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What next?!?!
Two broken masts, (replaced),
A resulting compromised sprocket hole (sprocket replaced)
A torn fin (temporary glue fix)
This evening I was out on the Big Lake testing my sprocket alignment and easing into a very warm, (rare) flat water tour. After a comfortable 6 mile voyage, I encountered a sleek, efficient-looking sea kayak travelling an average 3 - 3 1/2 mph between my Outback and the shore. (I carry a GPS unit) After about a mile of our parallel paddling (er, pedalling), I kicked it into another gear and started an uncommunicated race. The sea kayaker got the hint and increased his ryhthmic stroke in an attempt to match my speed. After a half mile, I lost all sight of him and continued until I completed one mile at an impressive (at least to me) 5.2 mph average. Then I finished the evening watching a beautiful sunset and cooloing off.
It wasn't until I slowed to about 2 1/2 mph that I noticed this "thumping" sound coming from just under the drive unit every pedal stroke starting about 2 1/2 - 3 inches from maximum leg extension. Well, this was MOST annoying!
When I pulled the drive unit from the boat just prior to beaching for the night, I examined the drive while "hand-pedalling". I hadn't noticed before, but my fins do not come to a horizontal position when the pedals are extended away from each other. Instead, they form a very wide "V". I think this might be the answer to the rythymic banging sound I experienced following some extended, perhaps excessive force applied for that rather fast one mile. Fins slapping the bottom of the boat!
Question: (finally
)
Could I have stretched the cables on the M-Drive to cause the chain and sprocket to over-extend the fins position?
Some other explanation?
Anyone else have this experience??
Thanks again for the attention, . . . . and apologies for the long post,
- Mett