Hobie 16 Broken Mast

I have just inherited a Hobie 16 with a broken comptip. I have seen new comptips for 400+ dollars. Would it be better to buy a new comptip or look for a used mast? I've read where you have to heat up the mast to loosen the epoxy and free the old comptip for removal. Does anyone have experience with this procedure?

Thanks for any help.

Check out eBay for used masts w/ comptips. Often times you can get teh whole mast for less than a new comptip. Even if the metal part is damaged, it is still worth buying it for the comptip. I saw a few on eBay yesterday

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Kind of depends what you are planing on doing with the Hobie. If you plan on racing the thing, you will need a mast with comp tip - especially if you start winning races. If you sail it just for fun with a beer can race every once in a while, you might be better up with a one pice all aluminum mast. In my area they are easy to get... There are plenty of delaminated Hobies with usable hardware. Over the winter brake you should be able to find an aluminum mast for $100 or less - you might get the rest of delaminated Hobie with it.

Patrick

Patrick, where are you located? I just came into an old H16 that I will be rebuilding over the winter and I am looking for cheap parts...

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Thanks for your help. I live in Minnesota so I'll have plenty of time this winter to locate one. I'm not planning to race or anything just plan on using for pleasure.

John

John, I have a really nice black hobie 16 mast that you can pick up here in beautiful Clear Lake Iowa, just 1.5 hours south of MSP for only $200. No comptip.
I do want your broken mast in trade though, since we're building a couple of DN Ice Boats and that is the right size for the mast.
641-425-8720
Chris Wessels

xanderwess, I'll keep that in mind. I have a brother in Des Moines that makes his way to the cities now and then. Maybe I'll have him stop and take a look at it one of those times. I would of course, check with you ahead of time. Is all the hardware intact, tang, masthead, etc.?

Thanks,

John

Do you have experience replacing the comptip? I talked to a person at Hi-Tempo in White Bear Lake and he said you need a propane torch to loosen the epoxy to pull the old one out. Just wondering how hard it is to replace one.

John

Are the comptip's for the H18 different sizes than for the H16? I saw one on ebay for $100.00.

John

Before putting on a new comptip be sure the metal part of the mast is straight. Almost all of the comptips I've seen broke off have caused the mast to bend. They never get straight again. I have straightened a couple and gotten them close, but not staight. Taking out the comptip can be difficult. I did it by wrapping line many times around the mast and tieing it to a tree. You need to attach a line to the comptip, by wrapping or drilling a hole through it. Connect that to another tree or a truck/car. I have used the six to one blocks to put some serious tension on the connection and then heated it while hitting with a rubber hammer. Some pop right out and others are a real bear. If you are not racing then it's easier and cheaper to get an old straight/solid mast for 1-2 hundred bucks. Hobie 18 comptip is differant from the 16.

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Pat Bisesi
Fleet 204 Syracuse, NY

I personally have not done one, as Jim Sohn at the Sailing Center in Des Moines is much better at it than I would hope to be, so I have had him do any installations and repairs for any of my 16s or 14s. I have heard you need to heat them up to get them off.
Contact me off list [email protected] to get my number is case your brother stops to see it. Its about 10 min. off I-35 in Clear Lake.
cw

OK, it may not be till sometime this winter though. Thanks.

John

Whatever, the mast is just sitting on the rack waiting for someone to buy it.