Big Thanks to this board!!

I am new to the sailing world. I grew up watching the cats on the Ocean City NJ beaches. When it was time to finally get my own boat i was more into fishing and went the power route. Now my son (4 years old) gets a kick out of watching the cats on the beach and I figured now is the time to give it a try. I like to tinker with stuff so i decided to grab an old boat. I found a 1973 H16 in pretty good shape about a month ago and have been visiting these forums daily for tips and tricks. I have obtained more info here with out ever asking a question it is truely amazing. Here is where I am to this point:
First day home:

After the first attempt to clean the rust off the sails (going to give acetone a shot next)

Found some rot in the port transom (I know it was there when i bought it)

Alminum plate pitted but still solid

New wood fitted and ready for glass


In the near future the hulls will be stripped and re-gel coated (I'm thinking white) and all rigging will be replaced.
I'm looking for a white rudder to match (I have one white lexan and one black fiberglass) if anyone has one they want to unload let me know.

Thanks again to everyone on this board for the help without even knowing it. I'm sure I will have more questions as I learn more about my new toy.

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

I hope you made some sort of template of were the rudder grudgen holes are supposed to be located so you won't be guessing after you glass it.

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1990 "Formula 1" H16 (# 009)

Have you tried CLR?

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

i have not tried CLR I'll give that a shot thanks!!

As far as the gudgeon go I was planning on updating to the new style gudgeon brackets. From my understanding (from this wonderful board) the new style bolt holes come no where close to the old holes so i can drill and tap all new holes in safe areas. If i'm wrong please tell me now before I start glass this weekend.

Thanks!!
Nate

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

Nate, I don't mean to rain on your parade and I may be wrong, but....

I don't think that transom had wood in it from the factory. Probably a previous (failed) repair as a result of something traumatic. That and the boat's age would make me seriously concerned that there may be other fatal flaws. Are you 100% sure that the rest of the hulls aren't delamed? I'd hate to see you spend the time and bread on repairs, gelcoat, rigging, etc. just to have the thing break in half when you sail it. You don't have to search far down the posts here to see that's exactly what hppened to another guy who built a beautiful (just not seaworthy) piece of art!

No offense to anyone that has the time, money, skill, patience, and enjoys working on these things, but I'd rather sail, and decent older Hobie 16s can be had dirt cheap.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

This video may help understand the inside:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEZJd-LpUws[/youtube]

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Thanks guys for the info. The hulls are solid other than this little problem on the transom. Delam was my biggest concern when looking at older boats. I put some serious pressure on every square inch of these hulls before i bought it. I was actually suprised that there was no soft spots on a boat this old.

As far as the wood goes both hulls have wood in the transom. I know the rest of the hulls are foam sandwiched but I thought having wood in the transom made sense with the pressures of the rudders. I'll do some more research before I close it up.

Thanks for making me think!

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

I would seal the wood with resin (inside and outside) before glassing it because water does get in the hulls and you don't want the wood to rot too quick.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

To hold the transom, it would not hurt if you could build a lip on the inside of the hull that you could fasten/glue the wood to so that it would be attached from inside and outside. If you add an access port on top of the hull, you could even glass the inside of the transom to make it sturdier.

PS: I am not an expert, I am just throwing out some ideas that seem to make sense (to me).

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Thanks Marc. I'm way ahead of you on encapsulating the wood in resin. I've been around boats a long time so I am way too aware that wood and water don't play well together. When I cut the hull I cut from the back not the sides and tried to leave about 1/4 inch of lip so I could build a little more support around the edges and corners. The aluminum plate and "bulkhead" are solid so i don't think I need to get inside the hulls. Judging by the damage and by the way the rudder cams looked I am guessing that somewhere in her life she ran aground hard and the rudders did not release. (which would explain why i have 2 different rudders) and the impact cracked the glass around the gudgeons which inturn took on water and soaked the wood. Now since I'm in the north east the wet wood froze and heaved cracking the corner out under the pressure.

I thought this was a pretty straight forward repair but you guys are making me nervous. I'm ok with that since this boat is to play with the kids and I don't want any surprises with the kids on board. I'm open to all advise so keep it coming!!

Thanks,
Nate

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

Nate,

Like yourself I am a brand-new owner. One of the first things I did to my boat was snug up the screws in the rudder mounts, and I noticed that there was wood in my transom as well.

Is everyone sure that no 16s had wood in them? Mine is an '84.

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--
'84 H-16

All Hobie 16s have plywood in the transom.

Some really old boats have wood in the front crossbar.

My new style gudgeon's screwed in to the old style holes just fine. The last two holes weren't there of course. They work ok without the extra screws, but I may get around to drilling and tapping to add them at some point.

(just an answer to the OP's query on replacing the old ones)

Your views may differ.

Cheers, PT.

Touchngo:
That isn't exactly what i wanted to hear. I thought i read they were a completly different bolt pattern so I covered over the old holes with glass.


Maybe I'll get lucky

I also found a soft spot on the starboard deck just forward of the pilon and a small 6" spot between the pilons. The horror stories got me worried so i really laid into the hulls today looking for soft spots. I would not have found them if I wasn't putting about 50% of my weight on them so I'm thinking I got them early? I took care of the one infront of the pilon and I have to say I'm pretty pleased with my first attempt at delaim repair

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

Ummmmmmmmm, that might cause new ones.....thats a lot of weight...usually you just push kinda hard to find them!

As for the rudder gudgeons, i installed the new one piece....as long as you hollow out the fiberglass around the bolt holes (this was for mine) i was able to use all existing holes. Make sure to apply LOTS of sealant. As like the other poster, i just left the two bottom holes without screws. No need for them as of yet, but one day i might do it.

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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340