Hobie Mast Pin

I just got a new wave and have been having a great time with it! But today as I was deriging the mast, I had a very hard time getting the pin out of the bottom of the mast and discovered it was bent! Has anyone else had this happen. This was only after 4 sails, but yesterday I was in some pretty heavy winds, 18-20 knots with 25 knot gusts and I did capsize once. I love the Wave and it is very easy to sail since my last boat was a laser.
Thanks Mo

There should be no loads on the pin at any time... except when stepping the mast. It is possible that the mast was not in proper rotation when stepped down. The length of the mast is a huge lever arm and could easily bend the pin.

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

I've had my new Wave out in some pretty bad conditions, pitch poled and turtled and nothing has ever bent the pin. My dealer said the most important thing about stepping up the mast was to make sure it was always centered or the pin would suffer, that's what I think might have happened to yours.

Thanks for the reply. I will be more careful when stepping the mast down. Thanks Mo

I bent my pin the third time or so lowering the mast. I didn't notice the righting rope was in the way and when it pinched the pin bent ... just something to watch out for.

First time I turtled the wave trying to get out over some rough surf at the beach.

Second time I did not have the mast at proper rotation when I stepped it.

You can buy a new pin at Home Depot or Lowes for about $1.50. I suggest buying a handful so that if you bend the pin, you can replace it right away without losing any sailing time.

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Dreaming of the islands

I bent the mast pin, too. I discovered this after few days of sailing. I was not sure if this happened while sailing or during stepping/lowering the mast. I also noticed the scratches in the base of my mast. Then I looked in my manual which says the pin must be removed after stepping the mast. So I removed the pin (actually it is a screw with a nut) and sailed the rest of my holidays without pin.
Do you think it is ok sailing without the pin?
Thanks.

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Jernej

The manual available through this site says to leave the pin in.

Quoting:
As shown in figure 6a(3) below, pass the long pin
through the mast base. There is a small spring loaded
ball lock that will keep the pin captive in the mast base.
For safety, the pin should remain in the mast base while
sailing.

I don't raise/lower my mast very often, but I've always left the pin in with no problem, except sometimes I've noticed it trying to "wander" out. When I had the rig really loose, I worried about the mast hopping off the ball in heavy chop, so I was glad the pin was there.

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What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"

I would definitely leave the pin in. If anything is loose or if you end up pitch poling, capsizing, etc… you want that thing on to hold the mast in. I’m still using the original pin but went to Lowe’s to pick up 2 more and leave them in my dry bag. I’m going to the cottage this weekend and I’ll look up the product #, I’m sure it’s the same for Canada or in the States.

Bart, I know you are overseas but if you need another pin I’ve seen them in the Hobie Catalogue however they are expensive.

I will keep the pin inserted while sailing. Thank you for your advice.

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Jernej

Hi All,

I too, have experienced a bent mast pin, when my Wave broke free of the mooring in a heavy wind, and eventually crashed into the shore. The cabling broke free and brought the mast down. I found that the mast pin bent.

I have simply sprayed the mast pin with WD40, and re-inserted the pin. things seem fine.

Hmmmm....mooring a cat.....cardinal rule #1: never moor a cat for extended periods.
Case in point.
Problem with it is all that rocking degrades the shrouds very quickly, as well as the attachment points. Plus the constant twisting is nasty on the hulls/crossbar sleeves. Not only that, the trampoline tends to act as a sail under certain conditions,making the cat travel foward, which you don't want with a mooring.
A bent pin is the least of the worries here.

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Jim

2007 Hobie Wave