Just moved from a H16 to a TheMightyHobie18 ('01), everything is fine except that dropping the sail on the TheMightyHobie18 seems to be a pain compared to the H16.



Any "tips" or specific tricks I should be aware of? The halyard is equipped with an aussie ring. Thanks.

Make sure the knot in the aussie ring faces away from luff track. If your mast still has the "flapper" above the halyard hook just use the halyard to pull the sail UP until the flapper falls down and then the aussie ring will slide over the flapper and the sail will lower. This arrangement was not very popular because it was hard to hook the ring UNDER the flapper when raiising the sail, so many people simply removed the flapper, leaving only the halyard hook protruding from the mast.



If this is your arrangement, pull the halyard enough to lift the aussie ring off the hook, use the mast rotator to rotate the mast all the way to the side, you will now have a lot of friction for lowering the sail so I use my downhaul (8:1) to pull the sail down enough to where the ring clears the hook then you can recenter the mast and the sail will easily lower.



Depending whether the offset of your aussie ring is on the port or starboard side (when you attach the shackle) of the mast may affect whether you rotate your mast to port or starboard side for lowering the sail.

W/W

I'm not sure if an '86 TheMightyHobie18 translates, but here's how I do it with my Aussie halyard ring:



1. The hook on the top of my mast is on the right side. When I attach the ring to the main, I make sure the halyard attachment point on the ring (which is at the 10 o'clock position) is on the left.



2. Next, I raise the main all the way up until the ring is above the hook. I then have my crew turn the mast rotator so that the hook goes toward the ring (port side of the boat if you're facing forward), and then I ease the halyard to drop the ring on the hook.



3. To lower the main, I do the opposite. I pull on the halyard to get the ring off the hook, my crew rotates the mast away from the ring (starboard if facing front), and then I ease the halyard. Since I bought the Aussie ring a year ago, I've never had to go beyond two tries to drop the main.



Hope this helps!

Bob

One other thing you need to do.Before attaching the halyard to the sail rotate or twist the halyard so the ring will lay open to the hook. This really helps when taking it down.Any ? Email me.