Hobie Pedal Drive - Bent Mast
 

So my mast is bent on the forward fin of my pedal drive.

Everything seems to work fine. Should I leave it?

What will happen over time?

Any chance of catastrophic failure?

Pull the pin remove the fin. Unscrew the mast and straighten it.


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I've had that happen 3 times. Just pull the pin, remove the fin, get a large box end wrench. Slide the box end down to the area of the bend hold the drive with one hand and when the wrench is in the correct area just above the bent use the length of the wrench to bend it straight again. Do not need to always remove the mast. In an emergency you can provably straighten it enough after removing the pin and fin and just using your hands and brace the mirage drive against the ground. No need to replace the mast unless it's cracked or it's been bent in the same place a handful of times.

Thanks, will do.

Get a new kayak.

You need a mastsectomy...

Try leaving it alone. I have replaced over a dozen bent masts. At one time I would bend them back, but when you bend it back, sometime later you will be peddling along and it will snap. Bending it back creates a weak spot that will eventually fracture. If it was inland, it would not be a big deal. For offshore, I prefer to replace it with a brand new mast to avoid an unexpected break. Some day, I will figure out how to heat treat the bent masts so that they are less susceptible to fractures.