mama bob on a comptip?

Since Hobie has discontinued the Hobie bob float I have decided to mount a mama bob to my H18 comptip.Can I do this without compromising the strength and integrity of the comptip? Plan to drill through the tip,mount hardware(2 bolts). Do you see any problems with this? Thanks

There's a new model of Bob designed to work on 18's and 17's. It's set up similar to the old Bob with a rod, but doesn't rotate like the original big Bob. Uses the Getaway shaped float instead.

Part number 30112 and $205 if I remember correctly. I think it's available now. Check with your dealer.

I installed a Baby-Bob on top of my 17. The Baby Bob works well and I believe it should give an eighteen sailor more than enough time to bumble, panic, calm, and then right the boat. On the 17 it gives me all day to arrange my affairs and right the boat. I do not believe it would keep things upright in heavy fast chop and high winds with the bottom to weather, but a.) it would give you plenty of time you wouldn't otherwise have, and b.) the tip-float crowd usually shies from conditions of that sort.

To make the mount I used a block of aluminum that is the exact width between the two stainless plates coming off of the stock Baby Bob float. I cut a channel in the block just wide enough for the sheave housing on the top of the mast. I drilled and tapped four holes to attach the Bob to my bracket. Then I drilled and tapped four, vertical 10-32 holes into the top casting of my mast, and and then matching through holes in my bracket. Then bolted the whole affair to the mast tip. That's it.

My bracket has held steady through two H17's. Not sure how it effects performance, but I find the peace of mind nice considering I sail in shallow, rough water with winds often above 20.

Note: Before buying the Baby Bob, I bought the Mama Bob and once I actually laid hands on it I decided against using it. I questioned the engineering, weight and mechanical effect of a rotating mass at mast tip. I put it in my shed, ordered the Baby Bob, and have been very pleased.

Peace,

Dan Peake
2003 H17SE
2005 FX1