Sail cup pin broke;don't want to buy the entire sail cup

Hi Everyone,
The pin at the bottom of the sail cup of one of our AIs rusted off and broke. Our Hobie dealer says that Hobie will only sell the entire mast cup of which the sail cup pin is just a small piece of. ($15 of the $70). This happened last year year with the same piece from our other AI and its a stainless steel piece. Why are these stainless steel pieces breaking. Is anyone else having this problem? And why is Hobie making us buy the entire sail cup when the pin piece is just a small portion of it and easily screws to the sail cup with just 4 screws?

We only get the fully assembled receiver. The plastic is a small fraction of the cost.

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

gr,
Is this the problem? :

If so more info here
viewtopic.php?f=75&p=246152#p246152
It shouldn't rust. Are you sure it's not fatigue?
I'm with Yakaholic who suggested it might be time for this to become available as a separate part.
Aside from the cost there is a lot more work in replacing the whole assembly.

I also add my vote to suggest it's time for this to become available as a separate part. The girls have now broken 2, one on each of their AI's that are only sailed in mild wind and waves. Should this part be breaking?

_________________

Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I have 2 AIs 4-yrs + old and probably on the same path. Yes, I find it hard to imagine that Hobie cannot make this part available.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

I'll get the part set up to purchase by itself. Takes awhile to get through the system... Months.

This part sits in water unless the hull is dried or drained. May have something to do with it. Rust can be the accumulation of salt and silt with metallic in it.

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

I drain the cup and wash with fresh water, and then it dries--I hope.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Thanks for making this available as a separate part Matt.

Yes water can sit there for a while. I use a kayak pump to drain it but some water always remains.
I was worried that the screws holding the base plate in would be corroded and difficult to undo, but they came out easily.

If the metal was sound (no fractures), it couldn't possibly rust and break from the inside (as seen in all the pics), I'm suggesting the metal was fractured and fatigued during manufacture (i'm a metals guy).
I suggest reviewing the manufacture process, to get these failures out of your system, then you shouldn't need to sell them separately since they will never again fail.
just trying to help here
Bob

I'm surprised to hear of these rusting and breaking. Is this part not made from 316 stainless?