I purchased my AI way back in May 2007 (Hull No. CCMD34781607), so was an early UK adopter of the class. Recently, I ordered the FOC upgrade kits:
• Part No.81391002 Rudder Up/Down Line System '07-08.
• Part No. 81397001 "Balanced" Large sailing rudder for Twist-n-Stow.
A little plug for my nearest Hobie dealer – Cornwall Canoes – who, although I did not purchase my AI from them, dealt with my request immaculately.
This weekend, I set about the upgrade and all went well until I came to section 21 of the instructions. Having removed the nuts from the existing fitting, I tried to fix the supplied Harken H233 cheek block onto the exposed bolts, but found this to be impossible. The cause was immediately apparent, as the original cheek block on the starboard side of my AI, ahead of the main cross beam, is a Harken model H29 and significantly shorter than the H233, so the bolts/holes will not line up.
The solution is easy, all I have to do is to replace the H29 with H233, drill another hole and plug the unwanted hole. However, I wonder if Hobie were aware that some early models of the AI were fitted with the H29? Alternatively, do I have a ‘rogue’ fitting.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to make various posts on a very wide variety of subjects. Almost my preferred bed-time reading