Would someone mind giving me a brief explanation about how the hulls are removed from the frame members on a 1985 Hobie 18? Are there any issues with removing hulls?
I'm planning on injecting the deck in the upcoming months; however the boat just won't fit in my garage assembled.
The job will be a lot easier if could make the boat narrower, i.e. hull removal. Also this way I could store the boat indoors for the winter.
Its not too hard. You have to unlace the tramp and remove the front panels. Remove bridle wires, remove rudders.Then there is a bolt going through the deck lips into the beams. Remove one on each side of hull. Lift the beams off and your done.
-- Greenville SC
Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans --
Not as easy as you say. I've had to take a cut-off grinder to a lip bolt frozen with corrision & not easy to do because of access problem. Try loosening them all first before committing to the task. Pete
Since you have a 1985 there is another issue you should address besides the delamination. The 1984-86 H18's were built particularly lightly and a good number of them have had a hull break off just in front of the front beam.
There are large stainless anchor plates that can be added at the beam connection and extra fiberglass cloth can be added inside the hulls at the stress points. Since you are going to disassemble and do fiberglass work anyway it would be good to do the reinforcement as well.
Don't have time to hunt down the pictures right now maybe someone else can.