Hobie 18 dagger well and neoprene kits

Thanks, can you tell us what year the molds were changed?

_________________
1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

I'm only guessing it happened in 88-89. Does your 89 have the lower flange?

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

Sealing the bottom flange is only half the battle.
Sealing the top flange is equally important.

When sailing at speed, the water tends to "hydraulic" up into the well and if the top flange is leaking your boat will take water.

If the bottom flange is leaking, the hull will "take water" any time you sail. If the top flange is leaking, the boat will usually only take water on windy days.

In order to use Jeremy's "best method" it will be most effective if you turn the hull upside down when trying to seal the top flange.

The last "don't ask me how I know" bit of wisdom is that the most difficult area to seal, the narrowest area and the point at the rear of the trunk/flange, is usually the place where the leak is.

My 1988 Hobie 18 was flanged top and bottom. Tom Machette's 1992 Hobie 18 is only flanged at the top.
That was one of the very few changes in the Original Hobie 18 from 1978 to 2004, and in my opinion, it was a good one.
(Not counting the Magnum and the SX of course, which killed the class)

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

My '88 is only flanged at the top...just checked minutes ago. ID # CCMC15425788 Both hulls original and match.

So, there you have it.

Either it was a mid year change in 1988, OR My '88 was a late 87 serial numbered as a '88

Anyone out there with a '87 and/or a '89 that can weigh in on the discussion.

It really doesn't make a difference, but it IS one of those trivial things that is fun to know.

Sitting around the campfire you can impress your fellow sailors with the depth of your knowledge.

Ya never know, knowing MIGHT someday win one of us something in Final Jeopardy

Stephen

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

as luck has it, my '88 has top & bottom flanges. #CCMC1674C88S
the mystery continues...

_________________
Chris
'88 H18SE Arís

It's also possible that since the change had to be incorporated in conjunction with production, the molds were changed incrementally while others were being used for production. In other words, if Hobie had 3 sets of 18 molds (just picking a number, I have no idea how many they had), they would pull one out of production for rework while still using the other two old configuration molds. Once the first new configuration mold is ready, it gets put back into production with the other old style while the second mold gets pulled out for rework, etc... So you have a period where some boats are built the old way and some are built the new way all within the same serial number range.

sm

89 / I think I have the top and bottom flanges. Sailing today so I will check.