Seems pretty clear in the images though.
I do agree that the forestay and jib could be more clear, but honestly... first time I have heard this complaint in the many years that the product has been out.
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| Mast Stepper III http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=43128 |
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| Author: | RobDek [ Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
rmc100 wrote: I have a question: for those of you using the Mast Stepper III in order to step the mast by yourself (on a trailer), what do you do once you pin the mast (in the down position, before you step it up) and half of the mast if hanging over the back of the boat? In the directions, they don't show you how this is handled. When I step or unstep my mast single handed, I use a step ladder to hold the mast. |
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| Author: | RobDek [ Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
RobDek wrote: Let's see some pics of the damaged mast stepper. As suspected....pure BS. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Tommy Rogers wrote: you could see the strain where it attaches to the mast. This morning mine broke, the aluminum weld began to tear. Really odd. There is no load on the weld if rigged correctly. The pole is only in compression on the mast and there should be no bend force on the weld or mast connection. |
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| Author: | dorienc [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
mmiller wrote: Tommy Rogers wrote: you could see the strain where it attaches to the mast. This morning mine broke, the aluminum weld began to tear. Really odd. There is no load on the weld if rigged correctly. The pole is only in compression on the mast and there should be no bend force on the weld or mast connection. Yes, the gin pole I made for my 17 was a 2x4, bungeed to the mast. Never slipped. The only problem with my mast stepper iii for my Getaway was, as I stated earlier, the bungee loop is too long and you've already addressed that. |
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| Author: | tpdavis473 [ Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Matt, I have a suggestion for the instructions to the Mast Stepper III. It is not clear that you are supposed to attach the jib and forestay before winching up the mast-it only says to attach the furler and none of the photos (with the exception of the boat with the mast up) shows the jib/forestay attached to the furler. I suspect the person who damaged his stepper didn't attach the jib/forestay since if you don't attach it, you are putting a prying torque on the stepper base. I haven't used mine yet and that is one of the questions I have. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
https://static.hobiecat.com/item_attachments/3156z52.pdf First page, under hardware installation, item "B". Quote: B) Detach the furler system from the bridles. Position the furler to the lower end of the jib as in its normal sailing position. Photos show attaching the lower end of the forestay / jib to the furler (Figures B). |
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| Author: | tpdavis473 [ Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Not in the one I'm looking at. Figure 8 shows attaching the winch line to the pole straps. Figure 9 shows attaching the furler drum to the pole eyestrap but you can't see whether or not the jib/forestay is attached at the same time. Step 10 is the only reference to forestay and after reading through the instructions 5 times, this is the first time I've seen it. Seriously, FIX YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. |
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| Author: | tpdavis473 [ Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Oh, and if you meant figures "B" as in Boy instead of the number 8...the photos do NOT show any forestay or jib in the booklet. Honest, FIX YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. Assume folks will try to follow your instructions step by step even if they don't make sense (like having the furler attached to the pole without anything else attached to the furler). I used to write procedures for a living...so far, the ones from Hobie have been less than exemplary. |
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| Author: | RHoughVYC [ Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
tpdavis473 wrote: Matt, I have a suggestion for the instructions to the Mast Stepper III. It is not clear that you are supposed to attach the jib and forestay before winching up the mast-it only says to attach the furler and none of the photos (with the exception of the boat with the mast up) shows the jib/forestay attached to the furler. I suspect the person who damaged his stepper didn't attach the jib/forestay since if you don't attach it, you are putting a prying torque on the stepper base. I haven't used mine yet and that is one of the questions I have. Why would the jib/forestay be disconnected? The istructions say to move the furler from the bridle to the jib/forstay. They never say to remove the forestay. It is a simple system the forestay takes the load the gin pole is in compression to act as a fulcrum. I suspect that anyone that has damaged a stepper III is not using it correctly. |
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| Author: | tpdavis473 [ Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
It's not the normal way to step a mast for most folks and most boats. Most folks and boats raise the stick and THEN attach the forestay. Heck, even the Getaway does it that way if you don't have the stepper--you manhandle the stick up and then attach the forestay/jib. The instructions never instruct one to attach the forestay to the furler on the pole. Simple suggestion to improve the instruction to ensure no one CAN make a mistake. The way they are written and illustrated makes it possible to make a mistake and ruin the stepper. Never doubt that Murphy is there to screw you. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Quote: if you meant figures "B" as in Boy instead of the number 8 Yes... that is/was a "B" as in boy on page 1. That image could show more of the forestay / jib, but focuses on the furler to adjuster plate attachment point. It would be impossible to raise the mast without the forestay attached to the pole. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Fri Nov 07, 2014 9:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Seems pretty clear in the images though. I do agree that the forestay and jib could be more clear, but honestly... first time I have heard this complaint in the many years that the product has been out.
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| Author: | tpdavis473 [ Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Fine, live with it as-is. You had one customer destroy his stepper and almost had another (me) because the instructions are not clear. I don't care. In the realm of sailing Murphy will bite you in the butt if given any opportunity. You have left both the door and window open when all it would take is ONE PHOTO showing the whole thing with the mast down and stepper attached properly just prior to winching up. One or two sentences explaining that the system uses the forestay to pull up the mast; leverage and athwartship stability being provided by the pole and side lines and the stepper foot being used to keep the mast properly aligned SIDEWAYS despite pulling on the forestay. I know that pride of authorship is rampant with anyone who writes procedures (or anything else for that matter), but you should know that only the authors who embrace editors (and editing) are the ones who get published. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Fri Nov 07, 2014 11:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
mmiller wrote: I do agree that the forestay and jib could be more clear,
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| Author: | mmiller [ Fri Nov 07, 2014 12:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mast Stepper III |
Updated the images and some text. Not a major rework, but should make the point quite clear. http://static.hobiecat.com/web_uploads/2014/11/07/3156.pdf |
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