Primarily ocean sailing boat, taking on a substantial amount of water in the port hull. I thought it was the drain housing by the plug, but I put marine silicone and believe I fixed it. It pours in from being submerged from the swells. I know there is a 'small' leak in front of the center board area, but it just barely drips. What suggestions does anyone have? I was only out for about 1 1/2 before there was about 2-4 inches in the hull, I mean the entire lenght of the hull! I'm in San Diego...like it matters, but I need some suggestions. For one, I need to be safe, and for two, I need to sail longer than a few hours! Thanks guys!
i would be checking the centre board case more throughly. on our 18 we took a fair bit of water through the case. when the boat is moving the case act like a pump put great pressure inside the case therefore opening the cracks. also check under the front beams, i know of a boat who had cracks under the beams. this boat was about 13 years old and the cracks appeared where the boat sits on the trailer. just out of curiousity how old is your boat??
I have repaired at least 8 Hobie 18s and 18Ms in our fleet that had cracks under both front and rear crossbars and shroud connectors. Some cracks were a foot long and the hull had not broken off yet, amazingly. But they WILL BREAK if not repaired. Some of these had been older boats- pre'85 without the reinforcing D-plates. Magnums often split under the left front and right rear crossbar, sometimes at the inside lip but usually the outside lip. The wings add too much stress that the boat was not designed for. Turn them over and add epoxy/ fiberglass inside, even in front of the crossbar, as far as you can reach.
Signed, Catcobbler
I had two Hobie 18s from 1980 until 2000, the second one being a 1985 Magnum. It had a large open crack on each hull under the main beam and no reinforcing plates. After substantial repairs, we added the plates and had a dry boat again. Get them, they are worth the effort. I also repaired the centerboard case by mixing epoxy with microballons to a peanut butter consistency and then filling the bottom flange in all around on both hulls. That stiffened the whole case up substantially and stopped the leaking. It is fairly easy to do if you take the hulls apart and put them up on saw horses where it is easy to work on them with your (gloved) fingers for application tools.
Good luck,
Mike Fahle Toledo
My 18' was leaking in the seam that seperates the deck from the hull. As you know, they are seperate forms. I ended up pumping air into yhe hull and spraying the seam with dish detergent and finding the bubbles. I marked the bubble areas with a black marker then came back and opened those areas with a thin screwdriver and injected 5200.
Leaks no more.......
fill the hull up with smoke and blow at the drain plug (if you have an air source it is easier) see where the smoke comes out. a small crack can flex when under sail and leak more at that time.
One more place to check: I had hull H-18 #301 and I ended up having both transoms leak because the joint of the transom and hull on the bottom was not heavy enough and after multiple rudder pop ups from hitting bottom they developed hairline cracks which only opened up under sailing conditions. Over time they increased, forcing me to cut inspection ports on the decks behind the cross bar, routering out the effected areas and reglassing. The repairs worked great for the years I owned it afterward. I am not sure if this weakness was just the boat I had, or because it was one of the first ones built. Also could have been I had the kick up adjusted a bit too tight. They are great boats and I hope you have a lot of fun with it this summer.