I am new to this great forum and need some advise on winter storage. I have recently read here about H16 sailors breaking down (dismantling) their boats for compact storage. I am currently wintering two H16s in a storage yard, and paying big bucks to
sail
them there through our Colorado winters.
I was once told not to mess with the corner casting/post connection, especially the nylon cored stainless nuts. (my boats are '78 and '82). Yet, it seems very interesting to break down the tramp from the hulls as I have room and good access in my attic for the hulls, and the tramp could easily be pully lashed on the ceiling of my tall garage stalls.
would I expect to have major hull alignment problems during reassembly and/or would I be inviting sloppiness in the reassembled boat? Is this just as simple as using a socket set on the connections? (my newer boat is inherently tight, and gives great speed for its age, and I don't want to screw that up). Help from experienced H16 dismanters will be much appreciated. Thanks, JDB
Hello,
I do not think you are going to run into any problems when you take the bolt and nut off from the plyons. If you can, I would store the complete trampoline assembly together and not mess with the corner castings. If you really want to get into it, you can re-revit the castings and that would improve the feel of your boat. I think it depends on how mechanically inclined you are, the more you are, the more you realize that the Hobie 16 is put together with just pop rivets. It is up to you, but if you want to save yourself the hassle, leave it together and just detach the hulls. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away... This forum is great and alot of people on here have alot of knowledge.
I have a 14 and a 16. I used to break down the 14 every winter. The procedure should be the same. After removing the nuts use a wooden/rubber hamer or a piece of 2x4 to drive the bolts part way out. Use vice grips to pull them the rest of the way out. Lube may help. Take your hammer or 2x4 and gently began tapping the underside of the corner castings. Walk around and around the boat gently tapping each corner up a 1/4 inch at a time. Lube may help. When you get near disconnection you better get some help to hold the hull that is about to come loose. Make sure you lubricate the pylons when you reassemble. Be prepared to order nuts or bolts in case you bugger them during removal.
Greg,
H14,H16