All good points, Chris, but, when I have broken pins (3 in 3.5 yrs), I was
NOT having trouble controlling the boat. The breaks were a complete surprise.
The "fear of breaking a pin" does not bother me on the water. I never worry about the rudder pin when I am sailing. But, when planning a trip, I have to decide if breaking a pin may be a serious risk (I have a fear of sharks, drowning, and hypothermia.) I have commented before on this forum that I simply want a
reliable rudder/steering system. Not too much to ask when sailing offshore.
Chris, your own comment summed up the typical user's dilemma:
Quote:
I'm in two minds on that one NOHUHU.
On the one hand, my pin is over two years (and many miles) old, so it may be gradually fatiguing and ready to fail at any moment.
On the other hand, it looks as good as new and has proven itself. Should I swap it for an unproven pin that might snap after five minutes use, as Keith experienced?
I dunno...
These are the typical facts: your pin is 2 yrs old, has many miles on it, and has not broken. I placed a new pin in rudder housing and it broke in 3 minutes. That in itself says Hobie either cannot or does not control the quality of these pins.
The question of whether there is a "batch of bad pins" is not the issue. No one can tell you if a pin is good or bad--the user takes his/her chances. If AI pins are breaking for users, that is the issue.
Perhaps Hobie could have a standard rudder (I'll take the new one) and an accessory rudder (T-n-S) or vice versa--that would suit me--
just give me a 100% reliable, robust rudder.
Keith