Demasted from broken 3/16 bow shackle

I've been going through and fixing up a used Hobie 16 that I acquired late this Spring. Not all of the parts are original and I've had to do some swapping around to get boat useable.

I took the boat offshore on July 4th (with a tropical storm offshore) as kind of a shake down trip. Apparently I beat the hell out of the boat. It was a great day of sailing till the bow shackle between bridles and forward chainplate broke. The mast dropped, we capsized boat, lengthened shroud with a piece of para cord, wired the bridles to the chain plate, righted and returned shroud. I went to order a replacement part when I noticed that the part appeared to be a 1/4" shackle and chainplate. There is clearly a 3/16" hole size 10-hole chainplate on boat.

The boat is a 1982. Anyone know if Hobie used a 3/16 pin or a 1/4 pin back then?

P.S. I don't think that the failure was from the lack of a 1/16" of stainless but rather the 1982 vintage of the part and tough conditions.

I think most of the shackles and clevis pins are 3/16. Those of us with older boats think this stuff lasts forever. I de-masted when a 1/4" shroud anchor pin snapped. I started replacing all the old stuff starting with the main shackle on the mast tang. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel will crack and corrode especially around salt water.

Hobie 16 has ALWAYS used 1/4" pins and shackles.

The 3/16 adjuster had to come from an OLD Hobie 14. Even Hobie 14's have used 1/4" from some point in the 70's. or early 80's.

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

Thanks all. Time to replace some of the old stuff and anything questionable.