Hi folks,
Yesterday I was ready. After months of sanding, painting, rebuilding the steering and rudders, replacing the standing and running rigging,not to mention the trailer rebuild, I was ready to go sailing for the 1st time. Beautiful weather and wind. My friend who has been sailing Hobies for years came over to go with me, and agreed we should stand up the mast and rig the boat for the 1st time at my house before we ran off to the lake. Everything went together really smoothly. When we tried to lower the main, it was sticking , so I (standing on the ground in front of the boat) pulled down on the main halyard, while my friend was on the starboard tramp, and BANG! Something broke, but it wasn't obvious what. Only after lowering the mast and de-rigging did we find that the stainless steel reinforcing rod that travels under the dolphin striker and out to the forward pylons had snapped in half. There was corrosion inside the break area, so it had already cracked or failed from crevice corrosion. I was bummed to say the least, but at least it didn't happen on the water in the 20 mph winds we were having.
So, how to replace it? And should I even bother with a used one which may have it's own structural issues? It looks like I'll have to take one tramp panel off and drill out and remove at least 1 forward pylon to insert a new piece. Is this correct. Any spiritual guidance will be appreciated!
Thanks,
David