Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:01 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:06 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:22 pm
Posts: 263
Hi guys,
I just got a Hobie 20 with some needs. The boat and hulls are in pretty decent shape but there are some areas that are going to need patched due to parking lot rash. 3 of the areas are very small but I think they might actually penetrate the hull. The others are just cosmetic.

I would prefer to patch without needing to spray gelcoat afterwords so a white pigmented poly would be preferable.

Question #1. Will the white pigmented poly match the white hulls of the boat well enough to consider this option?

Question #2. What product would you recommend and were can I buy it online?

Question #3. Can I mix poly with Cabosil (sp?) like I do with epoxy to thicken it up for horizontal applications?

Question #4. Does Cabosil weaken the bond/strength of the repair?

Thanks for your help and I really look forward to learning to sail this boat.

_________________
H18 '85
H18 '89 "Knotty Passion"
H20 '96 "20/20 Vision"
Fleet 259 Central Coast California


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:37 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
Gelcoat is pigmented polyester resin. So for cosmetic repairs, use gelcoat. Hobie sells their gelcoat which is not likely to be a perfect match (because all the batches are slightly different over the years), but probably close enough. You can mix it with the thickening agent of your choice and brush it on if you don't have spraying equip. After it cures, wet sand and polish it.

Bond strength is highly dependent on having a clean, rough surface. So scuff the area first with sand paper and then wipe with acetone. After you've cleaned the repair area, don't touch it with bare hands or anything dirty.

sm


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:41 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:55 am
Posts: 353
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
I bought my last gallon of white gel coat from http://www.uscomposites.com It matched my 92 H18 almost perfectly.

_________________
1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:48 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:58 am
Posts: 593
Location: Knoxville, TN
If you want to mix up some polyester to push into dents and cracks (grind out cracks a little wider and then press the poly into them), West System 406 Colloidal Silica works well as a thickening agent. You can thicken to the extent that your polyesther has the consistency of peanut butter. Another option that I haven't tried yet but has been recommended on this forum is Evercoat Formula 27. It's a pre-thickened poly product. If you want to thicken a batch of gel to push through a sprayer, I'm out of suggestions. You can probably find both 406 and Formula 27 at West Marine or other similar stores.

_________________
Mark Van Doren
H16 Seabreeze #112205 (Richard Petty Signature Edition)
H14T Fantasia #47787
San Juan 28


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:26 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:24 am
Posts: 84
I see in your tag line Fleet 259 - that you are in central California -
If you are needing Fibreglass and Gelcoat repair I VERY STRONGLY recommend
that you contact Craig Smith of Elkhorn Composites and schedule a trip up to Watsonville CA for getting your Hobie 20 fixed up (831) 722 1654.
I my opinion, it would be very well worth your trip.

Craig has been working on the Hobies for division 3 sailors and has seen most of the Hobie 20 Fleet in Northern California come through his shop. We could even schedule time on helping you learn to sail with some of us 20 sailors here.

The regatta schedule is up on Division 3 web page - come on up and play with us Hobie 20 sailors here!

http://div3.hobieclass.com/

- Dwight.

_________________
Dwight Manning
Hobie 20 #916 San Jose CA 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 20 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 18 #916 Santa Cruz CA 1989 Worlds Boat
Hobie 16 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2005 Custom Main
Hobie 16 #54466 Calling Lake Alta Tequila sunrise


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:48 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:22 pm
Posts: 263
Thanks Dwight!

Yes I am in the new 259 fleet and I am committed to racing my H18 this year in Div 2 & 3. I plan on getting this H20 into shape this year and learning how to sail it before I give you guys a chance to kick my @ss. :D I am sure we will meet at one of the races this year.

Thank you for the reference to Craig. I will defiantly give him a call.

BTW. This boat came with a spinnaker. The bag it is in looks to sit on the tramp. Can rigs like these (and the sail) be converted to a SNU type of set up? And before all you Admirals jump on me about flying a spin on a H20.........I know I need to walk before I run.....I am just curious.

_________________
H18 '85
H18 '89 "Knotty Passion"
H20 '96 "20/20 Vision"
Fleet 259 Central Coast California


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:28 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:24 am
Posts: 84
Here is a link to a Hobie 20 conversion that I believe Tim Parsons did with Mark Lewis and Mark Zimmer on their Hobie 20s using SNU set up. Steve Reese also has it and they have done the Delta Ditch Run with Spinnakers on the Hobie 20.

http://www.gobarefootstudio.com/PDFs/SNU_H20Spin_1.pdf

I havent done the conversion and this spring I plan to bug Tim on helping me get a set up for my 20.

I also have a Hobie 18 that I race rarely now and is my beach boat in Santa Cruz for the summer. I race the Hobie 20 and am usually near the back and am still trying to get close to these rock stars.

- Dwight

_________________
Dwight Manning
Hobie 20 #916 San Jose CA 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 20 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 18 #916 Santa Cruz CA 1989 Worlds Boat
Hobie 16 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2005 Custom Main
Hobie 16 #54466 Calling Lake Alta Tequila sunrise


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group