Mesh vs. Vinyl Trampoline

My 71 H16 has its original vinyl trampoline and has been stored outside near the ocean for its whole life as far as i know. The thing is still in great shape. Unfortunately at the back left corner it is starting to rip at where it actually goes into the frame. dont really wanna replace it til i have to. Ive been sailing it with that rip for close to a year now and its only gotten bigger by about half an inch.

If i do have to replace it im wondering if i should go mesh or vinyl. I really like the vinyl but everyone says the mesh is better. I sail my hobie all winter and sometimes like to go out fully clothed on a light wind day. I prefer the vinyl for those reasons. i dont like to get wet if i dont have to. My original 71 has held up for coming up on 40 years now! that is absolutely amazing if you ask me. I know mesh wouldnt be able to take that many years of punishment

Just wondering why everyone says mesh is so much better. Vinyl is more expensive. is that the only reason why.

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1971 H16 (sail #1768)

To all of you on the Hobie Forum... I love you guys!!!
thanks for all the help!

Sounds like you should get another Hobie Vinyl if its lasted 40 years man thats impressive!

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Floyd
00 Tiger
http://www.HobieFleet33.com
10 Mile Surfside, Texas
Join us on our Facebook group: Surfside Sailing

i picked up a tramp from atomictarp.com off of ebay very reasonable priced would do it again

"Vingyl"?

I've used both and both are fine. The downsides of each are:
Vinyl:
- water can pool, but it's easily drained.
- can get hot in the sun, but cools quickly with a splash of water
- Hobie makes new ones only in white, which on sunny days can be hard on the eyes

Mesh:
- rougher on the knees.
- waves splash through and is known to wash the mainsheet overboard.
- waves splash through and gets you wet when you just want to lightly cruise or lay back on the tramp.

...but who wants to do that ????

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Happy Sailing,

David

Mesh cost about $100 more, I'f your happy with white then I'd get a vinyl again.

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Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
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Can you get a mesh tramp as tight as a vinyl. Seems like the mesh might be a little more likely to stretch the tighter it gets

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1971 H16 (sail #1768)

To all of you on the Hobie Forum... I love you guys!!!
thanks for all the help!

I've never had a hard time getting a mesh tramp tight. I can get the side bars to bow in as much as you want, its what 100% of the racers use.

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Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

I bought 2 used boats this year. One has vinyl other mesh.

Was nice to compare - I HATE THE Vinyl - ITS SLIPPERY even when dry. I ordered another mesh (putting on newer boat) moving older mesh tramp to older boat that has the orange vinyl tramp on it. (we hate it)

also water doesn't drain off - if left in the rain - I leave the sails on rolled up and covered when not in use and the water pools on it around the sail, the same water drains off the mesh.

On the down side - water can splash up through the mesh - but isn't an occational splash part of sailing. We hate the vinyl as it's really hard to work on - rigging and un-rigging the boat. We slip slide and have even fallen down while stepping/walking on it.

I hate bungee lacing too... loosing that from the mesh and going to rope.

I have an older hobie with a blue vinyl tramp. (As far as I know it's the original tramp, but don't know for sure.)

I also sometimes sail on a friend's Prindle, which has a mesh tramp, so I have a basis for comparison.

Comparing the two: I've decided I like the vinyl tramp better, mainly because it feels more comfortable - the mesh is a bit of a cheese grater on wet skin.

I don't find the vinyl slippery at all. Maybe that has to do with choice of footwear/bare feet? I wear some rubber "water shoes" and have no problem at all with the vinyl.

Its such a personal choice, I like the vinyl as I don't like the water coming up through the tramp. Its to bad you couldn't try both. At the end of the day you need to make your pros and cons list and make you best decision.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

One of my 16' tramp is black mesh and the other 16' is blue vinyl,I like both.The vinyl is good in cooler waters but slippery and the mesh is nice in summer.I use a 1/4" line to lace my tramps and after getting tramp nice and tight,I thread a 3/8" bungee firmly through the tramp for a tight but not too bouncy tramp.I like it that way.........Bill 404 21 SE

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Bill 404 21SE

Mine had a nearly white vinyl one on it when I bought it, it was originally yellow. It was nasty from sitting uncovered and unused for many years, I replaced it with black mesh and I love the mesh. I like getting wet... but I don't sail when its cold. It looked to me like mold and mildew were an issue with the vinyl ones.

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1982 H16 (C:\Worthy)
Yellow/White Prism type sails

My problem with vinyl is that sand gets on them and is very abrasive

This happens with mesh trampolines, too. Most sand is too large to go through the mesh.

1) Be vigilant about tracking sand on the tramp - rinse your feet off before you get on.
2) If there is sand on the tramp, don't try to sweep it off - bang on the tramp with the palm of your hand. That will bounce most of the sand off and / or send it to the sides where you can more effectively sweep it off.