Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Tue Apr 02, 2024 2:45 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Tale of woe
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:56 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Launched the shiny new AI this morning. Breeze was a bit fresh, but I figured I could tool around with the sail furled or partially reefed until I got the feel of things. Launched the boat from a small beach, with the Mirage drive out and paddled out for a bit. Thought I would try the Mirage drive and that's when the porridge started hitting the fan. The drive seemed to click into place OK and I pedalled for a few minutes. Then suddenly, the pedals slipped sideways to starboard. I tried to right them, but they were jammed tight, so I couldn't even get the drive out. The wind was freshening at this stage, so I thought I had better paddle back to shore. Unfortunately, the drive was acting like a rudder and heeling the boat around to port. I couldn't get the pedals forward enough to pull the fins up. Using the real rudder to try to balance to drive, I was able to make very slow progress paddling across the wind. To make matters worse, as I got near the beach, it was too shallow to use the daggerboard and I got blown sideways onto rocks. I ended up jumping out and hauling the #*$@&# boat off the rocks and onto the beach.
Luckily, I had some old kayak cradles in the car, so I was able to get the hull up on the car with the pedals still sticking up in the air.
Went to the local Hobie dealer, where I had picked up my boat the day before and this guy comes out and says "You must be chrisj". The guy turns out to be Stringy. Anyway, Stringy and the dealer jiggle around and manage to free the drive. After putting the drive in and out several times, we found that at times the locking lever was not fully engaging, thus leaving one side of the drive unlocked. The lesson seems to be to check visually that the lever has fully engaged - the drive going in straight and clicking into place is not enough. Neither the dealer nor Stringy had heard of this happening before. :( :( :(

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Yep! Tight Fit
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:46 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:33 pm
Posts: 305
Location: Coram N.Y.
Hi-I never had that problem with my AI but I know how tight fitting the drive is. Last week I donned my new survival suit and tried to peddle directly into/against 20-30mph winds&strong tides. Got my butt kicked bad -mother nature just picked me up and threw me back on shore. The thing I forgot was that this is not my Outback or Mirage Classic. The AI weighs nearly twice as much. So its live and learn the limitations of the boat and my own abilities.As good as we think we are-we all panic to some degree when the -#@`X%% hits the fan!!!LOL. I plan on making my own revisions to the boat but nothing sacriligious. Good luck with yours! Jeff :)

_________________
New to PCs and this forum stuff. Had an original Outback and Classic. sold them both for the A.I.. Love the boat and especially this site... (if I can figure out how to use it)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:53 pm 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15027
Location: Oceanside, California
Sounds like the drive may be a net fit fore and aft / left and right when locked into the hull. There should be a little play for and aft (tipping fore and aft) when locked into the click-n-go. a small amount of trim work on the drive spine (I suggest aft end) would correct that if that is the issue.

When pedaling against the wind, the big difference on the AI is the surface areas of the amas, akas and 15' tall mast. This additional windage can make pedaling into a strong wind tougher than the main hull alone. If I had to do it... I might drop the mast down and lash it to the akas.

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


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:05 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
I'm not familiar with the names of the components Matt, but it appears to be the port drum shaft that is a tight fit. The locking lever snaps over it, but on close inspection, it is not going all the way. I have to push the lever forward with some force to make it fully engage. Now that I know about it, I can live with it. It was just a helluva way to find out 8) .

Chris

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:17 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Quote:
As good as we think we are-we all panic to some degree when the -#@`X%% hits the fan!!!


I didnt panic Aledal. I was OK paddling in the wind until the freakin' drive started pulling me to one side. Not that I think I am great at this stuff and with the wisdom of hindsight, I should have given the boat its first run in ideal conditions. I am used to kayaks which have no moving parts, so nothing much to go wrong.

Chris

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:44 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:33 pm
Posts: 305
Location: Coram N.Y.
Sorry Chris- I was really talking about me. No offense.

_________________
New to PCs and this forum stuff. Had an original Outback and Classic. sold them both for the A.I.. Love the boat and especially this site... (if I can figure out how to use it)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:14 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
No offense taken Aledal. I sure would have been panicking if the wind had been 20-30 mph. I would estimate the wind I was in was about 10mph.

