Hi Roy and congratulations on your new purchases! That's quite an amazing set of Turbofins you have. They look like they were excavated from the days of the Ancient Mariner!
niswanger wrote:
1. The serial number area of both yaks seems odd to me where the SN was just etched in...is this normal? Also, how do I date the yaks based on SN?
Yes, it's normal. Last 2 digits determine model year. It looks like your Revo is an 2007 or 2008 and the PA is around 2010 to 2012.
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2. Per the attached images of my MD's one has V2 on a piece I am probably calling wrong and the other it doesn't. This piece is a barrel-shaped sprocket cowling. I just want to confirm that both are V2s so I can reference diagrams correctly and buy parts correctly.
You do have a V-2 and a V-1 Drive. The V-2 has Micky Mouse shaped ears for drums and a brass insert in the sprocket where the mast (SS rod) screws in.
The cable/chains are also a different length. The V-2 is a much more robust Drive.
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3. Speaking of #2 I'm on the lookout for expanded drawings of each yak to include the MD's (honestly I haven't searched this one)
Try downloading an owners manual from the Hobie website.
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4. Three of the 4 masts on the MD's are bent. I plan to buy new fins/flippers and really I'm unsure if I really need to get the "speed fins". This being said, has anyone made their own masts from SS?
[/quote]Save yourself some money by straightening your existing masts. You don't even have to detach them. I use a 3/8" ID pipe with a sleeve, but most people just do it by hand.
Your V-2 masts are threaded whereas the V-1s are not. Here you can see the 2 on the right are V-2 and the 2 on the left are V-1.
You'll notice Hobie uses a custom thread on their masts so doing your own might not be worth the effort.
I recommend you clean up and rebuild the V-2 Drive first and get a new set of Turbos to replace your museum set with the $ you saved by straightening those masts. The PA is a heavier boat and came with Turbos to move it along. You can rebuild your V-1 Drive or update it to V-2 as you desire. Once you have tried Turbos on the other Drive, you can decide what fins you want on your Revo. Both Drives, of course, will work in either boat. BTW, all threads should be secured with your new friend, Loctite Blue (not red). This applies especially to your threaded masts and the Allenhead screw on the V-1 sprocket.
Use the search feature to look up "cam columns" so you can inspect them and possibly reinforce them on your Revo.