Dolphin Rod tightening

Hey guys,

Replaced the mast step rivets and now I am re-tightening everything.

What is the proper torque for the dolphin striker rod bolts or amount of rigidity I should be looking for in the dolphin striker rod when tightening bolts? ie, loose but in contact with the striker, tight, ridged tight.

Thanks,
Scott

The performance manual says to tighten it until the hulls are pointed straight. As in the distance between the bows is equal to the distance between the sterns. When you tighten the rod it pulls the bows together.

Tighten it until there is no "clunk" when you hit the striker rod with your hand. Hobie doesn't specify a torque value, so just make sure there is enough pre-load that nothing's moving around. This means you will likely need to clamp a pair of vice grips onto the inboard side of the rod where it exits the crossbar in order to fully tighten the nut without allowing the rod to twist.

I would also highly recommend you assemble it with an antiseize grease or other corrosion inhibitor on the part of the rod that passes through the corner casting so the rod does not seize in the casting.

sm