I recently acquired a hobie 16 and I need some help with what the mainsail tack/goose neck/downhaul area should look like when rigged properly. The hobie rigging guide photo I have seen is to poor quality to see what I need to see. I am having some issues getting everything to fit into place properly, and it would be nice to see a good picture if anybody has one handy.

I am sure that someone will have some good pics for you.
The 16 is a blast, some of my friends have them and other than the whole pitchpoll issue they are a blast; and if you rake the mast way back you will not have a problem.

Alot of guys will give you crap because the boat is an older design and they are everywhere, but they are still fun and simple compared to some of the more modern boats. Also check out the results of the recent Steeple Chase ( I fixed it) didn't a 16 do pretty good versus the bigger 20 foot boats!

gree,
It was the Key Largo Steeplechase -- Hobie 16 got 2nd place.

As antiquated as it may be these days, the H 16 is a classic, and a great boat! You just have to learn how to sail it! I can't help with pics, but can tell you you're in for a lot of fun! It is an exciting and tough recreational boat, and if you want to race, you'll find truly great sailors to compete against.Try the Hobie forums at www.hobiecat.com/community. Matt Miller works for Hobie and usually responds to posts there. He is an expert, and very generous with his knowledge, as are many here including Matt Bounds. Get ready to have a lot of fun! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Benjamin:

Pick up a copy of Rick and Mary's book. "Catamaran Racing for the 90's".. Besides all of Rick's GREAT advice, there is a whole chapter on setting up and racing the 16.

Doug

I highly reccomend you invest some time taking the boat down to your nearest club as its the best way to see different setups and rigging procedures. Every step you learn gives you more questions and there is always one good samaritan there to help... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

All good advice. IMO, the H16 is NOT antiquated. It has design limits, just like every other boat on the water.

Just sail your boat, and enjoy it!

Thanks for all your help and advise. I took a hobie 16 sailing course about three years back and it is all coming back really quickly except for some of the finer points of rigging the boat. Are some years of boats rigged with different hardware than other boats or are there different ways each sailor might personally rig their boat? I ask because there are parts and lines and different things that I have no recolection of when I sailed 16s in the past.

Check the boom/gooseneck drawings on p. 51 of the Hobie catalog:

http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/accessories.html

After raising the main, slide the boom on, but leave the outhaul line (at the main clew) loose. The top of the gooseneck assembly pins into the mainsail tack, then you slide the gooseneck into the mast track. Run the downhaul line (tied to the ring on the bottom of the gooseneck assembly) down through the opening in the center of the downhaul cleat (on the lower mast track), then back up through the ring for a (friction laden) 3:1 purchase. Downhaul as needed then cleat the downhaul line on the downhaul cleat. Now go set your outhaul.

If you're having trouble downhauling, go ahead and put the mainsheet on.... a little main sheet tension will help the gooseneck slide down. The TrenTec gooseneck bearing makes it slide better and helps minimize galling the track as well:

http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jnnpiqopi4

Good luck!

Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mi'sippi

Thanks Jerome! That is the way I remember doing it. For some reason the whole tack of the main seems streched of enlarged so that it doesnt fit as described. You really have to force everything together. When I sailed it last tuesday. It actually caused damage to the Tack gromet/plate thingy, by diging into the luff track and twisting every time I changed tacks.

One of the best books they I have ever read on the Hobie-16 is WELCOME TO A-FLEET BOOK:I BOATSPEED By Jack Sammons. This entire book is dedicated to the Hobie-16, The book covers the basics, rudder and hull prep, sailshape and trim, setting up the boat, helmsmanship etc. A great book!!

Does anyone have a good quality close up picture of their mainsail tack area by itself so that I can compare what mine is supposed to look like?