Hobie Cat Forums

New Rudder Pin - Now Available



Note upper pin is new - Gray... lower image is the original black pin.

We completed testing and have received production of the new pin made from a different material and color. This is stiffer and stronger than the pins tested from the last few production runs (which had shown some variance from the original specs).

This is not a retrofit issue or a free upgrade. Simply order a new pin using the original part number: 81394001 RUDDER PIN, TWIST N' STOW RDR

Our parts department is only stocking the new version. 2010 AIs will come with these new pins. Other models will be using the black pins until the stock runs out.

Dealers were informed of the change last week.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Okay-thanks Pirate and Matt. I still have my original pin in place. But will switch to a brass pin soon. I`m on vacation next week for a month. And will (hopefully) be sailing in hurricane winds over here on Long Island. I`m not worried about ripping the transom(sp) off in shallow waters...I`ll just un cleat.
I cant believe no one has answered this post of posts.
In the words of Roger Waters(no pun intended)
Is there anybody out there?

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New to PCs and this forum stuff. Had an original Outback and Classic. sold them both for the A.I.. Love the boat and especially this site... (if I can figure out how to use it)

Y'all very quiet
I have never broken a pin ....YET!!
But if I ever do, I'll wish I had reploaced it with one of these new ones. That is assuming they are considerably stronger and not likely to break under "normal" use.
If it also breaks, I'll be recommending that it be further modified to include Pirate's pull-pin - which makes removal and replacement so much easier (at least it does on an unbroken one).

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Mickey
2011 AI Golden Papaya
2011 TI Golden Papaya

That is good news Matt, I look forward to fitting one as soon as they are in stock in Europe.

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

astro applauds your efforts...i'll take a dozen please...

Great news. I haven't had any problems but I might add some to the spares bag.

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Thank you Hobie R&D Department

Having broken several of the current black rudder pins early on (and subsequently being less adventurous in using my AI for the past 6 months or so) this now means I can procure a few of the improved grey pins and sail with a lot more confidence and enjoy this marvelous craft even more than I have been doing.

Well done guys

I still am on my original pin the 2008 Boat came with but have 2 spares. I must not be going at it hard enough or the fact that I have yet to cleat the rudder down. I can encounter sandbars suddenly and it would not kick up. Glad Hobie is always listening to feedback to improve an already great boat. I guess this improvement will help some.

Edit: She finally popped her first rudder pin last Sunday in some fast action in some 20mph+ winds! Hiked out on the tramps and soaked to the skin and grinning like a fool. Then suddenly bam and the rudder was dangling by some string. Replacement was easy once I reached shore and settled. Steerage does feel a little looser now... Not sure what's up with that. Glad I had the backup pin. E

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2010 Hibiscus Adventure Island

I am still on my original pin, and will hang on to my handful of black spares. With all due respect to the Hobie engineers, I kinda want to see if any of you guinea pigs crack your hulls.

Sorry guys but my original belief that it is not so much the hardness of the pin material that is the issue but engineering and quality control problems surrounding the gudgeon pin and pintle diameters that is causing the problem in many boats. Like Tom I will await passing of time before I give this 'fix' a thumbs up....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Welcome back Pirate!

It's been quiet around here without you.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

LOL Bob..... I got as far as VaVa'U in Tonga Bob which is more than half way to Hawaii and looked in anticipation towards the north-east but alas no Bob sailing across the horizon to greet me. It is a big wonderful world out there but unfortunately more than sprinkled with poverty in many of those thousands of Islands dotted out there in the Pacific. What cheers me most is the genuine happiness of the original Tongan and Fijian peoples regardless of the obvious sparsity of worldly possessions. Appears a simple life with a strong family involvement and a little fishing is food enough. Always nice to get home though.....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

I recently ordered a spare pin after reading this post. What I received was a black pin. What gives?

Wrong pin, send it back. The old stock works on all other Hobie's except the AI.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

Took the pin I ordered into the dealer today and they replaced it no problem with the new gray ones they just got in stock. I don't think they knew the pin had been redesigned.