Adding a jib to a hobie 17

I have just bought a Hobie 17!!
Im very happy with it and it sails well. However i want to add a jib for extra fun and sail area.
Im hoping for any tips to steer me in the right path for this conversion.
Is the addition of the bow crossbar necessary?

Cheers, TJ

Timmy, Yes you need the front crossbar. I think Hobie uses H 14 booms, and that's what the one I got from Murray's looks like. I have a "Super Jib"(TheMightyHobie18) on mine, and it is a big help when taking another person on the boat, and when sailing downwind.

Go with a reacher. I tried the stock hobie jib and didn't like it. I have a 190 sq. ft. made of Pentex to go with my square top with blocks 18" off the rear crossbeam and love it.

Later Doug

Yes, you need the spreader. I think it is actually made of the same extrusion as the 17 boom, which is a little smaller than the 14/16 boom material. It looks pretty hard to duplicate, so you probably will end up having to buy one.

I had a Sport and thought it was more fun to sail with the jib, but I really didn't see a lot of performance increase out of it. Also, the jib I had was Mylar and had a really short life span. I would recommend a Dacron one.

If you do the conversion, you can also add a Screacher or Hooter and still maintain the jib. I have one on my 14 and it makes a huge difference. You have to have a solid mast, though, or you stand to rip your comptip apart and solid 17 masts are getting hard to find.

Doug, as you know I am sorting throught he making of a hooter for my T4.9.
I have bought a Ronstan roller furler several sizes up from normal beach cats and think that with a sticking substance and restricter knots every four inches up luff I will get a great furling action in bigger winds. it is important to note also that the wire needs to be type that has a core that twists in the oposite direction to outside so it won't unwind. I would like your observations on how your Hobie reacher is fitted to luff wire.
Also, can you tell me what sheeting system you have. is it a "doubler system" as RW talks about in his article and if not do your sheets taper?
Cheers Lester

Lester:

My reacher has a zipper luff like the stock jib. It is just a LOT bigger. Around 60 sq ft. Yes I have a 1 to 2 system. If you need me to explain it give me a call. Just remember, if you don't have an aluminum mast or have a Computip type mast, a hooter will snap your mast.

Doug
832 533 4506 (Spammer pruff I hope)

Trey added a F18 spinnaker to a H17 that was sailed by a heavy fella, sometimes twoup with the heavy fella's heavy wife. The hound was put 1/3 up the comptip and it still held.

Tad:

I was told by more than one that it COULD break my mast. Maybe your friend was lucky. Hooter is a BIG sail. I really enjoy the reacher. Bob Curry really new what he has doing when he cut it. I just need to get parts breakage not related to the reacher lined out. Keep forgetting it is a 20 year old boat.

Doug

Is "comtip that part of the mast above hounds? I would be a little bummed about this as my new mast is carbon.

Warbird

I don't know much about a carbon mast. But I would be real careful. Computip is a plastic part that is on the Hobie mast. It was designed as a safety piece in case you came in contact with power lies. The mast is very narrow up there. A Hooter puts a LOT of load on the mast, that is why I went with a reacher. I did a lot of asking and research before I got mine. I like it. Just be real careful. Wouldn't want you breaking the REAL expensive carbon mast.

Doug

That makes two of us not wanting that Doug!
To all reading this!!
I have been aware and careful of power lines forever!... but last Friday I was taking a Windrush up to the house from the beach... I put it onto its road trailor and sorted a few things out and dragged it along the beach to where the lines are and I am always careful of them and warn others... I have rung the council and said someone will die there some day.
As I got the trailor close to the road I looked up and the mast was still up and only two feet from the lines!!!!

Timmy,

I have a lightblue Hobie 17 reacher in the attic. It has a slight stain, but otherwise it is in perfect condition. You could use it if we can work something out.

Doug,

I agree with your comments on the Computip. It is easily damaged.