Inspection port replacement/leak questions

Yanno, I've heard about that "vent hole" under the front crossbar for years.

I have never seen a set of hulls that actually had that hole under the crossbar, and I'll bet I've had crossbars off of 20 sets of H-18 hulls for one reason or another and I always look for the "fabled vent hole".

Not saying it doesn't exist, just that I have never seen one.

The older boats with the old style "pop in pop out" portholes didn't even need a vent hole because the holes for the rope handle provided adequate "ventilation", and the new hulls I just got have a vent hole drilled in the screw in part of the porthole, but no hole in the crossbar saddles anywhere.

I wonder if it wasn't something that was only done for a few years, or something that a particular region or dealer did to prevent problems in his marketing area.

Anyway.... just thought I'd share something that has been rattling around in my head for a long time, but had never taken the time to comment on before.

Of course, now that I've posted my thoughts, I'll bet there are 10 guys that HAVE seen them, and will post telling me I'm wrong.

I HAVE seen the vent tubes in the front pylons of the H-16, but that is the only place I have ever seen a vent of any kind on a Hobie, tho to be honest, I have never looked closely at any of the other models.

How about it Matt Miller ... care to weigh in on the discussion ?

Stephen

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

On my 83 H18 one of the hulls either gets pressurized or vacuum depending on the temp changes. The other hull leaks some at the screw in port gasket (I need to order new seals).

Should I be concerned with pressurizing or vacuum in the hulls? I once had a bad issue with this on my wood sea kayak where the back hatch sealed real well and took a big vacuum when the sun went down, it even sucked the back deck down a few inches!!) I had to break the vacuum by prying on the hatch with a scredriver and I later added a vent hole in the bulkhead. The moral of the story is that that vacuum or pressure can really exert a lot of force over the large area of the hull.

Steve,
You have seen those fabled vent holes, I have them on my boat. Are there any on the new hulls you just got?

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1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

Hmmmm I really do not remember them in your hulls.

With regard one of the statements made in my previous posting forgive me, I'm getting old and I forget things.

( I Have heard, "If you remember you forgot, its not Alzheimers, its Sometimers")

I Stand corrected, unless you drilled them yourself <Grin> Just kidding,

On the new hulls, Nope, none in the crossbar saddles.

They did however drill a very small hole in each of the lids for the portholes just behind the front crossbar.

Stephen

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Where the hole is up to Hobie or the owner. I just know that if you hull is totally air tight you will have problems. The hole doesn't have to be big, 1 mm or 0.032" (1/32") is big enough.

With that said, I have one dry hull and one that gets a little water in it just by sitting on the trailer or beach from the rain. Time to do the pressure check again and figure out where the leak is.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

H-17 has the vent hole under the front crossbar.