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PostPosted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 7:04 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2024 5:26 pm
Posts: 2
I recently bought a one owner Hobie 14 built 1976. It sat unused outside for many years. Paid very little. Has fiberglass rudders, 6:1 mainsheet and excellent sail plus the original. It needs a tramp which is ready to put on. In reviewing the hulls, I noticed that the decks have a little bit of crunchiness. No blatant softness. I've read a lot about the epoxy repairs and think I could do it. I've worked a lot with fiberglass in the past. If I do the repair, I'll probably use Raka epoxy.

It will be kept on a small protected bay beach, and will only sail it on smooth shallow water with 6 inch chop or less. I won't sail in heavy air and I won't push the boat. Should I bother doing the repairs?


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 13, 2024 10:19 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4239
Location: Jersey Shore
Is it crunchy on the entire deck, or just specific locations?

If you plan to sail the boat, then I would definitely suggest repairing. The crunchy sound is the fiberglass separating from the foam core and the core breaking down. It will continue to get worse if you do nothing. Drilling and injecting epoxy is easy and can be done in a day (less than an hour if its only a small area and you aren’t concerned about cosmetics).

You might also consider adding 4” inspection ports behind the front pylon so the hulls can air out. If the boat sits with moisture in the hulls for a long time, that can contribute to the fiberglass delaminating.

sm


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 13, 2024 4:26 pm 
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Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2024 5:26 pm
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The crunchiness is pretty widespread on the decks. Based on a spot check as I don't want to disturb more than needed. Boat has sat unused outside for 20 years,and was likely outside its entire life. Pretty dry climate so the good thing is the foam should be dry. I have the time for repairs as the conditions for sailing it (tides, wind temperature) may not come up before March. Longer if a wet winter. I may do the entirety of the decks with epoxy injection then follow with gelcoat. I have the advantage of no tramp as the old one is rotten and the new one will go on last.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:01 am 
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Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4239
Location: Jersey Shore
The most important part of the deck is right in front of the forward pylon. At a minimum, this area should be structurally sound, otherwise the hull can collapse under the load from the rig/forestay tension. The areas aft of the forward pylon are less critical since they are rarely stepped on due to being covered by the trampoline.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2024 3:57 am 
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Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 10:33 am
Posts: 707
Location: Clinton, Mississippi
FWIW...Gelcoating (or any other cosmetic efforts) could very well turn out to be a waste of time, money, energy on a boat so old and unkempt. I'd recommend you do those after you make sure it floats, it doesn't break in half under a load, and you actually enjoy sailing it and plan to keep it. I probably wouldn't do them at all...I'd sail the crap out of it until it's ready for the landfill!

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16


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