mmiller wrote:
A sheared riser would skip and not hold the steering.
Get your cell camera and video a look around inside the hull while someone steers the system. Maybe see something inside going on?
Brand new boat...so took it back to the supposed ‘dealer’ here....
Out of having the boat 6 weeks they have had it almost 3, and the two times i have used it is was DANGEROUS as it would not turn right....so the latest saga.....
The ‘dealer’ mechanic (singular) was there when I took it back this time....and we exercised the rudder.
Left turn, with resistance on the rudder, rudder seemed to have about 15-20 lbs of pressure exerted.
Right turn the rudder seemed to only have 2-5 lbs of pressure, and would go almost full deflection on the tiller with minimal pressure on the rudder.
(Rear tiller was not as ‘strong’ as forward tiller)
After 4 days, I finally got the call it was done.
Went to pick up....BUT this time I throughly exercised the system before leaving.
Same strong turning to the left, and stronger than before BUT still weaker to the right. Maybe 2/3rd the pressure from the left.
So rather than take the defective, and possibly still dangerous boat I declined to receive it.
The ‘dealer’ started making excuses about the lack of support they are receiving from Hobie, etc....
No diagrams. Vague instructions like “untie some of the knots”. Adjust in the water.
Any suggestions for to forward to this crack team here on Guam?
My next one is to have them remove the entire steering system, replace the lines (which appear to have many many knots in their length. And re-rig.
I am getting tired of having only the ama’s and aka’s to this boat.
I am also looking for a Hobie contact in the US. As calls to Australia are costly, even though it is closer.
Also looking for warranty contacts as this situation is becoming out of control.