Comptip question/concerns

Anyone had any issues with the comptip slowly over time, sinking into the aluminium mast section? Yes I guess it could be riveted together but I would prefer to have a two piece mast for transport. Any ideas? What is meant to stop this issue: the floatation material in the aluminium section or just the comptip flange itself?

I think the comp tip is supposed to be epoxied into the aluminum mast section. I know it is on my Getaway and was on my previous H-17s. I understand that it's really not supposed to be a 2 piece detachable mast.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Its supposed to be a 2 piece mast. The comptip flange is the stop. Mine is chipped and I did a gflex patch on it. Do you keep the mast up all the time?
I take mine apart each sail, so I actually lubed mine for easier disassembly.

t-rad it right. The classic model Wave was designed with option to break down and tie to the roof rack. The mast therefore can be taken apart and goes nicely between the hulls. My little Yota handles it well.

Hi,
No the mast is not left up. Boat very new Club model, but the flange started to chip from the first sail. Surprised that the flange is not made of something more structural than brittle gel coat. Might need to use carbon cloth to make a new flange.

Carbon cloth is very good in tension, not so much in compression and abrasion resistance, which is what you need here. Additionally, you don't ever want carbon to come in contact with aluminum in the presence of an electrolyte (salt water). The galvanic corrosion of the aluminum can be ferocious.

A paste of epoxy / colloidial silica / chopped fiberglass and tinted black would do well to rebuild the flange.

Yeah! What the guru said. Outstanding

Thanks for this great information.

Cheers

Its just cosmetic putty... More recent (Wave and Getaway) CompTips and older ones should not chip (as easily). There was a change to molds some years ago and a radius was removed. The connection became flush metal to CTip. As the mast bends the putty is compressed and chips. You can grind out a small gap if you are having this issue.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

mmiller: Good info! Currently I have been struggling with wear at the joint between the upper and lower mast. The wear occurred at this joint because I keep my boat mooreed in the water with the mast up all summer. This is because I don't have a good place to take it out of the water in front of my house. Consequently, the waves hitting against the boat making it rock thinned the upper part of the lower mast, and chipped the lower part of the upper mast. Amy suggestions of an easy way to take the mast down and while in the water?


FYI, to address the thinning of the lower mast, I hacked sawed off about 3/8" and sanded it. To address the chipping of the upper mast, I tried to fiberglass it. I guess it worked, but cosmetically it's not pretty.

Charlie

you're the Guru Gordo,,,,