Hello all-

My Hobie 17 comptip has an all plastic track. I'm considering replacing the top 12" with the aluminum stub track (like the new boats). The reason being, every time I sail in high wind with a lot of downhaul & mainsheet, the top 6" of bolt rope pulls out of the track which makes it a real PITA to get the sail down. I tried putting a hose clamp around the mast just below the hook in an effort to keep the track together, but it really hasn't helped.

Anyway, has anyone done this before? I know you can put the plastic tracks on by just snapping them in, but I'm assuming to install the aluminum track the head cap has to come off the mast. I guess this will involve drilling out the rivets that hold on the sail hook. Is there any more to it?

Any experience/advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

SM

That is what the aluminum section was created for.

The aluminum section snaps onto the mast. All of the tracks snap on to the different model CompTips. There is a sheet on luff track replacement you can look at.

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=1178

You will need to remove the plastic track, snap on the aluminum. Cut the plastic to fit and install. It should be a 10 minute job.

Usually the luff is pulled out by counter rotation of the mast from the sail. The other "reason" seemed to be the use of the Aussie halyard ring. The welded ring would pull the luff out. The original ring and shackle combination had a "universal" action that would allow some twist without transferring it to the headboard.

I had the same problem when I bought a new sail a few years ago. Never had a problem with the old sail.

I ended up installing the aluminum stub section. It's not hard at all, but it took more like a half hour start to finish.

I also noticed that the bolt rope in my sail did not extend all the way to the end of the tube created when the sailcloth is wrapped around it and stitched at the headboard. I inserted a 2" piece of fiberglass arrow shaft into the end of the tube to make a non-compressible "bolt-rope" at the very head of the sail.

Never had a problem after that.

I'm surprised the hose clamp did not work for you. I have had success just using plastic cable ties. Are you sure you had it in the right place?

Yea, it was in the right place...above the hook, right?...

Just kidding. I never flipped the boat on it's side with the sail up to make sure the clamp was right at the top of the sail (although you would have to leave an inch or so anyway to release the hook and lower the sail). I just eyeballed it with the mast down, using the ring and shackle as a guide.

Anyway, thanks all for the info. I'm very happy to see that I don't have to pull the whole mast apart to replace the track.

sm

Matt,

Is there any way to buy an aluminum section to replace all of the plastic track? TIA

Kinda defeats the purpose of the Comptip, doesn't it?

The 1' section of aluminum track is a bitch to "snap" on. You have to use a rubber mallet and a good (accurate) whack to get it on. A piece the size of the whole track wouldn't snap no matter how hard you hit it.

It does but the CompTip was implemented due to legal action not performance improvements.

I think a full length of metal track would be of no use. It also would be impossible to install as Matt B. said.

Bummer. It might be possible to slide it on before the CompTip is glued/riveted to the aluminum section but it's too late now.