a friend of mine just gave me a hobie 16 catamaran the sails are in good shape and the trampoline is also in good shape but once i got the boat home and was cleaning her i started to notice that the hulls have alot of soft spots on the tops of them
any one know if this can be repaired of so how would i go about doing so
i would really like to learn to sail and use this boat i have always wanted a catamaran my whole life.
texoma1,
How soft are the tops? Can you push them down more than 1/2"? There's always a solution.
So this is your first boat and it's a catamaran, that's excellent.
Unless you feel the structural integrity of the hulls is going to give, read everything you can find about sailing and especially sailing catamarans, rig the boat and go sailing.
The only caution I can tell you is to pick a day when the winds aren't too strong.
You'll absolutely enjoy it.
Check out the following link
http:/
This gives a method of repairing soft spots on the hull. I've not done this repair but there must be many out there that can say whether it's a good method or not.
In addition to Matt's link, try the "On The Wire" archives at: www.thebeachcats.com . I know people have covered this repair on that site. I would suggest you give more info on location, and size of soft spots so that they can be evaluated here, before taking her out. But by all means get her solid and get out and enjoy her! The H16 is a really fun, great boat! They are both, harder to tack, and more prone to pitchpoling than newer designs, but they are also rugged durable boats that can be sailed in an amazing spectrum of winds! I'd rather be on one than on a Nacra in 25 to 30 knot winds! They are an absolute blast in 15 to 20! Have fun!
well the soft spots are pritty much all over the tops and sides of the hulls
i realy dont under stand it really
i have read up on the hobie hulls and they say that they are three layers fiber glass / foam and gelcoat
what i dont understand here is when i look inside the hulls throught the drain plug hole and the sun shining on the out side it looks like they are nothing but thin fiberglass
is it possible that my hulls are not layerd and are just fiberglass ?
anyone ever know if hobie made fiberglass hulls
also anyone know what would be the best way to find out if they are layered or just fiberglass