i11s rudder lines?

Just purchased a very lightly used i11s but the twist and stow rudder lines are not working. The rudder also got stuck to the right and I ended up doing circles in the ocean for a few minutes.

When I got home I checked the lines and found that the rudder turning lines needed tightening up (done). I thought I should tighten the twist and stow rudder lines as well but one of the lines has a major fray.

The person that sold me the boat thought that the rudder was stiff because it had been stored for a couple of years and kept manually moving the rudder up and down but I think the line was kinked.

Anyway I need to replace the line. Does anyone know how many pounds test line I need? I picked up some 250lbs test downrigger line today that looks very similar the to cord on the boat. Is it safe to use this to replace the cord on the twist and stow rudder? Is there a trick to threading the cord through the rubber channels?

I have searched and searched for answers to these questions but not been able to find them anywhere. I just want to get out in my boat before summer runs out.

Scrolling down to older posts reveals an i11s recall where rudder lines may have to be replaced with stainless steel wire, etc as explained in https://www.hobie.com/forums//viewtopic ... 47&t=56825 I think you can use your serial number to see if any of these issues apply because it encodes the mfg date in a way that is documented somewhere here.

Oh, very interesting. I was told that this kayak was purchased in 2018, but I suppose the dealer might have had it in stock for a couple of years. I did try to search serial numbers but didn't find a post explaining how to date your boat from your serial #. If someone could help me find that post or tell me what date my serial number is from, I would really appreciate it. My serial number is HCCBM126G718. Thank you.

I finally found the serial number post. My boat was manufactured in July 2017 so it does not appear to be part of the recall. From all I have read and learned, I think it is likely the fact that this boat has been folded and only used a few times over 3 years, that could have contributed the problems. I have read that a dry type silicone on the lines might help a bit and will try that but still need to know if this downrigger line that I got which is 250lb test is strong enough? (left is downrigger cord, right is original cord). I have searched high and low for some spectra" cord but it appears nobody has been able to get it lately. Any other suggestions welcomed. Thanks
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... 1EcVJqZVpR

The hobie Spare part Number of the Spectra line is 81023001.
0.79$/ft @ Westcoastsailing.net.

The strength is 700lb, I guess the diameter is 1,75mm.
Spectra is a HDPE fiber. I think Dyneema is a similar material

I hope by now you've got your hands on some Spectra line replacements. As for your guess at the model year, I was told the last two numbers in the serial number indicate the year of manufacture. This makes more sense for an i11s, because I purchased an i12s in the 2017 model year and I know the lighter i11s wasn't announced until later that year and not available until 2018 (at least here in Ontario, Canada). I just had my dealer (FoghMarine.ca) replace my rudder Stow-n-Go and steering lines, after the original ones frayed at the ends, and I was also experiencing the same binding in the steering handle housing. When I asked about the stiff control, and my sense that the lines weren't moving well through the flexible PVC channels, I got all kinds of theories. One person at Hobie suggested WD-40 would fix it (it didn't, and besides how would I spray it, except at the stern where it is rigged to the rudder?). Eventually, through inquiries with other owners, it was recommended that when deflating, folding and storing the inflatable models, the flexible channel should be coiled in a circle, and then folded up, avoiding having it bend wherever the deflated hull was folded. Seems to have worked over this past season.
With the new lines in, I also asked that they be left a little longer to make repairs easier (they're coiled around zip ties near the rudder now). One more thing to mention, I also learned that Hobie released a more robust steering housing to fit the Vantage CTi seats.