Has this ever happened to anyone?

went to santa cruz last weekend and while navigating through the kelp, i felt a sudden lost of resistance.   thought i lost a while fin. but found out its just a broken mast (ss rod)  i know how to fix it, but it snapped inside the plastic thing that receives the ss rod.

i have a lot of tools and thinking of drilling it out,  or tapping it out.  but id like to hear from you guys first if its happened to you and how you went about to fixing it.  i dont want to break anything.

in the mean time, im thinking just take down the whole drive and do a full service on it.

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I think you can drill it out with the right tools.  Worse case you can buy the spare parts kit for $149.

https://www.austinkayak.com/Hobie-Mirage-Drive-Spare-Parts-Kit-GT-ST-Fins/ACK16937P.html

If that were me I’d use a drill press to get a nice clean straight hole and use an easy-out but spray it now with some good thread lube (Wd-40,556,or whatever you prefer) then spray it again like for a few hours or days if you can afford the time.

I’ve bent the mast many times but never had one break. Definitely want to use a drill press if possible...

ironic thing is that this is the rear rod.  the front one was previously bent and was bent back (not perfect).  the rear rod was never bent.  i didnt even impact the kelp that hard. plus, kelp has some give.  it actually happened when i put one pedal forward to avoid running over the said kelp, and i felt it snapped.

i was hoping it was the bent rod, but it isn't.   guess ill be ordering a pair.

it wasn't pretty, but i got it out after doing a complete takedown of the drive for service.   the drilling process was done on mostly my drill press with a few drill bits upgrading one after another until whats left of the rod was thin enough to warp and pull out.  inspected the threads and they seem to be fine.

o have a set of standard fins i can use for now.  but im contemplating using one short rod from my standard fins and insert it into the longer turbo fin.  has anyone tried this?

or,

use one complete turbo fin in back, and standard fin in front.  making it 1/2 turbo.  thoughts?

I’ve got a pair of the medium length masts and fins (ST) that I keep around just in case of an emergency. You can use one or both until you get a replacement. That would be better than the short mast.

I had that happen a few years back as well, same deal rear broke when i wasnt looking ahead and ran through some kelp. Easy fix though just drill it out slow