Questions and Advice

Yea I know I'm askin for it by posting such a general question but I figured if you guys can't answer my q's, then who can?

Unfortunately the man I turned to for all of my sailing questions has since passed on (R.I.P Kent Nield - My Father - Nov. 2004)...

Anyhow, I bought the boat in 2004, and I haven't had a chance to touch it. It's been at my in-laws for a few years and I have been wanting to sail again. I've been re-thinking the idea however because I've noticed (through maps, both google and microsoft) that the beach I used to launch from now has rocks placed around the water's edge and I live near Long Beach and don't know any good places around here to launch from (if anyone does please let me know).

In addition, I bought a boat that needs some TLC. I knew this buying it, but didn't really get that info till later when I had tried to "re-assemble" some of the pieces (if any of you remember I asked about a pin in the mast that I couldnt remember if it moved or not, realized that I had done something wrong and made my old post moot.) -- and in doing so got a better idea of how the boat is quality-wise.

So here I am. Finished getting married, getting a new job + raise and feeling the want to go sailing again and having time and money to fix the boat to do so, and re-evaluating the boat itself and wondering if it would cost more to fix it, or sell / scrap / whatever. (i dont think scrapping is really an option - the boat just needs a few repairs, but I'm not sure what everyone here will say)

I havent checked the hulls for soft spots, which I'll have to do (it's currently 45-60 mins away from me right now), and if any of you know a good boat storage place in Torrance, CA area, please let me know so i can have it closer (haven't been able to find any that aren't full)

anyway, without further ado, here are some pics I took when I bought the boat (mind you it's been through freezing cold, 100+ degree heat, and even two tornadoes (within 10 miles, but not within 1 mile) just recently..yes..tornadoes in California.

Anyhow, here we go:

Here she is:


All the Hull Posts are like this(some silicone):


Not sure what this is about (been there since i got the boat):


and well, guess I didn't get a pic of the small chips in the fiberglass of the hull...

Anyhow, what do you all think -- did I lose $425 (total price for boat and rickety trailer) or should I start putting together a fix-it list?

Any advice/info that isn't sarcastic or full of BS is appreciated.

Thanks.

-R

The silicone takes about 15 minutes to fix. Scrape off all the old, clean the area with acetone and run a new bead around all the pylon/deck joints. Doesn't need to be a lot - just cover the crack.

The scuffing by the transom is cosmetic. Could have been from anything - a loose strap on the highway will make similar marks as it flaps against the hull.

The trailer doesn't look too bad. Nothing a lot of elbow grease and a a new coat of paint can't fix (except maybe bearings, tires and lights).

You need to check for soft spots before you'll know if you got a deal.

Without seeing the trampoline / sails / lines / rudders, it's tough to say what should be on your shopping list. New standing rigging for sure.

It comes down to cost and safety- if the hull is sound with only minor delaminations and no cracks, then safety is ok (assuming you replace the wire standing rigging and the mast is ok). Everything after that is money. If the tramp is ok ($200 - $400 for a new one), and the sails are ok ($250 for used, up to $1500 for new), etc. etc. etc.

As said, the silicone around the pylons is an easy fix- to make it neat, after removing the old caulk and cleaning the area thoroughly, mask 1/4" above and below the joint, apply the silicone, then remove the tape.

I am curious about the large bumps/depressions(?) in the hull by the transom.

_________________
Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

You're right - I didn't see those in 3-D at first. Still probably cosmetic. (Practically anything in figerglass is cosmetic - just a matter of glass & resin.)

With regards to the fiberglass bumps near the transom corner, they may be nothing to fix at this time... A couple of things you might consider doing is to attach the rudder with the rudder arm, and with it in the locked down position, pull & push the blades tip forward & backwards while watching the area w/ the bumps for any movement. Next, take a soup spoon and tap the bumps with the backside of the spoon while listening for hollow, or dead sounds. If it sounds solid you might not have an issue beyond a visual bump. One last thing you could check is the gudgeon bolts...pull them out and check for electrolysis. If you don't see signs of white flaky corrosion it should indicate the aluminum backing plate is sound. Don't forget to reseal the bolts when you put them back in.

Make sure and pull the plugs the next time you are at the boat. You want some ventilation when you are not sailing. Just noticed from the picture that they are still installed. My advice- if the hulls are sound, sail the sucker. You need some motivation to do all the work. Take it out and get wet. Turn it over and right it again. Go fast and get scared a couple of times and survive. Then, no matter what, you'll do what it takes to do it again. Cats are addictive. In a very good way. Just do it.

I have similar bumps on my 1980 h16 and as far as i can tell they are only cosmetic. i noticed the bumps while repairing a 16 inch partial hull fracture adjacent to the front pylon shoe. like mdgann said, if the hulls are reasonably sound, go ahead and sail. If it turns out they weren't entirely sound, take comfort in the knowledge that hobie stuck large foam blocks between the pylons in each hull. if it breaks, just throw more fiberglass at it

(performs raise dead on post)

wow...well i got sucked away from this for a while but life has given me a new place to work on my boat and store it at the same time! so I'm back with a vengance and i'm going to get the boat into the water if not by this winter then by next spring. I dont anticipate a whole lot of work, just a lot of inspection.

Anyhow - thanks so far for everyone's replies. I'll be sure to study this thread in earnest.

You know what would be really good to do? Find someone close to you that sails H16s to have a look. There are a couple of guys in Huntington, Arrowhead, Riverside, Long Beach that could help you out. Lake Arrowhead Regatta is coming up. Tow it up there and get some in-person advice. I will be in Long Beach assisting with the NAF18 Nats on and around the 7th of Sept, I would be happy to connect with you.

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Sail Revolution
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where bouts in LB?

is there a beach u can launch from in LB - or is it ramp only?

currently searching for places i can sail from - very sad that "hobie beach" in oxnard california is in such disrepair

that place was where i grew up sailing...