Adding a jib to a hobie 17

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.