hulls and tramp frame that will not come apart

Hey

I recently brought a second hobie for spare parts. My original boat has delamination on both hulls thus I will use the new hulls. I will store the old ones as you never know when you need spares. The problem is, I cant get the frame and hulls apart. I took out the bolts and hit the frame with a rubber mallet. All this did was break the mallet. Everything looks solidly in place and does not want to budge.

Is there anywhere on the hull i could use to lever off?

Does anybody have any ideas?

Cheers
Brian
Perth WA

Has it been epoxied together?

sorry, not sure what you mean.

Do they fiberglass the castings together?

A common pratice on older boats is to epoxy the worn casting together. The epoxy fills the voids between the worn casting and stiffens the boat.

Have you tried to put some heat (mapp/propane torch) to it?

I would suggest you invert the boat, support the hulls so the tramp frame is 10 inches off the ground and try driving the castings off the pylons that way.

Article below describes the epoxy process. This may not be your problem, however thought you might like to read it.

http://www.thebeachcats.com/Article82.html

It could have been epoxied, or it could just be frozen from years of sailing and/or corrosion. But, is there some reason you can't just keep the new castings (and frame) with the new hulls? Unless the parts are damaged, why not just leave it all together?

sm

Even a newer boat takes more than a rubber mallet. You need something with weight. We use a "Dead Blow" mallet. A BIG one. With sand in the head. This exerts force against the casting without recoil. You can also use a steel mallet and a 2x4 against the casting.

What ever you use... it is typical to have to use significant muscle to bang the castings off.

Notes: Tramps loose or removed. Bolts out. Boat tied down.

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

Anyway, I am going to use the new(brought) frame and hulls. I have to fix an Al corner casting, I will take that in today to get it welded up.

I just wanted to store the old hulls and frame.
As it is quite bulky assembled, I thought separating it would make it easier. I may even be able to keep it in a shed if I can get it apart. (Can hang each peiece from roof or against back wall)

Thank you for latest advice,
I have no method to apply heat(do not own propane or anything else that could deliver on the spot hear). I will go resource a larger/better quality(i must admit i brought a $6 cheapy) rubber hammer and then follow the advice on inverting and suspending the boat.

I would not have that corner casting welded find a used one on e bay or buy a new one.

_________________
Bodhisatfa

Would any of this help?



Welding will weaken the alu.

J

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I have had to use a sledge hammer and a wooden block to get one of mine apart. You could flip it over and spray wd-40 in all of the castings. Flip it back. Hold the block of wood against the outside bottom of the casting with one hand and hit with the biggest hammer you have. Sight through the bolt hole to see if it moves. Once it starts to move bang the other one up some so it comes off evenly.

good luck
Bill

Thank you Surf City Catamarans but I think it would become an effort to get the part to Western Australia

I got the corner casting (on the new boat) welded yesterday, it cost me a carton of beer. The reason I did is my old hulls have had their corners welded (it was before my time with the boat but I have had the boat for 3 years and have had no problems, the welds are structurally sound).


As with getting the hulls off, I did as suggested and suspended the boat upside down by the hulls. I then stood on the frame (I weigh 100 kg) while my friend hit the frame downwards and all I did was break another rubber mallet. A new $25 "stainless steel bearing filled" rubber mallet.

Anyway once we had tried and failed I decided just to keep on raising the boat to the roof (it is sort of 4 wooden posts with a tin roof and it is where I usually park\store my "new" hobie). I then wheeled my "new" boat underneath and it fit with a 20 cm between them. So through the process of getting the hulls apart I have indirectly found somewhere to store the old boat....

With the boat upside down, try soaking the casting in Coke. Use duct tape and plastic to make a bag and let it soak for a few days. Hitting the casting with a hammer a few times will help the Coke to soak in. The acid in the Coke will disolve the corrosion. Bang it around and check it every few days.

Sorry to revive an older thread... but I am trying to take apart my 1973 Hobie and with copious amounts of WD40 and hitting a hammer against a block of wood was able to get the stern castings off. With the front castings, they haven't budged even a fraction of an inch. The tramp is off and its just the front crossbar connecting the hulls (bolts removed obviously), do I need to take off the dolphin striker too? (is that even possible?)

Yes take the striker off, there is a nut on each end of the rod, count the # of turns needed to remove the nut. That will take any twisting force off the castings. When you put it together just turn each nut on the same # of turns you needed to remove them.

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