Top hull soft spot repair, Costa Rica

Hi, just wanna say I used to search option before posting but I found nothing helpful.

We recently "inherited" an old H16 from a friend; the boat had been in storage for like 6 years and we just put it together a few months ago and basically just started using it. We are not experienced sailors but since we surf and windsurf we aren't afraid to get our buts wet so we have already pitchpoled it several times.

Anyways the boat is old, heavy and beat up but we hadn't experienced any major problems until recently when a fat friend sat on one of the hulls in no wind conditions (we were surfing waves with paddle power). The top of the right hull cracked and the hulls blue lines which seemed like a decoration before are evident now that they are probably there to hide a previous repair, much like they do to hide a delaminated surfboard repair.

There are no soft spots on the hulls themselves, just that one on the top and we have to fix it, importing hulls is very expensive and I have visited several marinas looking for hulls and there aren't any. Besides its just to goof around at the beach, it doesn't have to be race worthy.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

26 views and no replies, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Should I use fiberglass, epoxy or some other form of resin to fix the problem?

I've read of drilling holes in order to fix a soft spot but in this case is that the best course of action?

I am not really experienced in that type of repair, but I think if it were mine, I would consider removing the small hatch and repair the entire hole with fiberglass and epoxy. It would be a fairly extensive repair, but at this point I would say your in danger of loosing the entire front portion of that hull. That area I believe is a fairly high stress area. Keep folks off the hulls. It will just accelerate any problems you may have there. On another note, what part of CR are you in? I was there a few years ago in La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. Beautiful place!!!

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

If the deck is that bad, how is the condition of the rest of the hull? I'd guess that goose is cooked.

Let me quote myself "There are no soft spots on the hulls themselves, just that one on the top", the boat is heavy because it has been repaired in the past so the hulls are strong, heavy but strong.

Thanks for the suggestion ET Hobie guy, I'll look into it. I'm considering strengthening the whole area and perhaps getting a slightly bigger hatch or perhaps no hatch at all to give it more sturdiness. Would anyone recommend any type of product to use with this type of repair.

I live in San Jose, but we sail in the central pacific area, a bit north of Jaco, about 45 minutes from Manuel Antonio.

COSTA RICA,MAN HAD SOME GREAT SURF SESSIONS DOWN THERE,THOSE HATCHES,WRONG PLACE,CRITICAL AREA,GET THOSE THINGS OUT OF THERE QUICK! ENJOY THOSE BARRELS!.ab

Hi! I just sent you an email, before I figured out how to reply on the forum. There is a page describing how to fix delaminations on the Hobie website, under "product support". They mention a very fluid, slow setting epoxy called "Git-Rot". However it costs $40 per quart or more. I was able to find a similar product at Aeromarine Products, and they sell a 1-1/2 GALLON (6 quarts) kit for $83, or a 6 gallon kit for $256. I haven't ordered it yet, but will soon. Good Luck!

I have a 1979 H16 that went WHACK!!! right there where you highlighted. I'm guessing that boat has already been repaired and gone through the same. That's what I did when mine broke. But I ended up replacing the hulls with new ones because when I repaired it they were so doggone heavy, could hardly move the boat on the beach.

I think your hulls are about done in. If you want to repair them, and are in Costa Rica, you should be able to find a skilled fiberglass shop that can do the job for cheap.

How much are you willing to spend on some hulls? I may be able to get some to Costa for cheaper than others. Where are you?