Help! I recently bought a 1987 Hobie 17, I bought a mesh Tramp from Murrays.com, and don't know the best way to remove the old ripped one or install the new one. The hull cross bars are flush with the decks, and there is no widened area in the channel tracks. How do you get this thing on. Do I have to grind an insert area in the channel, or loosen the cross bars from the Hull? Please help. Thanks
Yes, you have to unbolt the crossbars, both if them.
You will need a 1/4" hex wrench.
There is a small hole in the top of the CBs, just over the bolt.
Remove the single bolt and push the hull outward. The crossbar is designed to jam into a hidden casting at the outer edge of the hull.
If you got the two diagonal pieces tramp it is easy to install.
The one big piece tramp is more difficult.
Thanks for the help. I bought the aftermarket, three piece, black mesh Tramp from Murrays, and unfortunately, the guy I ordered it from, didn't have a clue as to how to install it. Can this repair be done by one man? It seems relatively straight forward. Any potential problems I should be aware of?
It is a one person job.
If your old tramp is totally trashed, then cut off to get it out of the way. If it is repairable at all, remove it and save it.
You can leave the boat on the trailer.
If saving the old tramp: remove all lacing, slide the old tramp out of the hull tracks, unbolt one side, tilt the hull out to release the crossbars, slide the old tramp out of the crossbars, slide the new tramp pieces into the crossbars first, bolt the hull back, tighten ALL crossbar bolts, feed the tramp into the tracks along the hulls, lace down the center first, lace across the back last.
I prefer a small no-stretch line.