Locking the Hobie 17/18/20/21 Halyard:
It is best to simulate the halyard locking with the mast down so you clearly understand the system.
Be sure that the knot tied to the ring is very low profile. A long bowline knot will hit the mast head before the ring gets to the hook.
If the ring has a small loop at the top... The line should be passed through the loop and a small knot tied. The knot (when ring and shackle are affixed to the sail) should be facing the mast. This tilts the ring closer to the mast.
Then (before attaching halyard shackle to the sail) spin the halyard 3 or 4 times clockwise (looking down on the shackle). This "pre-loads" the halyard line and causes the ring to swing back towards the hook. Keep the boat into the wind and hoist. Should lock easily.
One thing that helps with hoisting the MIT Hobie 20 sail is that there's an extra hole drilled in the forward/top portion of the head of the sail where the shackle attaches. That extra centimeter of space it provides makes it just a little easier to raise the main and get the ring locked onto the hook. I'm with you 100% that a low-profile knot facing the mast makes life much easier! I like the tip about spinning the halyard to swing the ring toward the hook. I feel like I might need to get a degree in mechanical engineering to better rig this boat ;)
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