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 Post subject: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:09 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:25 am
Posts: 14
I am thinking about making a Mast Float and wanted to know if anyone ever tried this before.

My logic on building one, is pretty much

1.Find a cheap piece of styrofoam about $10bucks
2. Cut it down to form the style of the Mast Floats ( about 1 hour )
3. Get a piece of wood or plastic and adhesive it to the bottom of the Mast Float.
4. Spray Gel coat/ sand it down to get it nice and smooth.
5. that wood or plastic piece i placed at the bottom of the Mast Float drill into it and attach to the top of my Mast?

sounds pretty simple and pretty cheap vs paying $200 bucks for a new one.

any thoughts?


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 Post subject: Re: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:27 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:44 pm
Posts: 61
Location: W. Chesterfield, NH & Hope, ME
I like the thought.

My only thought would be to spread out the stress where the bob attaches to the mast head. One screw might not be enough to withstand the shear force on the bob when the mast tip hits the water. I think the "real" ones are fastened on both sides.

send a pic when you have it done!

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 Post subject: Re: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:40 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:13 am
Posts: 135
Location: Shepherd, Michigan
Your idea may work...buuuuut:

I remember reading somewhere that Hobie tested their float by fastening it to a mast, hoisting the mast to vertical, and letting the mast drop to see if the float would break off / crack...on dry land!

I have personally used several of their floats on various cats, and have to say that when you see one / hold & inspect one in person...they really are worth the money.

A faster, cleaner, stronger homemade version than yours might be made by adding a zippered pocket to each side in the top panel(s) of your sail (would require some sewing), and inserting thin sheets of foam, similar to some of the monohull sailboats.


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 Post subject: Re: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:36 pm 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 11:36 am
Posts: 25
or you could attach an empty soda bottle to your halyard


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 Post subject: Re: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:00 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:55 am
Posts: 353
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
or a gallon milk jug

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 Post subject: Re: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:02 pm 
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Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
Polyester resin (gel coat) will dissolve styrofoam.

Spraying gel on a foam core will result in a gloppy mess.


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 Post subject: Re: Making a Mast Float
PostPosted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:25 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:29 am
Posts: 93
Location: FL Panhandle; Western MD; Mandeville, LA
If you're going to use bottles - DON'T use a soda bottle or milk jug. Use a heftier container, like a bleach bottle (already a nice white) or the jugs that windshield washing fluid comes in. And remember to change them frequently, as exposure to the sun will quickly degrade them.

Maybe filling it with the NONEXPANDABLE "foam-in-a-can" would give it a little more heft?

But I've gotta agree with "centralmichigansailor" - If you're concerned about turtling, Hobie Bobs [IMHO] are worth the time it takes to save the extra $$$ to get one. And it will look a WHOLE lot better.

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joanie / Hobie enthusiast: 4 H-14Ts, 2 Waves, FloatCat 75, 4 Adventure Islands, and my DUNE Tandem Island!
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What can I say? I never met a Hobie I didn't like . . .


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