Hobie Jib Snorkel - Failed after 1 year

Hi Everyone!

We had our first snow Saturday, luckily my Hobie 17 Sport was already off the beach and covered up for the Connecticut winter. While disassembling I discovered a problem with the snorkel I bought in 2013!

The Hobie Jib Snorkel is not an inexpensive product...I paid over $100.00 for it so I didn't have to remove the jib after each sail. I'm a little disappointed at the results after one year on the beach.

Pics:
http://imgur.com/a/dREuh

Anyone have any suggestions? Does Hobie stand by their product enough for them to exchange or replace it?

_________________

95' Hobie 17 Sport
"Super Jib" Mod

The material is a very durable vinyl, but may not hold up to extreme flogging. I suggest filing a warranty claim.

Next time wrap the entire length in a line wound around the entire length (a halyard). This will tighten up the bag for extreme wind conditions. At least when high winds are predicted.

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

Thanks Matt.

I poked around and found the part number SNORKEL - H16/SPRT/18/21SC JIB - 1811, just a little confused where a warranty claim can be filed on the Hobie website? Or do you suggest going through the dealer I purchased it through?

Thanks for the quick reply, you spoil us!

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95' Hobie 17 Sport
"Super Jib" Mod

All claims would be through the dealer from who you purchased the cover.

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

Thanks. Called them up and and missed the warranty period.

So end of story - I'm out $149.99 (their price quote today) and the product failed after 1.5 years.

I recommend Hobie add tips / instructions to the part regarding high wind conditions.

To consumers - take my loss as free advice regarding the use of the product in high wind conditions - and in some regard the products quality.

I also would note that the time from install to fail was 1.5 years, not 1 as per the title (my fault in memory) BUT it was technically only used for 8 months (we only get 4-5 months of sailing season in CT and I installed it towards the end of 2013). I feel it's fair to say this product failed with far less than 1 years use.

If there's anything you can do Matt I'd appreciate it. Otherwise thanks for the input.

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95' Hobie 17 Sport
"Super Jib" Mod

That's not a particularly difficult thing to repair.

A square yard of cover material from Sailrite (about $20) and a standard sewing machine could have that back in action within a couple of hours.

For sure you guys had some significant storms during the period right?

Ask the dealer to file anyway. I'll ask the warranty department to grant a special consideration. Will not be 100% covered, but prorated somehow.

We will make a change to the instruction to wrap for high wind issues.

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

You can also buy after-market snorkels (sorry, Matt) made of sailcloth for about the same price as the Hobie snorkel. That's what I'm going to replace mine with.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Cloth type doesn't matter much when heavy flogging is the issue. You still should wrap with a halyard for high wind conditions to tighten up the sock.

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

In the summer months, I park my boat in the dinghy yard, mast up, with the jib furled. Since 2005, I am on my third snorkel.

Page 31 of the current catalogue clearly states "Snorkel covers are not intended for long term storage", so Matt M is absolutely correct when he mentions the 'flogging' issue. That's how I lost my early snorkels, despite wrapping them with a bungee cord to prevent flogging. Oh, then there is the U/V, the rain, the birds.....

Three years ago, we picked up at no cost a 20' wide roll of Sunbrella (long story), and I had my sail-maker build a custom snorkel. Pictures available on request, email me off line. Because this was a 'one off', the cost of the labour was more than what you'll pay at your dealer for a new one, and we designed it with snaps, tabs and rings to make the 'wrapping' easier. We recycled the well-made zipper.

Invest in some bungee cord or light line, and your jib will thank you.

Minus 30C this morning, with the wind chill... only 163 days left before we can sail again.

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

I use a $8.00 Harbor Freight tarp a couple of sleeping bag zippers and about 15min on the sewing machine and make my own. Better yet sell a couple to your beach mate's for the ungodly low price of $35 and your malty beverage money ahead. Matt is right about flogging though I use these bungee cords http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-ba ... 47302.html one at top one at bottom.

Sail Cloth or that tarpoline material will both fail over something like Topgun or some other poly materials. Flapping is always your enemy though, something like a factor of 10.

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Tom
Fleet 259, Central Coast CA
H18 ('81)
H18 ('85)
H20 ('97)
H18 ('78)