Need Help Repairing an Old Mast Step Cup Hinge Holes

Gentlemen,

An old Hobie 16 was donated to me. I am not sure how much life is left in it - but I don't really want to spend a lot of money on it. It is at my house in Lake Tahoe and intend on using it for charitable sailing lessons at Baja California orphanages.

On the Mast Step Cup one of the holes for the cotter pin to go through has been ripped and no longer holds the pin. I can buy a new mast step cup but I don't really want to - is there a cheap hardware store repair to make it so that I can drill new holes or attach some other hardware that would imitate the cotter pin holes for raising the mast? I have attached a picture here. I was trying to use some JB Weld to create some new holes as you can tell by the mess.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kRFp9z ... sp=sharing

No there is no cheap hardware store solution. You need to replace the mast step. Just call your local dealer

I have used JB Weld (for other things) before but would not even attempt to use it in this application.
Stepping the mast can be dangerous and breaking loose from the hinge point is the last thing you
want to happen. I even park my car at least 30 feet from the cat so the mast could not possibly land
on it.
There is not enough flange left on that mast step to do anything with it. It has lived a hard life.
I would search craigslist for used Hobie parts and open up your radius until you find one.
Four rivets later and your done.

Gentlemen, Can I install this hinge somehow in lieu of replacing the entire cup?

Hobie - Mast Step Link Kit H14/16 - 21380001

Product description
The Mast Step Link Kit is among the most commonly replaced Hobie parts. The link kit allows for easy mast stepping without someone holding the base of the mast. When not in use, remove the step pin if not the whole linkage to avoid damage caused by the rotating mast.

https://www.amazon.com/Hobie-Mast-Step- ... 3736&psc=1

The link kit relies on having a good, solid hole in the mast base. That's what the hole is for; if someone tries to pin the mast directly to it the base hole (or mast step hole) will tear out when the mast goes up.

You can probably rig some way to duplicate the function of the step link with some line that keeps the mast from moving forward as you raise it, but to me it's a no-brainer to replace the base. This is why replacement parts are available; old parts wear out and need to be replaced to maintain proper function of the boat. You could probably salvage a different worn-out one from an old parts boat if you wanted to save a few dollars but a new one would be my choice for sure.

_________________
'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

If it were mine... and the mast was going to be stepped once a year I would just figure out a way to stand it up without using the link and that hole. That hole serves no other purpose.

I am in construction and set big ladders all the time. nothing about stepping a 16 mast worries me at all. Your experience may vary.

When I was rigging a H14 all the time I would just leave the forestay loose enough the mast would lift over the base. So I would just stand the mast up on the ground right in front of the crossbar and then lift it into place. From there I had a little block and cleat setup to put some tension on the rig. It took under a minute from pulling up to the lake t having the mast up and ready to go. No step link or anything. Lifting a H16 mast the same way could and probably would be trouble for someone who doesn't do that on a regular basis. but with some thought it could be done.


Heck... For what it is worth with a helper or two you could tilt the boat up on its side and support it there.. and from that point just lift the mast into position and put it together pretty quickly. Then just "right" the boat, and off you go.

You do have a good idea of how the forestay and shroud setup works don't you?

_________________
www.thehobiewayoflife.com

If only raising and lowering the mast occasionally and you have some helpers, you can just use the “human link” method.

Basically one person just stands at the mast base facing aft and uses their hands/body to hold the mast base in the step while the other person stands on the tramp and raises/lowers the mast. It is not an ideal solution, but I’ve seen it done and it works. You just need to be sure the person holding the mast base is up to the task because if they slip or let the mast base come up, the other end will come crashing down. Probably best to tie a safety line between the mast base and the dolphin striker post just in case.
sm

If you search You Tube, I have found a couple videos where you step the mast from the front of the boat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jScDIPno5s&t=474s

This is for a Getaway and is not entirely the same situation. But I did see a You Tube, which I cannot find now,
where the guy digs a small hole in the sand just below the mast step, drops a piece of carpet in there, then
as he walks the mast toward the boat, the mast tilts up and the bottom of the mast goes in the hole to hold the base
in position. Then with the mast straight up, he jumps on the trampoline and lifts the mast up and into the mast
step. The only problem is, I don't remember how the mast was steadied through all this. Probably similar to the
Getaway You Tube where the mast is held by two of the wires and one is loose until the mast is positioned in the
step.
But, I do like putting the boat on its side and fitting the mast in. It would take a minimum of four people to do this.
Two would hold the hull on its side and two would walk the mast into position.
The H16 is not that heavy. This season when I put my H16 completely together and was ready to raise the main sail,
I noticed the main halyard was threaded through the pulleys on the mast head, the wrong way!
Not wanting to take the mast down, I lift one hull up and used the righting line to slowly drop the mast and my wife
caught the end so I could re-thread the halyard the right direction. Then used the righting line to bring the mast
up, then past the balance point, caught the hull to bring it down slowly to the sand.
Good luck.
Greg 1984 H16