1st rigging of my 16 and BANG! broken reinforcing rod! :~(

Hi folks,
Yesterday I was ready. After months of sanding, painting, rebuilding the steering and rudders, replacing the standing and running rigging, I was ready to go sailing for the 1st time. Beautiful weather and wind. My friend who has been sailing Hobies for years came over to go with me, and agreed we should stand up the mast and rig the boat for the 1st time at my house before we ran off to the lake. Everything went together really smoothly. When we tried to lower the main, it was sticking , so I (standing on the ground in front of the boat) pulled down on the main halyard, while my friend was on the starboard tramp, and BANG! Something broke, but it wasn't obvious what. Only after lowering the mast and de-rigging did we find that the stainless steel reinforcing rod that travels under the dolphin striker and out to the forward pylons had snapped in half. There was corrosion inside the break area, so it had already cracked or failed from crevice corrosion. I was bummed to say the least, but at least it didn't happen on the water in the 20 mph winds we were having.
So, how to replace it? And should I even bother with a used one which may have it's own structural issues? It looks like I'll have to take one tramp panel off and drill out and remove at least 1 forward pylon to insert a new piece. Is this correct. Any spiritual guidance will be appreciated!
Thanks,
David

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David

Get a good Belgian golden ale and serve it cool (not cold) in a glass. I can recommend Duvel or La Fin Du Monde.

Try a vodka martini with an orange twist or a kumquat instead of an olive. Navel oranges have the sweetest rind that I know of.

LOL, I like your way of thinking and tastes in spirits! Would one of the Chimays suffice? And a really good Irish Whiskey?
I had some input saying I can install the new rod (ordered yesterday) without taking the frame apart. I thought it might be possible, but didn't want to ruin the new piece with my usual "Godzilla School" mentality of boat building/repair!
All the info here has really helped me get my 1st H16 on the water.
If you find yourself in Nashville, TN, let me know. I'll provide the boat and beverages!
Cheers,
David

Wow! Never heard of a striker rod failing. That is an odd one.

Not that hard to replace. 20170001 DOLPHIN STRIKER ROD H16 $ 77.95

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

Hi Matt,
I've heard that from a couple of people. I'll post some pics of the 2 ends where the failure occurred. The inside faces of the rod at the breaking point are grainy and rust stained. The texture looks like cast iron when it breaks, or when forged or rolled pieces of mild steel or stainless are work-hardened and break. The staining make me speculate the there was crevice corrosion or and existing partial-break from it's time with the original owners.
The really odd thing is that the break occurred about halfway between the forward port pylon and the vertical dolphin striker bar. There were no signs of kink or bend or previous damage anywhere on the rod prior to the thing snapping. I've been instructed to just tighten the nuts on the ends enough to take up the slack when installing the new one. Maybe someone previously had pre-loaded or tensioned it!?!
Anyway, thanks again for the help.
David

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David

I've been greatly disappointed with Chimay. Tremens "Delirium" is very nice. Hoegaarden is a very nice, easy to find white beer.
Jameson if you're Catholic. Bushmill's if you're Protestant.