TI: My first day - Was a bad day.

Aw, man - that sucks, Mark! I really feel for you...

However, the TI wasn't fatally damaged and you already have the trailer in usable form, so it could be worse. It could be raining!

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Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos

Mitch,
Thank goodness, the TI survived.

This afternoon I decided I need to understand what the heck happened.

Here is my CSI analysis of the situation.

There is the electric gate, and the tree on the right. As I passed through the gate (I think I might have hit the button for the gate to close). Which it did, and it caught the left side of the trailer and then pushed the trailer into that tree. I did not realize this was happening (still - user error - isnt it?). Anyway the rest is history. The important part is coming up.

Gate, Tree and note the grass to the left of the tree.


Right side of rear brace caught this part of the tree. Ah - so left side pinned by gate, right side pinned by tree. This is not going well is it? Now I see why the rear brace snapped in two. It gets a little better.


Now, I am thinking if this is where the trailer got caught - I wonder where the kayak rudder hit? I could not tell exactly but after an hour or so - I found the top portion of the rudder pin. Nice. It was a nice jagged break and fit great with its other piece. Anyway, now that I found this piece I reasoned that the missing part of the rudder must be (hopefully) somewhere near where I found the rudder pin.

I found the rudder pin kind of the upper middle left of the picture. And started my search for a little piece of black plastic.


Another hour goes by - looked all over the place - and Ta DA! Found that dern thing!
Look right in the middle of the pic - there it is, hiding in the grass! Awesome!


So - I have these little parts. Can I glue them - heck lets try!!!


I go to Hobby Lobby and get some glue called Extreme Power - It is Cyanoacrylate ester. Seems good to me - suppose to be strong.
And some bought some accelerator - which speeds up the bonding process.

I glued the pin and then the rudder assembly. Waited a few minutes and put it back together.
Works! Steers fine, ruder up/down work. It seems pretty strong. I will still get another pin and rudder assembly but maybe it will work?



After all that - we put the sail up and took a snap.
2nd day was better than the first!


Thanks for all the support and comments.

Hope to make it to the water soon...

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

I have never tried this. I will practice this technique - "Just in case" I loose the rudder. I cannot imagine having to do for a long time as that could be quite a workout.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Yay, I like happy (hopefully) endings.

Getting better anyways.

I am waiting on the MSO for the trailer to get it registered. With a little luck maybe be mid-week we can get it to the lake.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Wow!
Great story. I'm glad you've got it going.

Dude, the first day of the story sucked but it has an excellent ending.
Better than my experience with an electric gate and my jeep.
You proved the Hobie hull is super durable and that recovered parts can be glued together.
Glad it worked out in the end...enjoy getting wet.

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Stringy and Fly4v,
Thanks for your comments.
Clearly not the weekend I had planned.
I know I have earned a good shot at bonehead of the year.
If someone else posted this and I read it, I would be saying WTF was that guy doing?
I still find it unbelievable - but that is how things go sometimes...
That TI is tough boat - it might have a few issues with steering, Akas and so forth but that thing is tough.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Mark,

This is great news. I hope you get on the water soon.

My idea of steering with a paddle does seem difficult, but I thought if the wind was light you might be able to handle a short sail and at least get the boat wet and get the sail up. This may not matter any more.

Best of luck.

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Mark
2010 Tandem Island
2010 Adventure
Hobie Cat 14T
Home built sailboat (in progress)

Edmond, OK

Mark - Im glad you are getting past your mishap and moving foward - better days are ahead

... however, I have ALOT of experience with CA glues of all types both using and not using an accelerator and I dont think it is going to hold. Pastic does not bond well with CA (especially in a shear force) and using the accelerator speeds up the curing process not letting the material wick any of the glue in and only creating a surface bond (which in general is why pastic doesn't work well with CA - it cant wick in to the material). I think a pastic cement might have worked better as it melts the plastic together, but give it a try and be prepared to use the paddle as a rudder as others suggested.

Good luck

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Alan W.

Papaya AI2 to replace my well worn V1
TheTwins - His/Hers 2007 Papaya Hobie Adventure Island's (v1.00.01)
.. and a Hobie Outback SUV

Thanks for the info.
I was kind of afraid of that.
I am ordering a new rudder assembly today + rudder pin.
Ordering some replacement parts for the trailer and hope to be back up and running (good as new) very soon.
With lots of TI sailing reports to follow...

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Heck I forgot I had some 2 part epoxy stuff - for plastic - That probably would work better.
Do you think if would be bad to break it again and redo with the epoxy.
Actually, I have some CA De-Bonder. Think I attempt a De-Bonder and redo with this 2 part stuff.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Mark; So glad to hear that you got it back in shape. Hope you get to the water soon you are going to love the craft. Denise and I have found another way to power the TI. Now that makes 4. 1= paddle, 2=pedal 3= sail and 4= Grand Kids.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/3278/imgp7967.mp4

You can also carry friends on the tramps.



Good Luck with your first Sail!!!

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“Remember life is short- eat dessert first.”
The world is 70% water – So that means we should spend 70% more time sailing than mowing lawns!
Larry

Very nice.
So much going on. I forgot that I have the Tramps. Need to get those installed!
Might be able to get it to water Wednesday. Fingers crossed we can make it.

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

Mark (and others) is there any car insurance policy that would cover the boat/gate for stuff like this?

Have a safe time on the water.

Dood, be careful. You know how you get when you're too excited!

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The Wind Is Your Friend...