing the original downhaul and the gooseneck that I have
doesn't make it any easier to apply downhaul with a 1:1 line setup.
Reccomendations? Eventually I'd like to buy a better gooseneck and a
downhaul system.

I've read about people sheeting the main "block-to-block." I'm unable
to do this - I can't come closer than 3-5 inches between the main
sheet blocks. Possibly due to too much jib halyard tension?

I've also read a lot about "raking" the mast. I assume this means bending toward the stern - sounds like it can improve the boat performance and possibly even help avoid pitch-poling...how do I rake the mast?

Lastly, I've read that a common problem with the 16 jib is the battens
getting caught on the halyards when the sail tries to switch sides -
I'm having this same problem. - (I've read about the hinging battens
that Hobie sells - I have more pressing expenses on this 16 to worry
about so I'll have to make due with what I have for now) - Is there
anything wrong with using a saw to shorten the actual battens?
Clearly they can't be so short that they can't be tensioned, but if
other people are doing it and having even slight improvement, then I'm
going to as well.

Thanks for your help!

Gabe Silverman

Gabe. Your having the same problem as all new hobie 16 sailors and all of this is easy fixed.

Jib= Well i cut my batterns down with a hax saw and they were fine. You cut them down so that the cap on them stick out about 2cms extra. You can sew a plastic strip over te battern pocket but not many people do but if you like your sails do it.

Mast rake= I have my mast rake set for my style of sailing and it works great. At the moment i have my main block to block with the sail very tight and all sails are perfectly set. To do this try these;

1. Have bearly any side stay tention
2. Pull the main up first and do that like you would normally.
3. connect your jib and set it up with out tention just at yet
4. Pull the main on till your blocks are 6-10 inchs apart
5. Play with jib tention and side stay tention till you get your sails and wires set hardish. You dont want your boat with so much tention that kills the power in your sail but just enough so if you hope on trap the stays on that side dont bend.
6when set wires pull main sheet on and see what the sails like and just keep playing with bits.

Down haul isn't major either i have a 1986 hobie and she goes great and i dont have the proper gear either but i did put a new pully on just to make it better which i hope you have because a goood pully is the best!!

You dont have to pull the jib up first you can pull it up when ever you want. Teflon cups are used to stop your mast from grinding and you mast might of been made into a weird shape so you might want to check that as well. I hope this helps i know others can help more but have fun and good luck!!