Chris

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:42 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
G'Day Chris,
As soon as I saw the AI on the Forester I knew it had to be you. :wink:
I hope Matt agrees with the following:
The spine is the main plastic framework of the drive. Your drive had no play fore and aft and I suspected the spine locating tabs ( I did look for sand in the drivewell) but it is good that Matt has confirmed this. A little filing of the aft locating tab as Matt suggests should allow the drive to drop a little lower and bring the click-n-go locking lever over more of the drum shaft.
Image
Hope your second trip out went better!!! :)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 4:40 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:39 am
Posts: 858
Location: Bairnsdale, Victoria Australia
Sorry to hear your first 'shakedown' cruise shook you to your core Chris. As you know I have only just got mine too as has Mickey my mate, and we have had it on the water a couple of times to date.
We went sailing in 10 to 15 knots on the Gippsland Lakes in sunshine and had a really great day together. We both had our dodgers on and without them we would have been continually drenched when sailing into the wind as our Lakes kicks up a short but steep chop very easily.
In relation to the Drive mechanism, one thing I have noticed that while sailing it is not that difficult for your feet to accidentally push one of the drive release arms backwards which partially releases the drive on that side which results in a wonky action. Happened to me twice before is became wise to it. Both locking arms must be in the forward position (towards the bow) for the locking mechanism to be properly engaged.
Anyway hope there is no damage to your hull when it went on the rocks..Pirate


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:27 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Hi Matt & Stringy,

I whittled away at both the fore and aft drive splines as suggested, but it didn't help. The port locking lever still needs to be forced over the drum shaft, unless I first release the starboard locking lever and push the drive a bit to port. I can then reset the starboard lever with no resistance.
I tried putting the drive in with the hull inverted. With it locked in tight, the bottom of the drive is leaning to the left (starboard when upright).

Image

I can rock the drive fore and aft as Matt suggested and you can sort of see in the second photo that the aft drive spline is clearing the hull by about 5-6mm (1/4")

Image

In the last photo, you can see the right (port) lever is less perpendicular than the lever on the left (starboard).

Image

Any suggestions?

Chris

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:45 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:25 pm
Posts: 2863
Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
Hmmm -sorry the filing didn't solve your problem Chris. :(
Doing a bit more research I came across this on the KFS forum.
http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 6651087945
I don't like the way the drive is leaning over to one side and I don't think the washer solution in the above link will solve that.
Matt???


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:02 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Thanks for that link Stringy. They seem to have pretty much the same problem I do. Incidentally, I tried putting the drive in backward and the problem disappears. I guess I could go everywhere in reverse :lol: .

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:10 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Scratch that - the drive sits straight when backward, but the port lever is still stiff - I'm just getting better at manipulating it

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:30 am 
Offline
Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:46 pm
Posts: 3017
Location: Escondido
chrisj wrote:
With it locked in tight, the bottom of the drive is leaning to the left (starboard when upright).

Chris, if you hold your Drive upside down (not in the boat) with the pedals perfectly even, do the fins still lean to one side or do they extend straight up? Do they split, forming a narrow "V' or are they parallel?

If they are not straight up and parallel (or close) this can be corrected by adjusting your cables, although it isn't really critical. If this is the case, it shouldn't have any bearing on your seating problem.

Is our drumshaft centered (making sure it isn't hitting the stop on the port side)? Does the port locking lever operate freely without the Drive installed?8)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:00 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Hi Roadrunner

The fins are perfectly symmetrical when the drive is out of the boat and the pedals are aligned. The fins form a narrow 'V'. I am not sure what the "stop" is - the drumshaft slides into a metal slot and I can see no obstructions. But!!! while checking it out, I realised that the drumshaft on the port side protrudes maybe 3mm (1/8") further from the drive than on the starboard side. I also note that this was the case with the guy having the same problem on the KFS forum. Hmmmmmmmm.
The locking lever operates freely with the drive out.

Thanks,

Chris

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  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