Mast Stepping question from a newbie

I just bought this 16 Hobie, the mast base hole is broken, so i cant put the pin thru it, can i safely raise and lower this mast without the pin being in the mast base?

thanks

I would probably say no, as the risk of the mast shooting forward and you losing control is pretty good. You dont want to damage a good mast on account of a small, relatively cheap part. Just get a new mast base from your dealer, drill out the rivets, get new rivets with the inserts also, and install the new one. I did my mast base and step in about an hour, its really easy. Good luck and let us know how it works out,

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

is the rivet gun a specific one, what type do i buy, should i get a used one on ebay?
thanks for the quick reply

Any rivet gun will work fine. I used rivets from the local hobie store (stainless).

It was pretty easy part to remove and replace.

I'd stay away from Arrow, Ive had two fail after 4-6 rivets. The SS rivets are hard and also hard to set, so they wear out the jaws quickly, FYI.

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Where do you live?

I have a spare base and the SS rivets needed. If you pick them up, you can have them.

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1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

I think you would find it almost impossible to raise the mast without the pin. I believe you would be better off getting a heavy duty rivet gun from Harbor Freight for about 20 bucks I think.

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

Not ANY rivet gun, you want this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty ... 66422.html

Buy one today. Jeremy at Surf City Catamarans recommend this on this board once and I got one and definitely don't regret it. This one will take care of all your rivet needs and you won't have to worry about how well a critical rivet is installed, ESPECIALLY on something like the mast step.

On YouTube you can see it in use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Af7Q58FRk

at the end he demonstrates how hard it is to install steel rivets with the smaller rivet guns. It's a pretty slick video.

Good luck!

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'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

It's called human linking the mast. Just have a friend hold the mast into the cup as you lift. Just be sure to lift as far back on the mast as you can so you are not fighting each other. After the mast is past 45 degrees or so the wieght of the mast will hold it in the cup. Our fleet does it all the time.

cheers
Bill

Or do it like the Brasil Hobie sailors,hook up the forstay and one shroud and pick the mast up vertically and drop into the mast cup and then attach the other shroud.Which is the same way we step the mast on a DN ice boat,only difference is the ice boat mast weights 15 lbs.