'84 with black glue?

Just got the '84 back from the coast to do some repairs and change the rig. I was planning on doing the patch on the front x-bar since I had seen a hairline crack. This boat has black glue, not red. The cracks are small and one is behind the front x-bar, the other in front. The one in front is clean thru, light shines thru it. The glue does not stick out of the seam like I have seen in pics and on my other boat. Seems to have very little glue in there at all.

Does this boat need the patches? It has the brackets installed already. I will be using magnum wings and a spin on it. I would prefer not add glass and weight if not needed. My '82 had small cracks under the lip that never grew or leaked. I expected to see red glue on this boat.

Did you put the brackets in or were they there already.

Check the "Date of Manufacture" ...... there are some very early 84' production boats that are not "Redline/Redfoam" boats ..... Jan, Feb, March ?????

I think they changed production methods/procedures/materials sometime around March .... by June they were making "Redline/Redfoam" boats .....

... but they may have been already trying to "lighten"/"minimize" the amount of resin/wieght of the hulls before March .... I'm not sure when "Coleman" really took over and started to change production methods .....

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HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

You can see the width of the reinforcement patch at the front crossbar inside. Look inside, use a small dig camera. If narrower than the recess... glass it. If there are any cracks... glass it.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I think we have similar boats - early '84 edition black glue. No cracks except a radial hairline extending out from under the front bar, does not go all the way through. Here is my thread last year with a pic of the area inside the hull at the front xbar. I added the brackets but have not glassed it yet. Prolly winter 2011 project.

If you do glass your hulls I would appreciate a list of materials you used. I will be a first timer with this project.

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=26445

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1984 Hobie 18

Your image... shows a narrow patch. Not as wide as the recess for the anchor plate. I would glass a boat like this I think. Especially with wings being used... and spinnaker on top of that.

I always suspected that the narrow / reduced patch was one reason the 84-88ish boats had issues, but not sure what it looked like on older boats than this. Anyone have some shots of about 82-83 here?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Where do you see a patch in that picture? I can't see it at all.

What we call a "patch" is extra glass reinforcement. There are a lot of "patches" on a hull. Shrouds, crossbars, bow tangs... You can see the left edge in the photo. That is about 4" wide which does not transfer loads out beyond the half moon recess edges, so stress concentrates there.



In boats starting about 1989, we added a post-glue (after the deck was bonded to the hull) patch that is about 12" wide and connects the deck to the side. That is the same sort of patch suggested here.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks Matt. My boat looks exactly like that inside. I also have a crack exactly at the spot you indicated, that crack is clear thru.

So, am I tieing the deck to the hull by adding the patch or really just reinforcing the hull fore and aft of the beam? You suggest a 12" wide patch measured front to rear?


Can anyone provide pictures of a hull with the new patch installed? Jeremy?

I think the process is, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, is to:

1- Remove the excess bead of glue
2- apply a square of glass that wraps from the hull to the deck and extends fore and aft of the beam.

Not sure what is the best grade of glass to use but please advise if you know.

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1984 Hobie 18