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 Post subject: Mast stepping
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 12:35 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:08 pm
Posts: 19
Still having a ton of trouble with stepping my mast, with a friend helping. Yesterday I had the step link break after 2 attempts causing us to abandon the entire process. It seems when I get the mast near vertical, the mast base does not seat correctly in the mast step, actually seating a bit forward of where the bowl is. I had my friend try and push the mast base aft which sometimes works but not this time, so went to de-step and then link broke. DOH! I saw there were two bolt holes in the mast step link and I was using the outter one, which was a slightly larger opening. Could that be the cause for the mast base not seating properly?

So far mast stepping has been my biggest obstacle. Everything else is falling into place.

Also noticed a 1"x3" chunk of my mast track (comp tip portion) that had cracked off. I filed it down so the sail won't get caught on it's way up but any suggestions on how to repair that?

Thanks,
LP


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 Post subject: Re: Mast stepping
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:00 pm 
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Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
First of all, get a new mast step link and make sure you are using the hole marked "16".

It is best to have a helper shove the base of the mast back just before the mast base "spud" makes contact with the mast step.

Lacking a helper, it is a bit of a technique to do it solo. After you do it a few times, it's like second nature.


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 Post subject: Re: Mast stepping
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 8:09 pm 
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Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:33 pm
Posts: 223
Location: Southern California
This is a very common issue. Many mast bases have been broken.

For the beginer, have the helper stand in front of the mast facing the rear of the boat as the mast is being raised. As the mast is lifted past about 60 degrees to verical, the helper pushes the base of the mast towards the rear of the boat. This ensures the ball drops into the cup.

For the experienced (anyway this is way I do it), put my right foot on the back crossbar and lift the mast to my shoulder and let it rest there a couple seconds. Next I take a deep breath and lift it above my head and walk forward to bring it all the way up - but during this last bit I slow the lift for just an instant and push downward on the mast causing the mastlink to rotate downward putting the ball in cup and continue lifting until is all the way up.

_________________
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise - still own
2008 Hobie 16 (currently sailing the crap out of this boat)
1977 Super Sunfish
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John


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 Post subject: Re: Mast stepping
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 11:59 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:08 pm
Posts: 19
Thanks for the replies. The tips make sense, looking forward to trying them out and finally getting to the fun part of owning a H16...


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 Post subject: Re: Mast stepping
PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2012 6:31 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:21 pm
Posts: 379
Location: Winston Salem, NC
I have been stepping my mast solo for years and did as described above, stopping part way up to get the mast to toggle back. I lost some upper body strength after a heart operation and found I couldn't quite get it to work. There is another answer to the problem. Murray Marine sells an after-market mast hinge link that doesn't require the "toggling" of the standard link. The new link works without the hesitation step but it must be completely removed for sailing. As to the standard link, you were using the right hole. The link is used for two different boats. If you look closely you should see a 14 and a 16 stamped on the link, indicating which position to use for each of the boats.

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Howard


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 Post subject: Re: Mast stepping
PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2012 5:48 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:26 am
Posts: 140
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Look for the above thread "Hobie 16 mast stepping", I posted a photo of the rig I use to raise the Mast. It`s simple, cheap, and safe. Ask me as many questions as you want, I`ll be glad to show you how I raise it.

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.


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