Hobie 16 various questions from Bradenton Florida

Greetings;

I purchased my used (early 80's) Hobie 16 a couple of months ago and have enjoyed some easy sailing in the Palma Sola Bay behind my house.

One of the small issues I have is there is a "small" dent in the side of my mast. PO said it's not a problem and it was his third mast (he gets a bit crazy when he is out sailing).

So I have been on a search for a black mast (to match the rest of the cat as it now has a silver one). Back on Craigslist (becoming an obsession) I found a mast but no way to transport it (my Hobie came without a trailer and I don't need one since I keep it in my back yard). I did find a trailer (to transport the mast) but it came with another Hobie 16 with a delaminated left hull and both hulls have quite a bit of gel coast cracking. By the time I got home a couple of weeks ago from the Craigslist trip I had 3 masts, mast bob, hydra foils, righting pole, frame for another Hobie with rudders, good sails and another tramp.

Now I am trying to decide if I can build another Hobie out of all the parts I have, sell it and make back some of the money I spent. Read a lot about repairing delaminted hulls and would like to go ahead with the repair just because. But after it is done I would like to paint the hulls but don't know if I want to go the gel coat route. Is there an easier route that will hold up?

Next question, the black mast I have needs some help. I would like to cut about a 1/2" off the bottom and reinstall the (forgot the name). Can I do that without effecting the rigging? Then I need to some of the pulleys back on the mast (for the jib?) don't remember the name. Is there a good place to get SS rivets? How do I find out the sizes?

On my Hobie that I am sailing I found what looks like grey Marine-tex repair on the very bottom that is chipping off. I thought I would sand it down and add some more instead of doing it correctly. After the Marine-tex it looks like the PO put some red bottom paint. Otherwise the Hulls are in good shape.

And finally what is the best product to use around the drain plugs, tramp frame to hulls, etc.

I know I don't have all the terminology correct and I would have googled it but my wife is calling me to hurry up as we have dinner plans tonight and I have been trying to post this all week.

TIA

Matthew

Your proposed repair sounds right on- I assume that the mast base has come loose either from beating or corrosion at the rivets? Pretty common out here at the coast. Cut as little as you can, pop the base back in and re-rivet. Seal up the mast while you've got it apart. The parts guide used to contain a rivet schedule, I guess it still does. As far as selling a boat with delam repair, I can't speak for others, but I'd pay very little for a boat like that. There's no way from a buyer's standpoint to know if the repair was done properly and will hold up. Plus, usually once that starts, it will continue. Might be more profitable to just part it out. Marine tex holds up pretty well for small dings, etc. if done properly. I've used it for years on surfboards, sailboards and boats and it has worked well. Around the drain plugs and all use 3M 5200. That's the standard bearer for marine sealants.

Hope this helps, Dave

Yes, there is corrosion around the rivets.

I will keep an eye out for another Hobie with good hulls or at least one right Hull and swap it out. I have seen over 12 hulls and all have been delaminated. Seems a shame that there are so many hulls going to waste.

I'll see if I can find the parts list.

Thanks

Matthew

you can get SS rivets in alot of places, hardware, menards, lowes, or do like I do and call a sailing place that sells parts and get it from them as they will know the size and quantity. I haven't bought very much from them but west marine gave excellent customer service

Good point on West Marine.

Another question that I have as a result of sailing yesterday. When I was taking down the main, I heard a rip and noticed that the metal guide on the mast had ripped the area around the batton (about two inches). Is there a way to fix that? Sail tape? Or will that make it even harder to raise the sail?

Also there are some white strips on the main sail where the battons are and they are starting to come off too. Best way to fix that?

Thank you.

Matthew

Oh yeah another question I have been meaning to ask is about the rigging.

Where can I find detailed information on all the rigging points. I am just following what the previous owner used. No idea if what he did and what I am doing is correct.

When I start to refurb one of the black masts is Murry's a good place to get a cheek block?

I did what my PO did also until I noticed my boat wasn't the way others were, heck the mast wasn't even straight looking at it from the front, not even close. I youtube alot, and ebay alot. when I you tube I even freeze and zoom to look how other people have all the stuff on their boats, I've learned alot that way. I saw one guy with a wire basket mounted to his dolphin striker for storage, at first I thought pretty cool, then I remembered my trap ride to that exact point and how much worse that basket may have made it, so I'm still working on the storage and where for long distance runs on lake michigan. I dont care much for the ports, but may be only good way.

5200 is good stuff, but it is PERMANENT! I use silicone where possible, especially if there is any chance you will have to remove the part in the future.
Look at the hobie assembly manual and parts guide. http://static.hobiecat.com/digital_assets/hc16_manual_gb_201503.pdf and http://static.hobiecat.com/digital_assets/14-16Parts2016.pdf
or click on the Support link at the top of the page.
They will show how things go together and which parts are correct.
Use your local Hobie dealer if you can, if not, Murrays is great.
Hopefully you have a sail repair\loft nearby. They can make solid repairs and at least around here, the cost is really fair. To do it yourself requires a big zag stitch power sewing machine.
Sometimes on the mast base you can just drill new holes and add rivets rather than cutting the mast down. Pop the bottom off and have a look.
I haven't yet seen paint that holds up anywhere near as well as Gel-coat. That said, it would probably be cheaper to find better hulls than to redo a whole boat.

I use a waterproof bag that I d-ring to the front of the tramp for storage.

_________________
Todd
Hobie 21SE
Bellingham, WA

are your other masts straight?

_________________
http://youtube.com/optikid16030

1983 Hobie 16 Cat fever #55697
2008 Laser Radial/4.7 #190471
S.S.S.
S.Y.S.P

Good information thank you Todd.

Yes my other masts appear to be straight. Is it difficult to tell or very obvious? Do you need one optikid? I see your in Sarasota.

actually im in bradenton also. my mast is very bent but i have used it like that for a while, but i have been looking for a replacement

_________________
http://youtube.com/optikid16030

1983 Hobie 16 Cat fever #55697
2008 Laser Radial/4.7 #190471
S.S.S.
S.Y.S.P