Hey Hilly, I've got a 1982 Hobie 18 which I've had to repair numerous times. One of the last "major" jobs was a soft spot on the starboard hull all the way from the front crossbem to about a half a meter in front of the rear crossbeam. I repaired this very successfully and the deck is probably stronger than original. Most of the halyards, trap wires, trap grips, outhaul bearings and ropes, Mainsheet and jibsheet, plus sails have been replaced because these are just bits and pieces that succumb to wear and tear. One daggerboard socket leaks a bit, but I've managed to fix that with a squirt of silicone. Point is, it's a great boat, and with a bit of TLC you can really keep it going for a while yet. Of course a new carbon 18 would be a blast, but I'm on a budget, like I guess you are, so yeah, give it a bit of thought. The trampoline can be replaced, they're not that expensive. If you need a tip for fixing a soft deck, givvus a yell. Cheers, Marty.
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