I have a near stock 1970 Hobie 14. I recently purchased new forestays, shrouds, bridles and other related hardware. My old cable fit just fine, I was able to adjust the rake on the mast as I think it should be able to adjust. When I got my new cables, I set up my mast and in order to keep all the cables tight I had to set all the adjusters to the tightest settings. The cables are tight enough on the lowest settings but this leaves me with no adjustment capability.
I was looking through the parts diagrams in the Hobie catalog and saw the bow tang in the catalog was different than the one I have on my boat. My bow tang has 4 screws into the fiberglass, 2 on each side of a loop, much like the Eye Strap (part 2072 on page 39 of the 2003 catalog) only with 4 screws not 2. The bow tang in the parts diagram is a loop with one screw. The bow tang on my boat is mounted about 4 inches from the tip of the bow. I think the new bow tang bolts through the lip at the very tip of the bow. Is this true? How hard would it be to change the bow tang? Would this solve the problem of my to long cables? What do I need to do to change the bow tang? Do I need to reinforce the lip on the bow with some resin? Is there any thing else I need to know?
Thanks
Capt. Morse
What are the mearsurements of the new wires? How about the old? I am getting ready to replace mine and would like to know what else you have found out about the bow tang. My H14 is set-up the same way as yours.
Thanks
This might be a bit off topic (What I am writing here may or may not be valid for a H14)...
On the Hobie 16 new (replacement) shrouds are about 8 cm longer than those that were originally installed on my mid 80's hobie 16. I assume that at the same time the effective lenght of the forestay was increased. IIRC these changes were made to allow to rake the mast further back. May be you have to get forestay and shrouds in a "combo".
Patrick
If you order your new wires from Murrays, ask them to make them to "Bob Curry's latest wire lengths". You will have the right lengths.
Be Happy!!
Bob 
Thanks every one for the input, but no one has answered my question. How is the bow tang mounted to the newer Hobie 14's? Is it with a screw into the fiberglass or is it with a bolt thru the lip at the very tip of the bow, just like the 16?
Thanks
Capt. Morse
There is a nut fiberglassed into the hull. The tang bolt threads in to it. There is not enough lip up front to bolt thru like the 16. Also, it's not strong enough!!
Bob
The "Nut" is actually a small square plate of aluminum about 1/4" thick. The old tang was 4 bolts drilled and tapped into the corners of the plate. The new tang is one larger (same as a 16 tang and bolt) drilled and tapped in the center of the same plate.
well, its probably a good idea to measure what ya got and verify what you will be getting.tr