Mast Keeper Knob?

Hey all Bravo Sailers! I've just added another boat to my backyard: a 2003 Bravo! This joins the 82 16' Hobie cat, the 74 Sunfish (for sale now that I've got the Bravo), and my Old Town canoe. My wife says we look like a white trash house! My 8 year old is psyched about the Bravo, I'll let him sail it solo next summer on a small lake near here.

Anyway, this Bravo I've got is great, but the mast keeper knob that screws into the hinge/gate assembly to lock the mast upright seems to be pretty crappy. My knob has fallen off the end of the threaded rod, and the last time I dropped the mast I had to resort to using a pair of vice grips (I know, I know...) to get it unscrewed.

Is there a better alternative, or should I just buy another stock Hobie mast keeper knob? Should I keep the threads greased so the salt water corrision is not as bad?

Kevin - Boston, MA
1982 Hobie 16 "Borrowed Black"
2003 Hobie Bravo "Spanky"
1974 Sunfish - for sale

answered my own question. I think the threads were corroded and sticky from a summer on the beach by the ocean and the torque required was more than the glue bwtween the plastic handle onto the screw threads. I cleaned and greased the threads thru the A frame and epoxied the handle back on. guess I'll find out in a year if it's going to hold.

Kevin - Boston, MA
1982 Hobie 16 "Borrowed Black"
2003 Hobie Bravo "Spanky"
1974 Sunfish - sold!