I bought an '81 Hobie 18 this summer, went over it bow to stern and inspected, adjusted, replaced, etc... Shake down sail pointed out a few other areas in need of improvement. Rigging and derigging a few more times (along with some time reading Beach Cats posts)...and I had the set-up break-down gig going smoothly.
Then, about a month ago, I bought an '89 Hobie 18 Magnum (what I was looking for in the first place, but couldn't seem to find). I went over it just like I did on my '81 (except I didn't do a dry land full set-up!). It's funny how the one thing you don't check is the one thing that will give you problems. At the beach, I discovered that even with the shrouds on the bottom holes, the forestay was maxed out and the rig still wasn't really very tight.

Of course, once at home and after a lot of comparing the two boats, I found out that the shrouds are too long by about 2". The shrouds on my '81 are 20'-4 1/2" long (1/2" less than the theoretical factory shroud length). The shrouds on my '89 are 20'-7" long (2" longer than factory length)....and the bridle cables are 1/2" longer on the newer boat, too. What gives?
Has anyone heard of this much variation in shroud length? Is there anything I can do about it that doesn't involve buying new shrouds? Can the old ones be adjusted easily?

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Joe Cracco
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Hmm I wonder if your new Magnum was improperly fitted with H18 SX shrouds rather than the standard H18 shrouds? Or maybe the previous owner sourced some poorly-sized aftermarket shrouds (or he provided you with the wrong ones when he sold you the boat. Did he have more than one cat?)? According to the Hobie Parts Catalogue, the Standard H18 shrouds are Part# 60790001 (white) or #60792001 (black) whereas the SX shrouds are #68793501. They're different lengths. Both the upper and lower forestays are different, too. The bridal wires, however, are interchangable i.e., they only sell one size for both the H18 and H18SX. I suggest reaching out to your Hobie Dealer or Murrays and asking for correct measurements for the standard H18 upper and lower forestays and side shrouds. If you're bottomed out on both the sidestays and forestay and still have slack in the rig, something isn't right.

Brian



Edited by BrianCT on Oct 15, 2012 - 04:17 PM.

modernyankee

Is there anything I can do about it that doesn't involve buying new shrouds? Can the old ones be adjusted easily?

Check all of your shackles to make sure someone didn't use an oversize or extended one, especially on the forestay or mast hound.
You can have the shrouds shortened, but a new thinble will take six inches off= too much. A hydralically pressed eye will take less but will be pricey. Talk to someone like Salty Dog or Murray's and see what they suggest.

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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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You have 4" of adjustment on 10 hole shroud adjusters. You were already 2" too long and rigging was loose. So cut shrouds at thimble & take to nearest West Marine where they have work table & crimper. You should end up in 2nd hole from top or better. Pete

I'm pretty sure I can rule out that the shrouds are 18sx shrouds...those would be 21'-10 3/4" long...that is, 1'-5 3/4" longer than standard H18 shrouds. Not even close.

I didn't mention in my original post, but the forestays are the same length on both of my H18's...so I've ruled that out as a variable. When I rig my '81 H18, I'm 2 holes down on the shrouds and about 1/2 way down/up on the forestay connection. When the '89 is rigged, I'm at the 2nd from top forestay hole and the bottom shroud hole. The way I see it, if the forestays are the same length on both boats, but the bridal is a 1/2" longer on the '89, then I should be about 1 hole up from the middle on the forestay on that boat and i'd have the same mast rake as on my older boat. If I did that, I'd need the shrouds to be about ANOTHER 2 holes below where they are now...which is already at the bottom hole (impossible, I know...) I'm just saying that it seems like I need to take more like 3" off the shrouds to end up with the same mast rake and have some room for tightening the shrouds.
I like the idea of bringing the shrouds to West Marine to have them shortened by a couple of inches...that makes a lot of sense. thanks, Pete.

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Joe Cracco
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In case anyone looks at this thread later....Pete was right. West Marine in Newport, RI has a rigging shop that could shorten my shrouds. it took about 1/2 hour and cost $18 (new shrouds would have cost $140. Perfect fit at 2 1/2" lopped off. Hobie's stock measurements really do work (go figure).

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Joe Cracco
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