odd noise

I spent a lot of time on my boat this weekend, a 1982. Every once in awhile I hear an ominous sounding "clonk" that seemingly comes from the forward, starboard hull. There is no rhythm to it. Just every once in awhile....clonk! I can't detect any play in the forward pylon (although I have shimmed my pylons with beer cans). The boat seems pretty rigid otherwise. I sail in fairly choppy seas. Any thoughts on this? Just don't want to ignore it and then have some catastrophic failure three miles out.

I heard this a lot when I took my boat apart and re-finished the hulls. In my situation, it was the large, styrofoam blocks inside the hulls making the noise when I rotated the hull.

My best guess based on your description.

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Eric
H16
Sail# 11500

I assume these are for flotation. Were the blocks loose? Is that normal?

I'm almost positive the foam blocks are loose in the hulls. Mine makes that clunk sound when I flip the boat over.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

The foam blocks are for positive flotation (if the hull fills with water, it'll still float - barely).

They are loosely fitted into the space between the pylons and will clunk around, especially if you turn the boat upside down.