Hi,



I've got a bad surprise that I don't want to repeat, so please help me to find out what I have done wrong... After 1/2 hour of sailing the mast collapsed on us.

This was my first time out on this 1995 H-17 sport (my catamaran experience is with H-16 and Dart). Wind conditions were 15-20 knots. We were two on board the crew (~170lb) on the trapeze and I (180 lb) on the wing seat. We were beating up wind the sails were fully sheeted the boat flat on the water and suddenly, everything collapsed. We were realy only starting to get a feel for the boat so were far (I hope) from pushing it to its limits...



After inspection all the cables are intact. The mast is bent sideway at about 1/3 of its length from the base. Mast base pin is still in position. The mast dinged and punctured the front beam.



The stays were at the tension recommended by the dealer. The day before I rigged the boat with the dealer and went over all the details. He is an experienced Hobie sailer…



Some people from the shore said that they were amazed at how much the mast was leaning backward. Once again I’ve never seen a H-17 on the water before so I relied on the dealer’s tips and instructions for the rigging.



What did I miss or did wrong? Replaying the event I am not sure if the mast broke first or if came out of the ball and then broke under pressure of the trapeze and the wind.



Please forgive my missed used of the sailing vocabulary but English is my second language ;=)

I think from your post that your mast came off the pivot ball, and punched a hole in the cross-bar. This happens often when the mast is stepped if it is not turned perpendicular to the boat when stepped. If lifted straight up like on a 16 or 18, it bends the retainer pin and lets the mast pop off the ball.



Check your mast pin. Is it bent. The mast on a 17 cannot be raked back very far, or it will pop off the ball bending the pin. Was your mast rotated? Once again, the mast on a 17 has to rotate to keep it from coming off the pivot ball.



Hope this is some help!



David

The pin was still in place and didn't bent... The dealer is telling us that the jib might have been over sheeted, preventing the mast from rotating having it back wind(???)... He says that it iis impossible for the mast to come off the ball as all the pressures are downward... What do you think?

I agree with your dealer. If the mast doesn't rotate, it can come off the pivot ball. I haven't seen this happen without bending the pin or indenting the pivot ball. Perhaps, your ball is worn letting it pass the pin without bending it. Still, take care that your mast rotates, this is a key factor. I am not terribly fond of the way Hobie designed the 17's mast pivot. My girl friend has a 17 sport, and we have had the mast drop a couple time...when stepping...this was before we figured out that the mast has to rotate to 90 degrees from the longitutional line of the boat, or it can pop off the ball...not a pretty site. When I step her mast, I will not let anyone stand behind the boat.