Great w.e., except for a fallen mast.....

Fellows, please do yourself a favor and double check the pins on the mast stays.
We were having a great time on the beach with other boaters, and suddenly the mast just went down. We found that the lower STB pin was gone. We assume the pin broke and fell off. ( We had been sailing for three hours and just before we hit the beach, we rode a heavy rain wind for a couple of minutes ). Later we pulled the PORT side pin and it looks worn very close to the hole were the ring-pin goes. We guess the other pin just broke. I installed two s.s. 1/4" smooth shank bolts with self locking s.s. nuts instead of the pins.
Two things I learned; Never use worn pins. And never park the Cat next to people. Luckily the mast did not hit anybody !!!!

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.

Replace the bolts asap with the original spec clevis pins. They have a higher breaking strength than a bolt of similar diameter with threads cut into them.

Actual clevis pin failure is very rare.

The likely cause is a clevis ring being pulled out. Use tape over rings and clevis pins to secure and prevent the ring from catching on clothing, docks or lines which can unravel and pull the ring loose.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks MMiller, I am working on getting something better and I will install better safety ropes on the stays. THANKS.

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.

Hobie makes a nice set of "Moulded shroud adjuster covers" Part # 3261B. They make it easy to inspect the shroud's pins, rings, adjuster, twist toggle, etc. without the need for tape and they reduce the risk of a pin or ring coming off.

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Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL

Caution on trusting only the boots. These can also catch a ring and pull it loose. We prefer tape on each ring to be sure... plus the boots.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)