Whenever I tack or jibe my mast rotates all the way to the stop regardless of my point of sail. Is this normal or should it only go part way if I'm pointing and the main is sheeted in? Sometimes it actually pops over and thumps the stop pretty well. Unerving to not know if this is normal or not. Thanks for your help.

The mast will rotate fully, but the fact that it is popping up should be looked at. Check that the connection between the mast base and mast step is not worn to such an extent that mast simply pops up due to the pressure. Can either replace, fit SS Bolts (there are a couple of ways to sort it out) or rebuilt the Al. In light winds and choppy conditons, the mast will thump the stops..nothing wrong with it...
Ask away if you eed more info..would be good to have a local Hobie sailor check it out to help out:)

Mike,

If the main sheet is in tight when you come about, it may prevent the mast from rotating until there is quite a bit of pressure on the sail. Make sure you slack off the sheet about a foot before coming about and watch that the mast rotates OK. Also check that the mast rotation bearing, the teflon disc, is in place when you raise the mast.

I am pretty sure it goes from stop to stop regardless of the angle of sail. I've been sailing my boat for over 20 years and don't remember ever looking at that.

Howard

That's normal on a 14 or 16. Sheeting in the main will lock the stop in place.

You'll find after a while that the base on the crossbar will begin to wear with aluminum displaced to the sides of the stops. Just file off the displaced material. If the wear gets to the point that the mast is rotating beyond where you want it then a base replacement is in order.