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 Post subject: 1987 Hobie 18
PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:12 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:18 am
Posts: 4
Hello Hobie 18 Gurus,

Let me just first say thanks to everyone for all the good information at this web site. I am new to the Hobie thing and really appreciate all the good advice I've gotten. The cumulative knowledge is unbelievable (bordering on scary)!

I have been looking for a Hobie 18 with wings in the Chicago area for the last six months and have not had a lot of success at find the "right" one at the "right" price. A couple days ago there was an 18 listed on this site that sounds decent but I'm a little concerned about the vintage. It sounds like the hulls on the 85ish to 88ish boats had a lot of problems falling apart. The boat is in Ohio about 4 or 5 hours from me. My question is do you think it's worth looking at or should I just hold out and keep looking. The season in this area is pretty much over for us none hardcore sailors so it would not hurt to wait and see what else is out there.

Any feed back on the subject would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again for all the help!

Russ Fouts


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:35 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:43 am
Posts: 779
Location: St. Louis, MO
Russ,

Go take a look at the boat. It can be hard to find a Hobie in that part of the country. I looked for my H16 when I was still living there for almost a year. An '87 probably isn't too bad of a year. Plus, it has wings which are very hard to come by without a boat attached. The Magnum wings are even harder to find. I personally like them better as they are of welded construction. I know they are smaller, but I just feel better with the welding.

When you see the boat, do a thorough inspection using the information gleened from this forum. Take pics and post them here if you have any questions.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:10 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:46 pm
Posts: 5
Location: Ohio
Russ,

Full disclosure....... I own it

This is one of those years people talk about,
although near the tail end I believe.

You know, stories about hulls that snap in half
etc... Mot of those guys also have stories about
sailing the Hood River Gorge in 30 knot winds, high tide
and 6 foot breakers.

This boat has never even seen Lake Erie. Just small
lakes in Ohio and Indiana. Never raced. Previous owner
filled his shorts when I tried to fly a hull durring the test ride.
(last year)

He was not an agressive sailor. I am, but that was the only
time I had the boat off the trailer. The original "mai-tai sails
are still fairly crisp and clean.

It has had some of the reccomended upgrades, anchor plates
etc.... I do not think it has been reinforced with glass. Easy Job
Known trouble area is within arms reach of the forward access port.
I just never had time.

The boat has some gelcoat cracks but oddly not in the
area known to have problems. The hulls on this boat
are solid, tight and light. I can't find any delam anywhere.

I can't find any of the problems people have tagged this year
with unless I am missing something.

Some of the FACTORY gu-ru's might be able to tell us something
based on the sail #s They are original as far as I know.
and read 13543 Hull # C1138H687 Maybe this one saw some
of the factory improvements ?

Hope this helps even if you pass on this one.
Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions.

Mike M


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:41 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:43 am
Posts: 779
Location: St. Louis, MO
Mike,

On a different note, where in OH (other than Erie) do you sail? I am looking in and area north from Dayton to Columbus. I may be moving out there next year.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:09 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:46 pm
Posts: 5
Location: Ohio
Nick,

I live real close to Csesar Creek resevior, beatiful but unlimited HP
and even closer to a 10HP max lake called Cowan. It is small
but has a very active sailing community. Both are in Warren
county Close to I-71 in the triangle between Columbus, Dayton
and Cincinnati. When I was a teenager I raced a force 5 in
a huge gravel pit (turned city park) called Eastwood lake
off Rt 4 in the city limits of Dayton. It is sail on odd days
and power on even days. I also sailed Buck Creek Res. Just
north of Dayton, and Lake St Mary's (huge but shallow) also
north of Dayton (St Mary's Ohio) There is also Indian lake
near Dayton but I can't remember what direction.

Numerous other reseviors, Paint creek, Houston woods,
Rocky Fork, East Fork, Huffman Dam Even the Ohio river in some places. Brookville lake in eastern Indiana. More than I can even recall.

Columbus has a ton of small lakes but I am unfamilure
with them as I lived near Dayton or Cincinnati

This area has lots of flood control res. built durring the
depression, Most are smallish but convienent and fun to
explore. Somthing nearby no mater where you live.

Cheers

Mike


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:38 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:43 am
Posts: 779
Location: St. Louis, MO
Thanks Mike,

Now I won't be too depressed if I have to move away from the ocean or the bay!

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:39 pm 
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Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2004 4:46 pm
Posts: 169
Location: Bakersfield, CA
I bought a 88 H18M a couple of years ago before I learned about the problems of bows breaking off in front of the crossbar on certain year boats which I think was resolved by 89 (if what I've read is correct). The boat I bought was in excellent condition and already had the anchor plates installed at the forward crossbeam as well as the shroud anchor points. There was no sign of cracking in the suspect area at all. Still, once I read about the problems and knowing that I would be sailing my cat in the ocean with family members aboard, I was, to say the least, a bit paranoid. I decided to tackle the task of reinforcing this area as per Hobie's procedure even though I had no experience working with glass.

To make a long story short, the work was not difficult at all although a bit time consuming and messy. I elected to do the work with the boat turned upside down on a couple of custom made saw horses so that gravity would aid in the application of the glass. Since the mods, I've had my boat in some fairly heavy seas subjecting it to quite a bit of stress and pounding on the front of the hulls and have had no problems to date.

In my opinion, if the hulls are in decent shape and the anchor plates have been installed as well as the reinforcement mods made to the inside of the hulls, you should have no worries.

Thomas Hundley
H18M "Wind Raider"


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:37 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
Being the owner of a 1985 "red glue" boat, I will say that they do hold together. However, my boat did develop cracks, through the hull (not just gelcoat) at at least 3 of the 4 front cross bar connections and also at some of the rear connections. I have since reinforced the cracked connection areas with glass and installed the stainless anchor plates at all crossbar connections, front and rear.

My personal opinion, if you haven't looked at the boat yet, get the owner to email you digital photos of the underside of the deck lip at all eight crossbar anchor points to see if there is cracking.

Although, even if there are no cracks, you may be in for some work in the future.

sm


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:58 pm 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 7:18 pm
Posts: 73
Location: League City, Texas, USA
Image

1986 vintage example, my first cat. Sailed hard - failed hard. Bought a used hull and she was good as new, but it can happen.

Chris.

_________________
2008 Hobie Tiger


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:26 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:46 pm
Posts: 5
Location: Ohio
Hey

Thanks for all the input.

I am starting to have second thoughts about selling.

It is still for sale but.......

Anyway, I studied the mounting points with a
magnafying glass in good light. No cracks in the fiberglass.
Just tiny cracks in the gelcoat.

All I see is U-chanel nut plates. I assume these should be
replaced by anchorplates like those that attach the
main rigging cables ? ( 4 screws type ) ?

I have said this before, but it should probably be said again.
This boat is a trailer queen, A weatherd virgin. It never saw
waves or strong wind. Sailed exclusivly in little Ohio and Indiana
lakes. (by a little old lady) Ok that might be a stretch. It sits outside
so it looks its age, but it is not on the verge of cracking in half.

Someone please buy this boat before I change my mind and
decide to keep it.

Mike 513-932-0417


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