Makin a Sailbox, I think you'll like my stock...

So here I am, sailing along on a delamed '79 H16, when all of the sudden I pitchpole, dismast, and destroy one of the hulls. Dang. Now I have a new boat (84) and am sailing again. What to do with those dang old junky hulls. Well, I took a saw zall to the destroyed one, made quick business of that. After dumpstering it, I realized how much space I'm wasting in a landfill because of a scrapped hull.

SO, in the interest of going green, and because I need one, I have decided to carve out the remaining hull and turn it into a sailbox. Now, I am looking for a few ideas, and a little sound boarding... Obviously, 16' is a little too long for a box, so I'll be chopping it down to size. My first thought was to put the hinges on the keel side, but because it's rounded, I don't think they would work properly. So that leads to putting the hinges on the deck side. Now here's where design comes into play. Do I want one big box with 1 big lid that houses the sails, removable rigging, rudders and PFD's, or do I want 2 "compartments" 1 for sails, 1 for the other for stuff. FUrthermore, do I want 1 lid or 2 lids, 1 big but a spacer for seperation, or 1 for sails 1 for stuff. I was also thinking the lid might be a little heavy if I split it down the middle, so do I incorporate hydraulics or do I make the seam toward the "top" of the box for a deep box, or do I make it in the middle and give it "headroom".

Box shape is <]

Anyway, Its gonna be original, that's for sure. It shouldn't take long to finish it, it is already painted after all... I was thinking of leaving either the bow or the stern and cutting off the rest as opposed to making it out of the middle. That way it would be recognizable as a Hobie Hull...

Any thoughts and feedback are most warranted and coveted.

THanks,
AJ
'84 H16

From the inventor of the "Storpedo," I think your idea is great!

It is going to take a lot of cutting. Use a SAWZALL and have plenty of spare blades on hand.

If you don't want it 16'7" long, I would cut a section out of the middle or remove a section around one of the pylons in order to retain the bow and stern. Install a watertight bulkhead when you join the two sections back together in case you get water in it when launching your boat- I often get some water in the aft compartment of my Storpedo.

One problem might be the height of the hull. It might get in the way of the dolphin striker when you launch your boat. It will also likely be too high to have a hinged lid- you might need to make the lid (the deck) completely removable. You will need a cradle for it also.

Remember, no pics, didn't happen.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

didn't think about water when launching. I'm thinking of having it lay on its side, to resolve the height issue, and having it lift up like that. I'm going to have to check a few things before I start cutting, because I'm not sure how accessible it will be with the boat still on the trailer... Is the Storepedo accessible with the boat on? What have you run into such as stuff you need for rigging that you store in the tube? I trailer mine, so it comes down everytime I sail. I'm just looking to store (for now until I know better) 2 sets of sails, pfd's, spare wires, and tools/parts.

Also, I think your idea of making a "mini hobie" pontoon is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. However, I'm not sure if I'm ready for that much work. I was thinking either keeping the bow or the stern, not both and just "boarding" up the other side.

Still brain storming, as it is difficult to work during the week.

btw. I loved the thread on the creation of the Storepedo. I laughed my @$$ off from all the comments of the "detonator." lol I'm still laughing. BUT the final was pretty freakin' awesome.

Yes, from both front and back of the trailer. It opens so both halves are facing the sky and are full accessible.



I had been putting everything in there- sails and boom, temporary mast crutch (used when stepping), hiking stick, paddle, main sheet and blocks, downhaul, bungees I use with trap wires to steady mast when I step it, PFDs, trap harness, and parts box. I will likely start putting the PFDs and harness in the car, since I am going to start carrying two sets of sails and booms. I take the sails out to dry when I get home



Thanks. I need to make a fiberglass "warhead" to replace the MDF one, and would still like to add a prop and fins

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

I wish I had thought of this about three weeks ago. I have a pair of hulls which are both delaminating bad and just about finished a storage box. Oh well. If you lay the hull on its side with the flat side up you could put some U channel screwed to the deck and make a plexiglass hatch. Make the hatch half the length of the finshed box and put a piano hinge in the middle, if you want access to the back push the lid forward and lift when the hinge gets past the end of the U. You could also make the hatch into four pieces that way you could open it and fold it back even with the boat over it. I work in the marine industry (hopefully my profession doesn't get me barred from sailing ) making doors, hatchs, and windshields for power boats and bi-fold hatchs are a great way to close up an opening with tight overhead clearance.

What? Maybe its late, and I think I have an idea of what you're describing, but I'm not visualizing it. Can you please explain further?

You would cut your hole to make the access and then put some plastic or aluminum U channel down both sides of the opening. A latch would hold it closed on both ends. When you unlatch it you could slide it forward or back depending on if you wanted in the front or back. The piano hinge would allow it to fold back on itself. I will take some pics of what I did but my lid hangs down over the sides since I have a square box. I will see if i can mock something up and get a picture tomorrow or at the very least this weekend. Where are you located?

I'm in DFW metroplex, TX. You could still make a couple boxes from your hulls and sell them. I can see it now: The new Fad "The green hobie sail box! Made from recycled Hobies" . Of course, mine is yellow... lol I'd like to see what you're talking about. Its a fold back and/or slide down hatch? How would it be water proof? Would this be flush with the "top" which would in fact be the side of the hull, or sunken down, or on top of the hull?

The 12 inch AX blade for a sawsall does short work on reducing hulls to throw away pieces, but STOP don't do that, think "Green" simply cut most of the top out of the hulls using the outer edge of the grid as a line to remove the top. Cut pylon supports out, they break loose at the bottom when you hit them with a small sledge hammer. Leave about four connecting straps 1.5 inchs wide running side to side to hold the top together. Now drill 4 3/4 inch holes all the way thru the bottom.

Congratulations you have just made a Hobie 16 flower box. Dig a 15 foot hole about 12 inches wide at top and tappered to a depth of 12 inches. Set the hull into the hole and put some gravel in bottom for good drainage and then put the dirt you dug out into the hull. I have several of these. I even put names on them "SecondWind at SummerWind" is my favorite. My waterfront cottage is called SummerWind. If I knew how to get a picture out here I would share..... Have a Hobie Day

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Captain Penn,

"If we couldn't laugh, we'd all go insane", J. Buffett

i got something mocked up but not really sure how to post a picture. i can send you an email.[/img]

a j s e m t b at y a h o o dot c o m

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