Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:33 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 32 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:16 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
I've been enjoying using Hobie's hiking stick and the freedom it gives to move around on the haka ...until yesterday.
It snapped right at the swaging. Looks like the SS cable can only take a finite amount of flexing?
Drilling out the rivet and replacing the cable would be the fix I guess but is there a replacement cable spare part available?
Image
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:03 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:58 am
Posts: 2893
Location: Forster, NSW, Australia
Stringy, when you think about it, this was bound to happen, as the metal obviously work hardened. I guess there is no real substitute for proper universal joints in that location, or regular replacement on a timely schedule (whatever that is)

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:25 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 3323
Location: South Florida
Clearly, Hobie has more work to do on their hiking stick.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:58 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:50 pm
Posts: 66
Clearly Hobie should send you new products to abuse before public release LOL. Looks to me like a chamfer or radius at the end of the swage would help alleviate stress in that area. That cable is way strong in tension.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:09 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:03 am
Posts: 218
Location: Bundaberg QLD, Australia
I would be surprised if Hobie didn't replace this under warranty for you.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:20 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
tonystott wrote:
Stringy, when you think about it, this was bound to happen, as the metal obviously work hardened. I guess there is no real substitute for proper universal joints in that location, or regular replacement on a timely schedule (whatever that is)

Yes Tony, you are right.
I was expecting to have to replace the cable eventually but this failure so early has surprised me. I doubt it has been used on more than 6 trips.

Chekika wrote:
Clearly, Hobie has more work to do on their hiking stick.
Keith

Definitely.
It looks like it may have been rushed out. As much as I like using it I was disappointed when I first picked it up as there was something trapped in the handle that rattled up and down when moved. Probably the remains of a rivet? It also looked like it had been assembled cheaply... but at AU$70 it's not cheap.
This from Matt's description in a previous post: "The cable is covered by a fiber reinforced tubing. Makes a "tendon" connection that is flexible and strong." actually looks like this:
Image
I like the feel of the cable connection in use but it looks as if reliability is a problem.
A better way of swapping worn cables is needed or a rethink of the tendon connection.
Maybe a rubber type fitting like a "Battlestick" as used on Lasers?


Last edited by stringy on Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:32 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
ppicker wrote:
. That cable is way strong in tension.

Agreed, but it broke because of the constant flexing, not from over tensioning it!
Thinking about how it's used it's probably too long at 40". It has to be bent backwards when tacking as it hits the mast if pushed forward. This causes more flexing.

John_h wrote:
I would be surprised if Hobie didn't replace this under warranty for you.

I have no doubt Hobie will fix it. It is less than a year old after all.
I'd prefer a better more reliable design that can be replaced in the field. Drilling out and replacing a pop rivet is not something I'd be able to do "on water".


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:17 pm 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Contact your dealer for a replacement. I'll copy the thread to engineers.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:02 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
Thanks Matt.
I have sent details to my dealer and they have filed a warranty claim but I realise things are on hold until the "Worlds" are over.
In the meantime I've been looking for a better solution. As the cable has broken after such a short time I wouldn't like to trust that again. I'll be interested to see what Hobie come up with for a fix.
I drilled out the rivet and removed the broken cable. I discovered what the annoying rattle was in the handle...the remains of the "popped" rivet:
Image

I'd like to see a solution that overcomes having to remove the tiller knob when using the hiking stick. If the knob could be redesigned so that it accepts a standard tiller extension tendon quick release like Ronstan/Riley it would be better and more reliable.
Image

I've mocked up one for testing. It's bulky and ugly but I like how easy it is to remove the stick and go back to the tiller.
A knob that was designed for the purpose would be less bulky:
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:14 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 3323
Location: South Florida
Excellent idea, Stringy. I'll second your recommendation.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:22 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:58 am
Posts: 2893
Location: Forster, NSW, Australia
I'm with you on that too Stringy. I had used the hiking stick on my two previous yachts without any problems, and >always< sat to windward at the full extent of the hiking stick, and never experienced any disconnects or jams, even on overnight races (where fatigue can result in inept use of equipment).

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:11 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:02 am
Posts: 318
Location: Cape Coral, FL
An alternative might be something like this: http://www.mcmaster.com/#end-links/=ql0w28

I used the stainless quick disconnect on my tiller in last year's EC. Worked great, shame it doesn't come in a course thread or it could just screw right into the tiller handle.

It is vaguely visible in this picture Image

and in this one Image

cheers,

j

_________________
2011 Golden Papaya TI with a 250 square foot spinnaker!
also a more manageable 100 square foot spinny...
&
the TI3 rear ama mod


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:00 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
Yes there are many options for connections. I was looking at some small SS universal joints on eBay that are very cheap:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6mm-6mm-Shaf ... _999wt_922

Rather than re-invent the wheel though I'd prefer to see already proven technology adopted. The Ronstan/Riley tendons have been successfully used for years and the 'Batlestick' tiller extensions are high quality and cheaper than Hobie's version.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:45 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
tonystott wrote:
Stringy, when you think about it, this was bound to happen, as the metal obviously work hardened. I guess there is no real substitute for proper universal joints in that location, or regular replacement on a timely schedule (whatever that is)

My RAM ball "universal joint" is still rocking after two years and showing no signs of breaking down. Slight surface corrosion of the aluminium nut and bolt, but nothing substantial.

Image

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:44 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 3323
Location: South Florida
Looks like a keeper, Chris.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 32 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group