New Hobie sailor needs more advice...
The few times I have sailed the boat I grew to hate the ring dings. I have to step the mast every time I sail. I have old-fat-stubby fingers. Are the ball lock pins relatively safe for shrouds?
I also just got another stay adjuster for the forestay so I can rake the mast. Not sure how to rig it. Trying to picture the QR pin use. Thanks for any and all advice, ralph

Ralph,
I never disconnect the shrouds from the mast or the boat so the rings are not an issue. I tape the rings on the shrouds to be sure they don't come off. When I lower the mast, I coil the shrouds and hiking wires in loops that I tie to the tramp. When I raise the mast, which I do alone, I tie an 8' line from the jib halyard to the bridle and rest the end of the mast in tripod. I raise the mast and, while leaning into it, reach down and undo the jib halyard. I pull in the jib halyard until the mast is supported and tie it off on the cleat. I then get down and fasten the forestay. I reverse the procedure to put it down. The only ring I have to work with is the forestay and I have all the time I need. If you have to remove the mast from the boat each time this won't help you.

Howard

Thanks Howard, interesting, Last fall I raised the mast while the boat was on the trailer, so I attached the halyard to a line and ran it to the mast holder on the trailer using the same basic procedure you describe. But for some reason I always disconnected the shrouds from the adjusters before I started home! I'll check it out next week, but I still hope somebody comes up with an answer about the ball lock and QR pins. Thanks again, ralph

Ralph,

The advantage of connecting to the bridle is that it holds the bridle up in the perfect position for fastening the forestay. I can't take credit for this idea. I actually read it in a Hobie Hotline years ago. The tripod is important to keep the weight of the mast off the traveler track.

Howard

The QR pins are not a secure way of connecting stuff like schrouds and forestay. You can use the QR's in other places... places whereif they fail you mast will not come down. Keeping all the wire stuff attached on both ends while trailering is good if you can keep the mast on the trailer and the boat is stored where people do not seal you stuff.

Patrick