Hello all, I am looking to install a comptip to get the cam type hook at the top of the mast as I find it impossible to raise or lower the sail without a great deal of effort. It is hard to get the hook in and out of the hoop at the end of the halyard.

the install requires the mast tang to be removed and then installed on the comptip? Maybe I could just install a cam hook on my existing mast?

Any thoughts, hints would be greatly appreicated, Julian.

Both the comptip and the all-aluminum mast use the same method of locking the sail up. They both use a hook-and-ring. The difference between the two is that with the all-aluminum mast, there was a "flap" that came down over the hook which would keep the ring from engaging when lowering the sail. Unfortunately, the flap made getting the ring to hook difficult.
The comptip masts no longer have the flap. You can not install a comptip hook on an all-aluminum mast because the profile of the tip of the comptip mast is different than that of the all-aluminum mast - it's tapered, so the hook will not fit. You can however, simply remove the flap from the hook on your all-aluminum mast and thus achieve the same thing.

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i think they call it an "aussi ring" the ring and shackle are welded together. that made it easier. also where the halyard ties to the ring tie the knot as close to the ring as possiable so the knot doesn't prevent you from hoisting all the way to the top.

Instead of a bowline use a buntline hitch. http://www.realknots.com/knots/hitches.htm#buntline

Also, search the forum for Hobie-18 halyard/main sail/hook ring/ etc., as this has been addressed more than a couple of times.

If you're going to the comptip just to make things easier for raising and lowering the sail, do the search first and see if your answers lie there...

Thanks for the input and link, I was thinking the comptip assy would make it easier? Maybe not eh? I will search.

As noted by others the halyard lock system on both are virtually the same, but the older aluminum masts had a "flopper" thing on the hook that helped to release the ring. We ditched that years ago. Is that what is meant by "cam hook"? The flopper had it's own problems in that it was great for releasing, but it could be a problem to get the ring locked into the hook. You had to raise the sail and very slowly slip the ring into the hook with little room for error before the flopper would drop in and kick the ring out again.

I have a pretty good description of the sail hoist technique over in the Hobie forums...

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=371

The "old style" halyard hooks were also made of a thinner guage metal that tends to bend and eventually break - especially with upgraded, more powerful downhaul systems.

The newer hooks (made only for the Comptip) are much more durable.

I have both a comptip & all aluminum H-18 mast. Take the flapper thingy off & get a good aussie ring. Pay attention to how you hook the sail on the ring. You should have no problems, I haven't