What's this little tool underside my hatch cover?

Just discovered it. What's it for?

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2011 Oasis - Lunalilo Express
2012 Revo 11 - Lunalilo

Spare rudder pin.

Next is the secret hand shake.

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I'm right 98% of the time. The other 3% I don't worry about.

Ah, I see I see!

Do those break often or something?

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2011 Oasis - Lunalilo Express
2012 Revo 11 - Lunalilo

Haven't read much about the pin breaking. From my experience I have taken some hard hits without a problem. However, I don't lock down my rudder. I suspect if you are playing in the surf where you can take a hit from the side, it is much more a chance.

I don't think you need a handful of spares. If you use it just replace it.

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I'm right 98% of the time. The other 3% I don't worry about.

It's not that they break all that often, it's that if they do break, you lose the ability to steer while using the mirage drive or sailing. I broke one sailing and it would have been a LONG paddle in to shore.

Keep in mind that the rudder pin is designed to be the weak link in that system. It breaks first, so that nothing more important or more expensive breaks. The only thing I wonder about is if they are slightly more brittle in very cold water. That's when I've broken them, but I was pushing it in strong winds and waves.

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I have only broken one - sailing the AI hard in heavy weather, and I believe that Hobie has upgraded this component so that the new ones (like the one in the photo) are of tougher material and will not break so easily. I doubt they will break easily on the kayaks unless you bash the rudder really hard into something immovable.

However, as has already been pointed out, if you lose the rudder it is tricky to steer the boat - and I am sure that this is the reason that Hobie has been careful to provide a spare (good on 'em - I was delighted to have been provided with one when it happened to me I can tell you).

Losing the rudder on a sailing yacht is a major cause for concern even if that boat is equipped with an engine because very few "jury" rudders are effective. Losing the rudder offshore can, and frequently does, mean the loss of the boat. On a Hobie kayak the risk would hardly be of the same order because our boats can be steered effectively with a jury rudder i.e. a paddle and we will probably not be too far from shore. None the less the loss of the rudder will reduce your ability to manoeuvre & will probably slow you down and therefore should not be taken lightly.

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for the answers!

Now that I know what it is, I hope to never have to use it.

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2011 Oasis - Lunalilo Express
2012 Revo 11 - Lunalilo