Hobie Cat Forums

Hobie 16 mast step replacement.

This was written up in the Hotline:

http://www.hobiecat.com/support/pdfs/h16-step-replace.pdf

Not that hard to do usually, but corrosion around the post, through the crossbar, can make it tougher.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Matt, When I removed a mast base from a bent front crossbar,
(1980 h16), I removed the bolts holding the end of the dolphin striker and turned the crossbar rod lefty loosey until it broke free. I then removed the dolphin striker crossbar rod and put a screwdriver in the hole of the post and continued loosing by turning the screwdriver left. Since the post and bottom of the mast base were threaded, this technique worked easily, My mast base and post only took a few minutes to remove once I drilled out the rivits. To reinstall I guess this technique could be reversed after the the rivits were installed and braced with a clamp to keep the twisting tension of turning the post. Since Iwas just removing the base to toss in with my other spare parts, and the cross bar was bent I was not worried about messing up the crossbar. So what do you think?
Thanks, John Gr

To assure the same striker tension and for over all speed of the job, we have found using the car jack system to be the easiest. Often the striker rod is seized in the corner castings. I also had one crossbar fail when a guy forgot to re-tension the striker rod, so better to leave those alone if possible.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

One thing I can add from experience is to resist the temptation to add pressure with the tire jack when that new mast step doesn't seem to seat itself just right on the crossbar.

http://thebeachcats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album278&id=D_pullDownStrikerBar_seatStep&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Mine popped right off and I had to rethread the mast step. I also had to flatten the top of the crossbar to get the new step on because the striker post had bent a lip around the hole.

Mine wasn't very corroded, probably because I sail in fresh water. I'm learning from experience, and I haven't had the severe corrosion experience yet.

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hullflyer

That is part of the routine... jack it down, but then use a mallet from the top to tap it down. I invert a ball peen hammer against the post inside the cup, then smack the hammer side with the mallet.

_________________
Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA