another sucker aboard

Greetings to all, brand new to the sport and have never sailed anything but a canoe using the Boy-Scout manual and rigging many, many years ago. I became more intrested recently in this sport/hobby, and several months ago began my investigation into beginning. As I live near Truman Dam between the two largest lakes in the state, and I don't fish, it would be great to enjoy the area I live in more than an occaisional float in the canoes.
Yesterday, my best freind brought me a 1979 Hobie Cat 16 on a trailer. It is complete, but needs re-rigged and tramp replaced. The hulls are in great shape, only mild chalking due to exposure. It was abandoned and the camping resort got it for the storage due. My best freind works as the Maintenence lead, and was able to get it for nothing! Now it's in my driveway and I haven't a clue as to where to begin. The sails were kept indoors in the bag, and appear to be in good shape, and there is a trapeze system as well. I wasn't really looking at Cats to begin my sailing education, but I now have one that I have 0 money in, and looks to be worth refurbishing.
Enough for now... I look forward to hearing from the experienced on this site as to "what next?"
Bo

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I fear no man, no beast, I serve no master, and I'm no-ones fool.

How close is a dealer to you, drag it to them and have them look over it and give you a list of what needs to be replaced. I would start with all the standing rigging, nothing worse than to de-mast. Congrats and let us know if you have any questions.

locate your dealer at http://www.hobiecat.com/company/dealer.html

if there is not one close by find one that's easy to work with and give them a call.

_________________
Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

Thanx! The closest is in St.Louis, 250 miles away. Not really practical for me obviously, to take it to them. The guy on the phone was a kid that really didn't know much bout this model, and the dept. manager is on vacation. I will try later and see where I get. I would also like to add that I am in no hurry. I would rather be prepared and everything in order than to invite disaster. If it doesn't happen until next year, it won't dull my enthusiasm one bit. My 15 yr. old son is a bit more anxious, but I am still "DAD" and it doesn't float til I say so!
Bo

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I fear no man, no beast, I serve no master, and I'm no-ones fool.

Welcome aboard! Many of us in this forum learned to sail on a catamaran and haven't looked back since, maybe you'll be smitten, too.

Start by safety checking the boat and get a list of parts to replace - start with the shrouds and trampoline. Then get an assembly manual and parts catalog from Hobie for reference, along with a book on how to sail a catamaran. You'll especially need to learn the terminology of the parts and points of sail.

Any parts that are rusted, frayed, cracked, chipped, etc. should be either replaced or carefully inspected for potential failure - halyards (lines to raise the sails) come to mind. A can of good silicone spray will get parts moving - WD-40 is not recommended. Spray the bolt rope of the mainsail and sail track on the mast for easy raising.

Contact your nearest Hobie fleet or dealer for tips on how to properly rig the boat for safety sake. You may even want to tow it to a fleet function or dealer for an on site safety inspection and lesson. If you're lucky to find another Hobie sailor on your lake, then don't be shy about asking for help. Also a properly rigged boat makes sailing much more enjoyable, since no one likes to get out on the water and have a small thing break causing you to limp ashore to fix it, or worse, needing a tow.

Good luck!

Well, according to my license bureau here in Mo., there's no way I can re-tile this craft in this state. Bummer. The craft is in good condition, and the trailer is home-made and can be re-titled. I guess this wasn't meant to be my boat after all. (Missouri law requires original, salvage, or duplicate titles. They will not accept a bill of sale even if it was abandoned and given by the storage buisiness.)
So... Look in the for sale forum for photos and details. If I cannot title it, I won't invest anything to restore it. It is all there and has "extras" in a separate bag.
Bo

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I fear no man, no beast, I serve no master, and I'm no-ones fool.

Bo,

Here in NM, we can build a "Backyard Boat" where "I got one hull from here and another from there here a part, there a part everywhere a boat part, EIEIO" With lots of pictures and such no bill of sail <--- sail get it :) needed.

Ask your License bureau about that option. If yes, take your boat apart take several pickturs of people "dropping off" parts and such and see what happens.

Just a thought.

Sam

After further inspection, I discovered that I have the wrong year. It is a 1976, not '79. I was going by a date stamped into the Tramps, which is APR 79. Not that it changes anything, but I wanted to get the info correct.
As far as "building" a boat, I would still need a salvage title from a licensed boat or auto dealer that does salvage, for any part from another craft that had a serial number. There is a stipulation that as long as a boat does not have a motor attached to it on state waters, it does not have to be licensed, but it is sketchy at best, and the Water Patrol in Missouri are not my favorite people for dealing with.
I built a salvage motorcycle 4 years ago. It had titles from Conn., N.Y., and new parts as well. It took me 6 months and five trips to the Capitol in Jefferson City, and over $600 in fees to finally get a clear salvage title to license it. Not something I would do again voluntarily.
Bo

_________________
I fear no man, no beast, I serve no master, and I'm no-ones fool.

I wonder if you could title it in a nearby state that has less restrictive regulations. In Oklahoma, if the original title is lost, gone, or whatever, you just apply for a new one with a bill of sale and serial number and...bingo....new title. The only difference is that the new title indicates that it is a "Duplicate Title" or something like that.

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2005 Hobie 16 - Ventura Nationals Boat #21
http://www.JackieandAlan.com

I bought an '82 H16 here in Wisconsin with no title... the previous owner bought it at a church sale and never fixed it up. I bought it from him and am trying to title it here with just a bill of sale. The previous owners both lived "in state", so I'm hoping that it all goes through okay. This boat hasn't seen water in 10 years... I hope to be hiking out by the end of this month!

I heard the Wisconsin DNR isn't too difficult to work with on re-titling boats without a real title.... just as long as you can give a bill of sale and the hull ID's so they can make sure it's not reported at stolen.

Thanx for all the feedback! I really appreciate the support. Now, however, after reviewing the comments about the charachteristics of this craft, I don't think this is the boat for me. The fact that so many talk of flipping and cartwheeling has pretty well convinced me that I need something significantly tamer. I don't care to go fast or hiking out with one hull flying. I'm a very laid back kind of guy with nothing left to prove to myself.
In my youth, I raced motorcycles, both drag and oval. I've seen 240+ mph, and once went through the traps at the drag strip at 112 mph... WITHOUT the bike!
A slow paced sailing outfit is what I really want, and as I also do living history from the colonial period, I want to be able to pack my primitive kit and sail out to the remote islands of the lakes for camp-outs. I'd hate to lose some of my gear from a flip or cartwheel. Of course I realize that any sailing craft can flip if not handled properly, or in contrary winds, but this just doesn't sound like the craft for me. Later... Bo

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I fear no man, no beast, I serve no master, and I'm no-ones fool.

Capt Bo, I am in Mt Vernon MO, are you going to part out the boat?
Thanks, John

My freind that brought it to me is from Mt Vernon! What a small world eh? If you are intrested in taking the whole craft, I'm sure we can negotiate a good deal. I don't want to be left with the remains. The wife wouldn't be very happy with me. If intrested, let me know.

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I fear no man, no beast, I serve no master, and I'm no-ones fool.

I got a reply back from the Wisconsin DNR regarding my registration... they needed me to fill out a "factual statement" and have it notarized. The factual statement just needed me to write down why I don't have the title to the boat. I basically just told them that the boat hasn't been registered since 1990 and has changed hands 2 times since then and none of the previous owners registered it or kept track of the title/registration card.

Hopefully within the next few days, I'll hear back... because my new toy is just about ready to get in the water!

Thanks to Brad @ sunjammers.com for getting all the necessary parts to me in a timely fashion. I installed the new tramp yesterday along with some of the new riggings. I just need to re-rivit the new mast base on and it will be ready to go.

Great news!! I am in the process of putting together a Backyard boat my self for my 14 year old Daughter. We washed off the sails last wednesday. We should be starting the bottom Job this week with any luck at all.

Have fun
Sam

Bo,

If our friend John (bananahead) and you can't come to an agreement we'd be interested. We're in KC and have several parts boats and VERY interested in getting another Hobie back together and in the hands of a young sailor.

Please let John or I know how we can contact you.

my email is [email protected]

Please respond I'll forward you to John in Mt. Vernon.

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297