Repair of Arriba tiller ?

That's a problem I've never seen - usually they lock too easily if they become contaminated with dirt/sand. However, you might try to expand it, fill it with water, and collapse it several times...rinse it very thoroughly.

The locking mechanism is a very simple and robust cam shape in the center and outer shafts - I can't imagine why it wouldn't lock unless someone put some sort of lubricant in it.

You can disassemble it by removing the rubber handle and sliding the smaller diameter piece out that end. Check the cams for wear and clean the inside of the tubes.

There may be something stuck in it. Fill the tub with water and pour some dish washing soap at the connection of the two pieces. get a towel as you will make as BIG mess. Start slowing pumping in back and forth with cork ball end in tub. You will be slowly flushing all the crap out of it. If this doesnt work it may be toast. It just got my Hotstick back in like new shape.

Doug

I had thesame problem- it would go past locking- likeit was stripped. I ended up buying a new one because I didn't have time to mess with it.

The original Arriba sticks were manufactured by Joe Porhammer of PMC. If you damage your stick, you can send it to Joe and he'll fix or replace for a flat fee...no questions asked. The last contact info I have is:

Joe Porhammer
PMC
1090 Tunnel Road
Glendale, OR 97442
541-832-2614

I've had several sticks fixed by Joe over the years. Even ones snapped in half (after depth charging off the side of the boat). Give him a shout the next time you need a stick repaired.

It is a fairly easy repair. I have had this happen to several.
Drive out the metal pin at the connector end of the stick.
Use a wood block to tap off the sleeve(the 3-4 inch piece that acts as a stop at the connector end). It may take a little effort.
Remove the handle and slide the two section parts.
If you look at the section that rotates, inside the end opposite the handle you will find a slight ridge. The ridge is only about 6 inches long. This is the area that gets worn and causes the stick not to lock. Just take a little resin and paint in on top of the ridge. It does not take a lot. you may have to aplly and sand until you get it to the feel that you like.
The just put it back together. I replaced the metal pin with a small bolt and lock nut.

sorry, but any chance could you be more specific about the metal pin (mine doesn't have one) and what part is actually the sleeve?

if I can fix my old one I'll kick myself for dropping 116 on a new one!

Not to butt in, but I think he means a tiny roll pin that goes through where the aluminum plug sticks out...

FYI -

I've gotten new, factory seconds (cosmetic) or refurbished tiller's from PMC for $40. Like I said...no questions asked.

SBflyer - Who are you and what kind of boat do you sail? Just curious. I lived in SB for 30 years before moving to Michigan and know the catamaran sailing community there fairly well.

the death of a fiberglass stick sounds like an opportunity to upgrade to the light carbon version to me <img src=

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For Tigerboy, I actually have a beach cat rental next Stearns Wharf, so I sail eveything! I have 2 Hobie 16, 2 Hobie 18, 3 Nacra 5.2, a Nacra 6.0,a Wave, and Prindle 19....Sorry about hijacking the thread!

I have learned a little more about this stick. At the end of the outer tube where the locking action takes place there is a thin foil of stainless steel that acts as the lock. Once that has worn through and becomes glass to glass any repairs are short lived.

Tad, How much are those Carbon sticks??

I only ask because while backing my boat onto a beach a friend knocked the stick over the back of the boat as we got to the beach....scratch one hot stick and tiller crossbar. Then there was the time the trap wire broke... another stick done. Then there was the time I lost my balance and fell into the tiller cross bar....When that broke the perfectly good stick went to the bottom. I have more stories but I'm wondering what my cost would be so far. <img src=

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Hey Jeff! nice to see you here.

You can find the carbon sticks at sailmax.biz

I'm not sure if rick's store has them or not but I'd check there too.

I picked up a busted carbon stick from a dealer that had been snapped in half. I re-glassed it back together, but cannot figure out how to get the pin back in and slide the outter sleeve back on from the end of the inner sleeve. I'm thinking that I have to tak the cork ball off the end of the outter sleeve, put the outter sleeve all the way on, put the pin in, and then rettach the cork ball. Do I have the right idea? Removing the pin wasn't a big deal since the outter sleeve was in two pieces when I got it.

BTW, two wraps of 3oz 2" wide fiberglass tape wrapped in opposite spirals did the trick. Now if I could just figure out how to put it back together!

Thanks in advance.

Tad, that is the correct way to repair the Hot Stick.

Sweet, now just how to get off the cork ball.

Thanks, Jeff! Your solution worked for me, and saved me the money to buy a new one.