While the Hobie 16 is generally a ‘bulletproof’ boat, designed for robust sailing conditions, waves and surf; like all high performance craft it needs regular maintenance and ‘pre-flight’ checking. Hong Kong’s Hobie dealer, Bluefin Sea Sports recommends the following:
Before Every Sail
- Check your shroud anchor pins – they should be tight, with no play where they screw into the bar under the deck flange. Loosening will result in fatigue and potential failure.
- Check the bow tang fittings – these are the coach bolts and nyloc nuts which attach the bridle wires to each bow and once again should be tight, with no play. These will fatigue as well as widening the hole in the bow if they work loose.
- Ensure all clevis pin split rings are secured with electrical tape - particularly those anchoring the shrouds. Do not rely on the plastic shroud adjuster protector as this can ride up and all it takes is a rope or clothing to catch on a ring for it to straighten and pull out.
Regularly
- Check your rigging for wear and corrosion
- Tighten all shackles with a shackle key
- Replace shrouds, bridle wires and trapeze wires if there is any sign of corrosion or broken strands. Particularly around terminals and ferrules. Check the plastic covers for splits and corrosion
- Ensure that you have a mast chip in the mast step to reduce friction and wear - a (plastic) mineral water bottle cap works fine. Recycle!
- If you have an old jib, check the luff wire for corrosion and broken strands. If in doubt send it to a sailmaker for replacement as it takes all of your rig tension once you’re out on the water
- Check rudders for slop. Replace rudder pins and/or fit nylon bushes to the gudgeon casting to tighten them up.
- Make sure your dolphin striker bar is tight – it should twang, not rattle
Annually
Replace your shroud anchor pins – it costs a few dollars and only takes minutes. Take the opportunity to seal them with silicon sealer too, which will help them stay tight. There have been isolated incidents of poorly maintained boats being dismasted, so Hobie have recently strengthened the design to keep pace with other improvements in boat stiffness and the hammering that some boats receive. Better safe than sorry.
Quick Tips
- Did you know that you can dispense with the ‘pigtail’ in the Aussie jib halyard system and shackle the top blocks directly to the mast fitting? This holds the halyard closer to the mast and helps stop your jib battens from hanging up when you tack. It also saves weight.
- Make sure the knot attaching the bungee to your trapeze rope is above the side bar – this will stop your neoprene non-slip from getting ripped
- You can pop-rivet the top 2 jib battens in place (cut and drill them and rivet through the existing lacing grommets) – this also prevents hang ups
- Always carry a couple of spare shackles and a short piece of line when you sail. You’ll be surprised how often they come in handy – usually for someone less prepared than you who needs your help.
