Bunch of pictures of my on-going project! (no 56k)

To start off- i grew up taking yearly trips to the BVIs and chartering sailboats and went island hoping with my family. ive been sailing since i was lik 6 (22 now). In the BVIs i started sailing Hobie Waves at the Bitter End Yatch Club, and fell in love.

While in Antigua this past spring for my brothers wedding, i got myself out on the trap of a Hobie Dragoon...wow. I came back and purchased a Hobie 14 turbo the next week...but i didnt have any money to buy it----so i felt evil

For funding cashed in on an AR15 rifle that i purchased a long time ago, and made well over $900 just by selling it during the Obama craze- i got a total of $1600 for the rifle, paid $500 for it

so i decided, lets go sailing!

i purchased a hobie 14 turbo for $1100 and put about $400 into it....turned around and sold it for $1800- BOOM now ive got even more money!

My friend and i LOVED the 14, but lets face it- no matter how fast that sucker is, its too small for two people---so we though, "huh. lets get a 16."

Went to myrtle beach with said friend and stayed at his parents condo, when i was there, i bought a hobie 16 for $1500, and ended up spending $300 that weekend on gas and food!

The good thing was, that hobie came with cattrax (which i dont need, im in atlanta sailing on lanier) and it came with an entire second set of sails (on ebay currently).

Sooooooooo my $1500 boat (which was actually only $500 because of the AR15) is now even cheaper- Im expecting about $600 between the sail set and the cattrax, which puts me in the positive, and i have a hobie!

Long story short- because this boat cost me close to nothing- ive completely taken it apart- and i mean completely. I have set myself a $2000 budget, and plan to use that money in buying many upgrades for it and take it racing!

Her name is "L33t Skillz" and her home base is Marietta, Ga. Shes a 1981 16, with soft spots on the inner sides, and only one small soft spot on the top deck- Shes going to be re-gelcoated with aircraft grey, a black tramp- a new silver jib- and an all white mainsail (which is still crunchy!). Goid thing is, she allready had a bottom job done to her keels, so i just built them up just a tad bit more!

Anyways, heres some pictures of my progress- i will be updating every week or so-Its been 4 weeks so far, and im hoping to start gelcoating next week, and get it completely together in less than a month! its windy season in the big old ATL!
















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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340

No pics

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

Some interesting tid-bits....the second to last picture i believe is the bow tang- i opened the hole up to 1/2 inch, and placed a nylon spacer there so the bolt will not rub against the fiberglass...i then epoxied in the spacer all around it, so now when i re-install, it should be a nice tight fit....

the last picture is the turkey juicer i used

the de-lam spots were so big on the sides, i decided to use a mix of West Systems, and Git-Rot....tonight, i spent some time pumping west-systems expoxy into the sides, spread out around the center of the de-lam spots....when i purchase the git-rot, i will pump that into the rest, through a central hole.....my perimeter holes are allready setup....this will hopefull give me a stronger hull side, because the de-lam was so extensive, i wanted to make sure it was rock hard when completeled....

the trailer has been re-done...i still need to get new wheels/tires and get some new clear poly rollers....

I painted everything with flat-black rustolem, then wetsanded it to make it nice and smooth....feels great. paint is holding up fine with all the parts sitting outside in my backyard...i think it will be AOK. you can see my broken mast step in the pics opps. all new stickers on the mast, and yes, i put the electricty warning sticker in the wrong place, so im just going to order another one and put it on the other side.

i also snapped a picture of the vent tubes.....for those that dont think they have them, they might be pushed down to far in the foam....my starboard side was....i pulled it up!

all standing rigging will be replaced, all running riggins will be replaced...carbo harken blocks will be everywhere, carbo swivel cams will be everywhere, new traveler system will be installed, new 6:1 main system and 6:1 downhaul will be installed, all new halyards, new EPO rudders with new cams, joints, blah blah blah. New black hobie mesh tramp, new mast cleats, windvayne for the front

all in all- a COMPLETE restoration of a boat....my 1st restoration was a 1976 Datsun 280Z that i rebuilt fully (my 1st car) and i ended up selling that for a lot of $$$....this- i will keep for a long long long long time. i cannot WAIT to finish it, but im trying to take my time and do everything the RIGHT way...in the mean time, the family has a 99' Hunter 340 on Lanier i get to play around with, any my friend has a J24 we race every wedensday!

yes- i used white caulk for the fittings on the mast and the boom- i know i know- clear silicone....thats all i had ...i guess when it goes away i will redo it, but i will be using silicone from here out...

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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340

Nice pictures. I am about to start the same sort of project here soon. Just bought an 1983. I have not found any soft spots, but the bottom of the hulls are fairly worn and there is an impact puncture on the side of the outer right hull. I plan on taking it apart here soon to do the work. Do you have a prefered site for ordering fiberglass, epoxy, and hardware?

Oh! There they are!

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

i buy my epoxy from west marine (so far) and the hardware is a combination between Murrays and two Hobie dealers, one in Savannah GA and one in Cali...

I am having trouble however locating Get-Rot. i cant find it ANYWHERE. and i dont want to order it online...i found something called PC Rot, its the same thing, but a different brand.....hmmmmmmmm

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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340

Do yourself a favour and were Gloves if you ever use Epoxy in the Future, its nasty gear.

Just a add to the last post, all you DTY ers need to know how nasty epoxy really is. Even when spraying small jobs you need to wear a resperator.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

Why would you not buy it on-line? Order in your PJ's, delivered right to your door a couple of days later. Some places (Cabela's) even have free shipping.

I bought my git-rot at the local power boat marina.

BTW, I don't think this was such a good idea:

The tang bolt is under considerable tension. The only thing preventing it from pulling out is the fiberglass material around the hole (where the nut seats under the deck lip).

You've gone and removed much of that material and replaced it with something slippery (Nylon). I would not be surprised if the whole assembly (tang, bolt, nylon sleeve, nut) pulls out when you least want or expect it to.

You're better off removing Nylon sleeve, flaring the top and bottom of the hole to an hourglass shape, then filling the hole with chopped glass and epoxy resin. Re-drill the hole at the proper size when done.

Dude.. did you paint your mast and boom?

Can you do that? Will it last? What kind of paint?

I have silver mast and boom and would like flat black.

thanks for the advice matt-

however what isnt shown is the washers i am going to use as well-

im using a large washer on the top and bottom of the tang and in front of the nut...just a little extra insurace....the nylon sleeve is only about 1/4 inch deep, so theres contact area on the bottom where the large washer will fit flush agasint the fiberglass....

i can understand what your're saying! if i use the standard bolt and nut, they are just as wide as the sleeve, and it will all get ripped out!

i just dont like how Hobie designed it where a metal threaded bolt is constantly touching bare fiberglass up there!

hearing about de-masting makes me nervous, so im taking this procaution, and it will look pretty nice once the new gel-coat is applied everywhere!

ill update you with pictures of the bolt/washer to show you what im talking about!

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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340

OK, bottom washer is good. Make it a thick one.