Hot Stick Sticking

I keep getting sand in my arriba hot stick making it very hard to extend and compress. When I do get it extended, I hold it underwater for a minute while sailing and this seems to help. However, the inside surfaces appear to be getting scratched up pretty bad and causing more friction. Should is spray those surfaces with McLube or will it make the sand stick and thus make my problem worse? Is there a better lubricant or is it best to leave it alone?

Put it in the bath tub and work the sand out. I avoid setting mine on the sand like the plague.

I spray mine with mclube! not sure if its the best thing to do but it seems to work with me. I also wash it off very very well.

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Brad Stephens
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Yes, submerse in water... at the lake, bay whatever is easiest. Extend and retract a number of times to flush the water out. Easiest if the rubber handle is off.

Prevent the sand from getting in: Do not let the tip of the tiller sit in the water at the beach. Get the cork ball end. That plugs the end well to prevent sand from getting in.

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

Thanks all, I'll try the McLube. BTW Matt, I do have the cork ball and it has a small drainage hole in the end. I've discovered if you submerge the hot stick while it's extended, and it fills with water, you can use it as a water cannon to spray other sailors when you compress the stick!

Haha, I used mine as a squirt gun once too. Luckily I was cleaning the remaining sand out in a pool because as I pushed it harder the rubber grip popped off. Definitely the best way to get it sliding freely again. Mine has some scarring from the sand on the inner tube, but it slides totally free when clean.

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1983 Hobie 16 "Rumpshaker"

I've never seen one but I have an idea of what it is. can you use a hose to push/flush the water out?