Mismatched Rear Crossbar, got one to trade?

I bought an 84 H18 that has the clear aluminum rear cross bar. Everything else is the black annodized. I am hoping to find someone that would be willing to take mine for a black one. I'll pay freight both ways and will be happy to send very detailed pictures if you would be interested. I'd prefer to do this in the off season when I plan to break her down for other projects I have planned.

Let me know if you would be interested.

This has got me thinking (I do that every now and then) Which color was the standard for the '84 boat? Black or Clear? The hulls are in great shape, in and out, no evidence of structural repair work, so dont know if I'll ever find out what happened.

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

I always wondered why most Hobie's have a black mast and crossbars. I also have a 1984 but with the Magnum Wings that is also clear.

_________________
Jeff Serene
1984 Hobie 18 Magnum
Phoenix, AZ

So your '84 mast and xbars are clear and not black??

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

Check the underside of your rear xbar and see if it is black...the top might have bleached. I have seen that happen (I have one like that in my spares collection).

From what I have been told, originally the standard 18's came in clear (silver) anodized and the uplevel SE versions were black anodized. By the mid to late 80's it seems they were all black. Someone who has been around them a lot longer than me might want to comment...

You are correct. The underside is black. Since the front xbar is black and the rear xbar is such a consistent aluminum color (on top) I had no idea it could be fading/bleaching. Scratching my head even more since the environment on a piece just 8 feet away couldn't be that different to make such a change.

At any rate thank you, it makes me feel better that there was not a major blow to the boat that would have made someone replace the crossbar.

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

Could have been anodized in a different batch...or I once looked at an 18 that had been stored for years in a semi-open type carport...all the metal on the back half (crossbar, rudder castings, etc) had bleached but the the front half (constant shade, no sun could get that far) was nice and black. You could compare your front crossbar end castings with your back ones (normally seem to fade equally) and see if this might have been the case with yours, too.

Thanks CMS. All end castings, rudder castings (still old style so I assume OE) are all metallic grey color, not black. Your suggestions make sense and may very well be what is going on. I'm ok just knowing that it is likely nothing catastrophic happened to the boat that would have caused them to replace the rear xbar.

Thanks for your help. At this point, I am assuming I have the 18 SE, all OE castings and xbars - just faded.

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

My 81 front x bar is black and the rear is silver (faded). Same issue. I thought the owner covered the front and not the rear or something.

_________________
H18, H17 & Various motor boats

My crossbars and mast is clear, however the crossbar end caps and the wing are a little darker.

_________________
Jeff Serene
1984 Hobie 18 Magnum
Phoenix, AZ

Were the wings available in '84? I wonder if you have the Standard 18 (because of the clear mast, xbars) and someone added the wings later. I have no idea......maybe Matt would be willing to chime in on this and shed some light.

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

sand with 400 grit, or 600.... mask off and shoot w/Krylon Black semi-gloss enamel.