So I remember reading several post where older style collars on the TI were allowing the akas to separate from the xbar without pinching the retainer clips. I assumed I was safe since I have a 2012 TI.
Last night I found out I was not safe. My name is Jay, and I am a victim in this story.
So I am out night fishing, as I've done many times. Both amas, hakas secured, no sail. Light 5mph wind, very light chop. Current is ripping out very fast. Sitting in the middle to front of the haka bench casting up to a lit piling of a popular night fishing bridge. Then all hell breaks loose. front starboard aka magically unclips, although at the time I didn't know what the heck happened. Scrambling, I handed my rod to my inexperienced copilot in the rear cockpit. Getting my bearings, I realized what had happened and grabbed the aka and did a swimming tread slam back into the xbar collar. Hearing the reassuring *click*, I pulled myself back into the boat using the haka and aka for leverage. I then realized that we were already dangerously close to the bridge pilings, the current taking the boat at a speedy 2.5mph directly under the the bridge. The rear of the starboard ama is on a direct collision course. Brace for impact. Boom! Aka support bar shear pin instantly destroyed as designed. Nice work, Hobie, I think to myself as my copilot gives me a look of sheer terror. "Start pedaling, FAST!", I tell him. This is where the hakas saved my hide. The positioning of my haka clips more or less force the akas to be held fully extended. I reattached the front haka clip (which had been dislodged when we went in the drink). This allowed me time to grab the replacement shear pin and repair the support bar while my freaked out copilot is hauling arse away from the bridge. I've never seen anyone pedal the mirage drive that fast. Fortunately no one was hurt and no gear was lost. My first mate apologized for freezing but it all happened in less than a minute! After reassuring him that everything was fine now, we had a laugh and pedaled back to launch.
I kept trying to think of how I could have not clipped the aka in properly. I am meticulous about this each and every launch, but I know that I overlook things from time to time. Once broken down at the launch, I started testing the aka strength in the collar. I found that clipped in, if I exerted a bit of pulling force and a bit of light jerking/twisting, I was able to remove the aka every single time. This is troubling to say the very least.
So my question, after all of that is, aside from Kayaking Bob's spectra line leash, are there any other solutions out there? I read a thread where someone was talking about a Clevis Pin solution through the xbar and aka end. I was interested in these but looking for the best solution.
Also just a fun story and confirmation this anomaly can happen in relatively calm conditions not under power.
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