Hi, Im not real experienced with cat's and I recently purchased a used '76 model hobie 16. The P.O. told me a few things about how to rig it and I have done some successful light wind sailing with it. I have read most of the posts in this forum and have learned quite a bit from them. A couple of things that I'm not sure about,though, is the rigging of the mainsheet traveler and of the jib halyard. My boat appears to have the original type Seaway blocks.
Does the mainsheet traveler run free on its tracks and self-adjusts as the main is sheeted in and out, or is it held in position with a set of adjustment lines like on bigger boats? There appears to be a couple of jamcleats on the rear crossbar but no lines, other than the mainsheet, is presently attached to the traveler.
On the jib halyard, there is a small block attached to the lower end of the halyard cable. The line part of the halyard is not ran through the block, but just knotted to a pin in the bottom of the block. I have been hoisting the jib and just cleating the halyard straight off on the mast but this dosen't seem right. Could anyone tell me the proper routing of the halyard and about how much tension should the jib be hoisted with?
Thanks,
Waterboy
Hi,
The main sheet line is used for the traveler control. Take the end of the main sheet line (oppisite from the main blocks) and feed it through the cam cleat and eye (in that order) that is fastened near the center/front of the traveler track. Then run the line through the center of the travelers guide rollers. Then the end of the line is tied to the eyestrap that should be attached at the center/rear of the track.
Run the line on the end of the jib halyard through the center of the cleat on the side of the mast, then back around the block on the end of the halyard, and back to the cleat to fasten. You should put quite a bit of tension on this line, as it is what tensions the whole mast assembly.
Good luck,
Jack
Thanks, Jim.
That solved a lot of the mysteries. I had it rigged all wrong. I was wondering what that eyestrap on the back of the traveler track was for. 
So I guess that the main sheet is used in a loop fasion and one pulls on one side of the loop to control the main blocks and on the other side to control the position of the traveler then?
My boat has a couple of small jam-type cleats, like the one on the bottom of the boom for making the outhaul fast, located on the front of the rear crossbar just in front of the traveler track. I'm still wondering what these are used for in case anybody knows.
Thanks again, this helped immensely.
Waterboy
Err, sorry Jack, for calling you Jim. Its been a long day. Thanks again.
Hi,
My 1976 had the same jam cleats mounted on it also. I can't remember what they were used for originally, but whatever it was, nobody uses them any longer. Newer boats didn't include those cleats.
Yes, the main sheet is a loop when fully rigged. Hobie does have a H16 rigging and sailing video available. Also, Rich White offers a full selection of instructional sailing videos. These might help you figure out some of the details of the boat.
Good luck,
Jack Hoying
Fort Loramie, Ohio