New hobie 16 owner is it a flop?

I bought a hobie cat 16 in rough shape it is a mostly complete boat with small cracks in the hull n all. It seems relatively thin skinned this hobie but I've never owned a boat this small. I saw it in a yard sale and the guy sold it to me for $100. It came with beach wheels and no trailer. I haven't unpacked the sails but they are there, one of the tiller handles is missing and it may need new everything. I don't mind the hull needing work I'm familiar with fiberglass and it's a small boat, I'll most likely refinish the hull. , the tramp needs replacing. I wish I knew how to upload pics here
I've never been sailing, I owned a 28' Irwin that never left the dock (motor issues) and a bayliner with similar issues, so I figured a boat with no motor would be more fun.. still have to figure out how to get the hulls home :/
So did I get a pile of junk or was it worth it?

So I got it home and on further inspection I beleive the hull to be delaminating in places, is there a way to stop this and patch it or should I just use the hull to make a form and make a new hull?

put your pics on photobucket then on the right hand side copy the url and paste them here.

No photos = no opinion

My guess is that the beach wheels (if they're in good shape) are worth more than $100, so there's that.

My other guess is that you really don't have the motivation or $ to fix this boat up and use it (you never left the dock in a 28' sailboat that had motor issues? You "still have to figure out how to get the hulls home" - so you're not renting, borrowing or buying a trailer?).

A beater Hobie 16 will soak up a lot of time / $ to bring it back to safe operating condition (I'm not talking about making it pretty) - and then it's a substantial time investment to take it to a sailing spot, rig, launch and put away (do you have a place to keep it?).

I would never discourage someone from buying a Hobie Cat, but I've seen far too many bought on a whim (even new) and then sit and sit and sit - until they're disposed of at a fire-sale price in a yard sale because the new owner realized they bought more commitment than they were really willing to give.

I have been hesitant to return because my first post on this website was consequently deleted and no explanation given and then Re approved a few days later.. still not sure why

http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/Whobie1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160617_143924_zpssblbtyhp.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
I hope I posted this right.. if so, let me know and I'll post more pictures soon.
I am borrowing a trailer to get it home, only the hulls are left. I res sure washed them and it has revealed more work. time will be the biggest factor. Though I really just want a boat to float on, doesn't necessarily have to sail. I saw on here motor attachments and that would be ideal maybe a trolling motor so I can get out on it and fish.
I would hopefully at some point love to sail it and was hoping with the accumulated knowledge on this forum I could peice this thing back to sailing condition.. I don't need it pretty, just functional

Damn. That boat's rough.
There's a lot of missing parts - a lot.
Boom, mainsail, battens, port upper rudder casting and tiller arm. All the rigging (OK, I saw 1 bridle wire). Main blocks and mainsheet. Tiller connectors and a bunch of little bits. Tiller extension.

Then there's the stuff that needs fixing - broken rudder (those were once very expensive fiberglass rudders), shredded trampoline and who knows what's going on with the hulls. They look like they sat in water for a long time.

My guess is that it's a late '70s early '80s boat (black aluminum wasn't common before then) that may have been painted - most boats of that vintage had hull stripes and this has none - not even the shadows of them being removed.

This thing is a money pit. You'll wast a lot of time and $ to bring it back - and you'll still have a 40 year old boat that's near (really at) the end of its useful life.

If you really want to get this back to sailing condition, buy a decent Hobie 16 for $1500, use the best parts from both to build 1 good boat, sell what you can and take the remainder to the recycler.

Those cat trax alone are worth $300.

the mere presence of the inspection ports is a big indicator of the hulls are crap. I say buy a better boat, junk the hulls and anything else that is too far gone, keep a few spare parts, part out anything you don't want to keep. If that mast is in good shape that's about $150 to $200 and you make your money back.

Edit: I would say the cat trax are worth $250, because your missing the end caps and ropes, but that's an easy replacement. http://www.murrays.com/13-1403.html

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Maybe not - hard to tell if the tires hold air - and those are the old style tires (no hubs) that are vulcanized to the axle sleeve. Notoriously leaky and no way to fix properly. (I know, I used to own a set I bought new in 1984.)

Give the thing another good scrub with a additive called TSP and water with a brush and it will look better. Used and spare parts are plentiful, make a list with the help of members of what's missing and start looking around.

Thank you all so much! I've managed to get most of the boat back to the house, just one hull left to pick up. I haven't checked the sails, but it is missing the boom and most if not all of the rigging. It is old, the aluminum is black, the mast has a fist sized dent in one spot but it it staight and holds its shape well enough. The right hull seems to be in fair shape, the left is not so much. I think your evaluation is correct. It seems to need ALOT of work to sail it again. It may never sail again. I do though intend to put it on the water in some way form or fashion. That may lead to some sort of sailing at some point. I'll keep this updated.

Anyone have spare parts to chip in? Lol figured it was worth asking

I've just replaced my main and jibsheet lines, they aren't great but they still functioned. I'd give them to you if you'd cover shipping if you'd want them. But I got to agree with the other members though, she's pretty far gone. Now this is something I would love to see sailing again, resurrecting boats from the dead is something I enjoy doing myself. I'm sure it can be done but it don't appear you have much to work with. What's there looks pretty hit man, if the hulls, rudders and sails were sound it would be much more logical to fix her. Now I got to say I am curious on what the sail number and pattern is. Maybe this is just me liking old and odd stuff but if it had sail number like 500 or something I'd be more inclined to make it function again. Post a pic of the sails unrolled when you get the chance if you would just for the hell of it.

I could definately cover shipping for free parts ☺ just have to remember how to work paypal. And I've briefly looked over the hull but I see no hull id numbers maybe I'm not looking in the right area or close enough.. The hull appears to have been painted at some point.
I feel like I'd get her sailing again at some point, time being the biggest hurtle.

The ID on my 83 and 79 was on the port side pontoon on the flat part just above where the rudder mount and they are hand etched(maybe covered with paint). Not sure on older boats if this is different though. PM me your PayPal address I'll get them lines boxed up this weekend.

Like MBounds, I would NEVER discourage someone from reviving an H16 and going sailing!! However, that boat looks like it will cost more to get going than it would be to invest $800 into a boat that is at least complete. I voted yes, but please, prove me wrong!!

_________________
Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

I'll get that over to ya this weekend. Gotta remember my paypal login n what not..

So I have run across a few threads mentioning filling the hulls with waterproof foam. I see alot of yeas and no's, my biggest fear is safety on this boat and I feel some of that great stuff foam would make it float despite any leaks and may actually seal up leaks in addition to making it unsinkable and more rigid than it currently is.. thoughts anyone? Heavier I'm sure but that's better than unsailable.

Every extra hour or extra dollar you put into it will make you less willing to give it up.