hull repair: is this boat worth bring back to life?

Hi all,

I've recently acquired a long-abandoned H16. Apart from its missing sails, mast, riggings, etc, the boat has some major hull damage on the starboard hull at bottom of the stern end. Specifically, there is an 8-12" section of the keel chopped off at the very stern end of the hull, as if the boat was banging on rocks or something for years. There are also some sections on the bow that have the gelcoat chipped off, expsosing the fiberglass. But the trampoline and hardware look newish.

I made a youtube video so you guys can see the damage:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zmRK7wf8ocw

I'm the kind of guy that takes pride in doing things that I should really pay someone else to do, but I've never done any fiberglass work, so I'm not sure what I'd be getting into. A friend has offered to give me a mast, sails, etc, so if I can fix the hulls, I think she could sail someday.

So, 1) Am I crazy to think about repairing this boat? And 2) How might I go about repairing the hull breach? For extra credit, 3) can anyone identify the approximate model year of this H16?

Many thanks from a newbie. Let me know if you experts need more info.

1) YES
2) Search for posts by Rick Buchanan
3) 1981...what'd I win?

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

Strip and sell what isn't damaged (the starboard tiller is bent so chuck that), then use it as a platform from which to remotely launch July 4th fireworks on the lake, then, for the finale, blow it up.

You can buy a fully functional Hobie 16 that at least floats for about $1000, and for $1500 you can get a darn good recreational-quality boat. So, do you have more time and skill, or money?

Holy Cow! Where'd you find that thing? I don't recognize anything in the background that looks like Dallas area. Grapevine? Ray Roberts?

And I'm with Mr. Eaton. Recycle/sell the aluminum. Dumpster for the rest of it.

Brian C

If you have a source for a mast and sails then that repair is a one weekend job to get it sailing. If the decks are soft, don't bother.
I've fixed stuff overnight to get people back into a race at more then a few events that looked real bad after some major T-bones.

Worst case, you learn something about working with glass or epoxy, then scrap it to pay for repair materials used.

_________________
Pat Bisesi
Fleet 204 Syracuse, NY

save the good stuff,trampoline,crossbars,fittings and such and take it into the lake and sink it. and if any one says anything say you are making an artificial reef

I like the artificial reef idea myself.

_________________
"Give me warm bread and beer, for dinner every day of the year and I'll be fine....."

I would say go for it! I bought a couple of month ago a FXOne from insurance company. It had a broken hull (I mean in two peaces). I didn't have any previous knowledge about lamination work. Now it looks like a hull again. It just needs some gel coat on top, waxing and it's ready to go. Key thing is that you read all instructions carefully, plan each steps beforehand and buy some powdered latex gloves. From West System's webpage you will get some good information about working with epoxy.

If you decide to fix it I have a mast, boom, mainsheet/ blocks, starbard tiller. Just about everything you need except the sails. And I'm in Houston. Probably about $250 for the parts and another $250 if you want a trailer.

Just PM me
or email mfeidleratsbcglobal.net

_________________
Mike
Pearland, TX
1990 Hobie 16
http://feidler.blogspot.com/
Member of Surfside Sailing and Hobie Fleet 33
http://hobiefleet33.com

Lordy how did that happen?