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Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=32918		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  ftlauderdale16 [ Fri Oct 29, 2010 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Hi there... I have a question for the community regarding my brand new Hobie 16. I just purchased the boat 4 weeks ago and have sailed the boat twice since then. I am not new to Hobies, having sailed 16's a lot when I was younger in South Africa.

The first sail on the boat was in light wind - around 6-8 knots. The second sail was the following day and was in 14-16 knots of wind in 2-3 foot sea. Since the first weekend I have been traveling and unable to sail, so the boat has been on a trailer at my house.

Today I was washing the boat and noticed that there are what appear to be stress fractures along the starboard hull outside rail. The cracks start just in front of the forward pylon and run half way back to the aft pylon. If I press down on the side of the rail I can see the cracks expanding and can hear a slight crunching sound.

There is no evidence of impact on the hull or the rail and I just don't understand how this can be the case on a brand new Hobie? I'm assuming that it might just be the one in thousands that just had a bad fiberglass layup and is in fact brittle?

I have called the dealer where I bought the boat who told me to bring it in so that they can look at it.

I guess my question is, whether I could have done anything wrong to have caused the fractures and it is my fault? Or is it just a case that it's just a bad boat?

Any thoughts?

Thanks. :(
Author:  mmiller [ Fri Oct 29, 2010 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Without a doubt this is unusual. I have not seen this on a 16... due to glass layup anyway. I have pinged our glass guys in Australia for comment.

This is a boat in the US? Built by Hobie USA?
Author:  janek.w [ Fri Oct 29, 2010 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Usually delamination makes that kind of sound when pressed on...but on a BRAND NEW BOAT?! and after only 2 outings? No way. Really weird. I hope everything works out.
Author:  ftlauderdale16 [ Fri Oct 29, 2010 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Hi! Thanks for answering so fast!

Yes this is a new boat built in the US. The first part of the hull serial numbers starts with CCM.

Upon further inspection I have found a stress fracture on the port hull too. It is located just aft of the forward pylon on the inside rail. When I look under the rail, where the deck and hull seam is, there is a small visible fracture in the seam too.
Author:  Roy [ Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Wow, you sure it didn't fall off the trailer and cartwheel down the road sometime?? :lol: :lol: Or maybe drove it through the surf like that guy in the video in the open forum who wrecked 13 cats trying to get in through the surf.
Author:  MBounds [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 5:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
This sounds more like shipping damage than anything else, especially the cracks on the inside deck lip.

Photos would help here.
Author:  ftlauderdale16 [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 6:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
I wondered if it could be shipping damage too? I will try and post some pictures later today.

I'm anxious to get the boat back to the dealer on Monday so they can see it...
Author:  janek.w [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
I agree with Matt, a picture is worth 1000 words.
Author:  ftlauderdale16 [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
So I tried to take a few photo's, but it's hard to see the fractures in most of them... There are three photos where you can kind of see the cracks.

http://gallery.me.com/gregoryandjenipher

Hopefully this helps a little....
Author:  Karl Brogger [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Image


Image


Image
:wink:
Author:  MBounds [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
The blurred edge of the non-skid in the top photo is a sign that the deck may have been repaired. The defect in the non-skid pattern is not present on my 2007 H16, however, mine may have come from a different mold.

It is common practice for any fiberglass manufacturer to fix blemishes after the piece comes out of the mold and before the product is shipped. 99.9% of the time, you'd never know a repair was made.

How do you tie the boat down on the trailer?
Author:  ftlauderdale16 [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
***Thanks for posting the pictures Karl - I couldn't figure out how to do it! :D ****

I took the boat back to the dealer yesterday. They agreed that the whole thing was very odd and will be contacting Hobie and sending pictures. I'm sure everything will be resolved. Foe interests sake I'll let you all know what happens.
Author:  Karl Brogger [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
ftlauderdale16 wrote:
***Thanks for posting the pictures Karl - I couldn't figure out how to do it! :D ****

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8574
Author:  mmiller [ Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
We suspect freight or storage damage (pre-assembly). This boat has been crushed in the box somehow. The cracks are so thin... likely became visible after some use and dirt got in them. This has been referred to our sales department for action. They handle freight issues.
Author:  ftlauderdale16 [ Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brand New 16 - Stress Fractures
Thanks for the info Matt! :)
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