Tandem Island Rudder Update By Doug Skidmore

Tandem Island Rudder Update
By Doug Skidmore
President, Hobie Cat Company

Over the past few weeks we have been reviewing corrective measures for Hobie Tandem Islands experiencing rudder problems. Some users have had the rudder kick up making steering difficult; others have experienced loose gudgeon screws, and some have had worn or broken steering lines.

Though we don’t like hearing about these types of issues on any of our products, we appreciate the honest feedback from our dealers, consumers, and those users that post on our forums so we can better understand the situation and react appropriately.

This notice is to inform you that we are going to resolve these issues immediately and what to further expect from us in the coming weeks and months.

Read the complete statement: http://www.hobiecat.com/support/articles/tandem-island-rudder-update

Instructions: http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=32375

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

Thanks Hobie, thanks for listening.. you are one great company !

Matt,

I just filled out the registration form for my TI.

It surprised me that Hobie is sending the modification kits to the owners and not the dealers.

Has Hobie arranged to have the dealers install the mod kits under warranty?

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Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI

By sending direct to consumers it removes a layer and speeds the process for those users that can handle the install. Yes, Dealers can and will do the install. It's up to the Kayak owner. This should be pretty simple for many people.

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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 was just wondering if Hobie could design something similar for the TI and AI. I used to own a Hobie Wave catamaran , the rudder system on it works quite well , you simply had to manualy push it down and it kept the rudders down and it handles a lot of pressure and it also kicked up if you hit an obstacle . Never had any issues for the two years I used the boat.

Dan

Matt,
Any idea on how complicated the permanent rudder replacement installation will be? Will Hobie dealers be authorized to do the replacement or will it be the registered owners obligation to install the replacement?

I assume that Hobie will have a warranty for the replacement retro-fit.
I am not the world's best marine mechanic and would not like to void the
warranty by not doing the replacement up to Hobie's standards.

All retrofits and replacements are covered by warranty and dealer installation will be included.

The current front runner for rudder design appears to be very straight forward. Installation would be easy... and yes, likely similar to the rudders on our catamarans, but operated by the line systems in the boat.

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

Looking forward to the new design.
When do you think it will be ready?

_________________

I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

I'd guess... more likely after the new year.

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

Thanks Matt.

_________________

I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

My steering line broke a couple weeks ago under high pressure in a strong wind. I'm looking forward to the fix. It's great to have purchased a boat from a company that takes their customers needs and concerns seriously. Thanks Hobie!

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

Edmond, OK

We did 10 miles yesterday in 18+kt winds. On return about 30 ft from shore I lost rudder control - spectra line on the port side sheared through at the base of the drum-bolt...and this is the *second* time after having been fixed at the dealer the first time.

Needless to say I've registered my boat and I am eagerly waiting the kit with the new bolt - and even more eagerly awaiting the more perminent solution. Even when I have the new rudder system in place, I'm painfully aware that the rudder system relies on, well, a piece of string with a single point of failure. I'm thinking that I'm going to *have* to have a backup for the rudder that can be deployed in an emergency.

I'm thinking of trying to engineer some kind of rudder that passes through one of the plastic drive-well plugs, so I can just pop it into a drive-well in a pinch.

I can tell you that it is *impossible* to fight a moderate chop in those kinds of winds by paddling, and it's *nearly* impossible to use an oar as a rudder.

Oh, and I will be getting tow insurance and I'd suggest that for everyone that has it available in thier area. At about $100/yr it's a no-brainer. Here in Florida you can just radio for the tow boat even if you don't have it, but they will charge you big $$$ if you don't have it.

Matt, I'm US-HCCPOU37F010. Any way I can bribe you to get to the top of the "kit" list?

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2010 Tandem Island!

Could you not pedal?
You should have been able to reach shore using the paddle as a rudder while pedaling. I have done it a few times in the AI and practised it with the TI. If the winds are strong furl the sail and drop the mast. In my experience the miragedrive can handle 30knot winds easily.
Rather than a complicated back-up rudder a better option may be to invest in a stiffer straight bladed single paddle.

The wind was pushing the bow downwind (starboard). I tried holding the oar in the water on the port side of the boat, and sort of angle it to try to point the bow more to the port-side, but the wind was pushing me aft.

I could peddle, but I couldn't peddle *and* have an oar in the water to steer at the same time - too awkward for this person to accomplish in that weather.

Peddling only just accelerated the bow moving to starboard. Without a port line on the rudder, I'm guessing that it might have been pointing me starboard, which would not have helped matters. This was in a moderate chop. Looking back at it, I probably would have been better off to stay under sail instead of furling it. Then maybe I would have been easier to use the oar as a rudder, or maybe I could have leaned backwards and grabbed the rudder with my hands and pointed it where it needed to go.

Since I was only about 30ft from shore, there wasn't much time to figure it all out before a was blown ashore downwind of the intended landing spot, into a bunch of mangroves. I we had been out a mile or two I might have been able to work out something.

I think maybe we will try some "drills" next time out

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2010 Tandem Island!

Not impossible when using the sail (not pedaling or paddling) - check out our videos in my signature. Difficult for the first several miles until I got the hang of it - yes; impossible - no.

I've used both the curved-blade Hobie paddle and a much straighter-blade paddle and am here to tell you a paddle can be used successfully under sail in winds of up 20 knots in heavy Chesapeake Bay chop. I've done it three times now - twice during rudder failures and once in water that was 8 inches deep (too shallow for the centerboard and rudder to be deployed).

Takes practice, but each time I do it I gain finer control.

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Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

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