Mmiller announced new crank arms for the MD 180.
mmiller wrote:
....And the ARC pedal cranks.
Unfortunately there were no pics, so I borrowed an image the Hobie web site and this is what they look like (with Turbofins):
The first thing you notice is that they are ovalized tubular aluminum. Next, you see they are curved (thus presumably their name). Then you wonder what happened to the squeeze-handle pin adjusters on the sides. They have been replaced with push buttons at the top of the units.
I was lucky enough to try these out recently and they feel very robust. The new push button pin retractor is easy to push, making pedal position adjustment quick and simple. As you can see below, you can even adjust with your feet on the pedals, for instance, if you need to change to a modified "flutter" stroke position to pedal in shallow waters.
Because of the arch in the cranks, your pedal position ends up being about an inch closer (about 1/2 pin distance) to your seat. In order to maintain maximum power, you ideally want full leg extension on your pedals without them hitting the stops. If readjusting the pin position doesn't get you the right leg position, it is possible to reverse the arms, as seen here (with ST fins):
Since these cranks are wider than the old version, the drums have been widened to accommodate them. If you're wondering about whether these new crank arms also come with the GT Drive, I understand that they do NOT. It looks like they can be retrofitted, however, but you would also need the new drums. Check with Hobie to verify this.
