Trampoline tearing

I love my 2008 H18 - but not happy with the factory trampoline.

It faded from silver to brown after 18 months. Now the tramp is ripping at the aft starboard corner. Looking close, there is no overlapping reinforcement where it is tearing. This happened while lifting the mast. I lift the mast to my waist, the heave it up to my shoulder. I have done it the same way with my other hobies without a problem.

These are heat pressed, not sewn. Any way to fix this?

_________________
1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

Looks pretty well beat. I think you are right about the overlap. Looks like it is a bit weaker right at that point. I would take it to a sailmaker or an upholstery shop. Have a patch sewn on the underside to reinforce the area. You can not weld repairs.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

The grommet in the corner was a new addition in 2008. It was added to allow more direct rearward tension along the sidebar.

The way you've got it laced creates a hard spot in the corner and it failed at the weak spot. You need to change the way it's laced by going from the knot/casting, up through the corner grommet, then over to the next grommet on the tramp, then down and back to the first grommet in the tramp strip.

Don't know about the brown staining, but I suspect it's related to air pollution. I had a blue 14 tramp that did the same thing, but it took a much longer time - about 5 years. The 14 was the only one of my boats stored outside. Then again, all my other boats have black tramps.

The 14 does now, too.

The lacing was installed by the Hobie dealer.

Last year, when the discoloration was so bad, I sent pictures to my local Hobie dealer asking if I could get a discount on a new Hobie tramp. They contacted the factory - no go on the discount.

Should I ask again for a discount? I am done sailing this boat until I replace the tramp.

_________________
1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

The way your dealer did it is the way we describe lacing the tramp, so don't fault the dealer. I suspect that the weld could have been better. Ask your dealer to contact me. I'll work something out (discount) to replace it.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Will do - Thanks Matt!

_________________
1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

This is a blow-up from a photo of a brand new boat at the Mississippi Mini-Mega back in June:

Not sure who rigged it, but all the 2008 model year and onward boats there had that lacing pattern.

Not our lace pattern, not in our manual or instructions. Some dealer's idea. I don't think that would reduce the stress described above.

Our lacing pattern is described in the H16 FAQ.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I noticed that Matt and Matt aren't mentioning bungee lacing to protect against tearing grommets.....Are you guys really opposed to lacing an old tramp with bungee. I was given an old 16, and immediately replaced the hard tramp lacing with bungee to protect the tramp. I figured it had seen too much UV, and I wanted to get some use out of it... The bungee lacing really relieves the extreme point loading that occurs on specific grommets during raising and lowering the mast. I have been using it on my 18 for years...I know the 18 is a completely different animal, but the bungee on the 16 seems to work well for this old boat too. It is not being and never will be raced, so the added advantage of rigidity that the hard lacing is supposed to offer racers doesn't seem to compare to the added tramp life that the bungee lacing offers recreational sailors.. laced the way I have it drawn up it bows the sidebars of the tramp just like anyone who honks on the hard lacing...

I prefer the stiffness of line, but you bring up a good point. This tramp is laced beautifully - work of art - but it does have substantial pull on the grommets.

_________________
1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John