After getting "Ryan's Boat #1" (http://www.thebeachcats.com/forums/viewtopic/topic/13367), I noticed that I needed a lot of things to get the boat going. I looked on good ol' Craigslist and saw a posting with a list of boats. After seeing a 14' Hobiecat on the list, I decided to call. The guy wanted next to nothing for the boat and trailer. I figured ahh wth. The hulls were trash but it has the pylons I needed and a few other things. I bought the boat.

When I had it home I started to look the boat over a bit better. The pontoons had some really bad soft spots, but they were 100% sealed. it seemed that the boat was all there mechanically, then I found and put this on:

The sail was in the capped 10" culvert that was mounted on the trailer. The guy was stating of how the sailbox broke off the trailer, but everything was right there in the pipe. The sail looks perfect. Its not brittle or faded, and the colors are sweet! I then cleaned the boat and played around with it while inspecting as I went. (and no, I couldn't propel my truck with the sail)

Cleaned the boat:




Once I decided that I would fix the boat, rather than use it for parts, I started working on the hulls. I started by stripping the few coats of red paint to reveal the original orange paint. I think the H16 version of this boat was the "Flamer" design. Here is a sail chart for 16's (cant find one for 14's). http://www.hobiecat.com/s…dfs/SailColorHistory.pdf
Oh ... looks as if my boat is a 1976 ... Pays to look at the title.
But as I was saying, My boat is like the #16 on the chat (1975). I also took the trampoline off to ease access.

Stripping paint:





After stripping / smoothing the faded and rough paint off, I started marking out my soft spots and making guides for my epoxy injection. The squares are about 2x2. This process went really fast. I used a random board with ~ a 2" width, and I used the straight edge on it to make the grid. Drilled with small bit (same size as small injector).




After marking and drilling I fooled around with some epoxy. I have only had time to do the front of 1 pontoon and it turned out ROCK HARD (YESSSSS!). I cant wait to get on it and get the sucker epoxied, sealed, and painted. I need to get on it!
WHEW! what a long post ... sorry for my rambling.

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Hobie cat 14 196?
Hobie cat 14 1976 Flamer
Coarsegold, CA
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The number etched on the transom (rear of the pontoon) shown in one of your pictures is the serial number. It should match the one on the title. You are right in that it is a 1976 model. The last three digits of the serial number, '76E indicate a 1976 model made in the fifth month of production with September being the first month (A = September, B = October, etc). It's similar to cars. So your boat appears to be a 1976 model manufactured in January of 1976.

The sail color chart indicates only the first year a color pattern was made available. Many of the the color options were available on all three Hobie models sold at the time. The Flamer edition was first available with the 1975 model year but it was around for several years after and was quite popular as I recall. You definitely have a classic. When I bought my first Hobie 16 in December of 1978 that was one of the color options I considered. I ended up getting the Tequila Sunrise sails with blue hulls though since that was what the dealer had in stock at the moment. I knew nothing about sailing by the way. Did that boat ever take a beating. Over the years, all the colored gelcoat hulls faded pretty badly including my blue hulls but the reds and oranges seemed to be the worst. No surprise there.

The H14 is designed for single handed sailing. Hobie Alter designed it specifically for surfing in the ocean, but thats another story. The ideal weight for an H14 is about 150 to 155 pounds (I weigh 150) so I think you will find the boat pretty ideal and a lot of fun to sail. You likely will need some type of righting device for it though. I have an '84 model that I've sunk far more money into than I care to admit. I frequently tool around on it for an afternoon in Tampa Bay by myself and its a blast. I doubt I'll ever part with it. Now if I could only get my wife to sail an H14 too ...

Good luck on your repairs and good sailing.



Edited by DaveW70 on Apr 20, 2012 - 08:17 AM.

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Dave Wilson
Hobie 16, Hobie 14
Tampa, FL
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Hey, no worries about the long post. And thanks for the high res pictures. It's GREAT to see that procedure documented. I may need to do that to parts of my boat, so the more stories and pictures about curing delam, the merrier.

I think you made a good call on this boat, to fix it up rather than part it out. Looks like you're gonna have two nice Hobies when you're all done!

Tom

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Tom Benedict
Island of Hawaii
P-Cat 18 / Sail# 361 / HA 7633 H / "Smilodon"
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I have been making very good progress on the boat in my spare time. I have been injecting the hulls with fiberglass resin, and epoxy in the more crucial areas. Here are some pics of the process.






Edited by skellington on May 16, 2012 - 05:38 PM.

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Hobie cat 14 196?
Hobie cat 14 1976 Flamer
Coarsegold, CA
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On the next hull, use 2" masking tape and tape off entire area to be repaired, mark out drill pattern on tape, drill and fill, when resin/epoxy has set, strip off tape and viola! no spill to clean up.......

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TurboHobo
H14T
H16
P18
G-Cat 5.0
P16
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I am failure with the process of covering the area, but I plan to strip this all down and start using marine filler to even everything out before paint. I figured I'd save my tape.

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Hobie cat 14 196?
Hobie cat 14 1976 Flamer
Coarsegold, CA
--

Hey Ryan.. I have a H16 that you can practice on. he he he.. Say, are you ever down in Clovis?? There is a chap there who has a set of rudders for me.. Be great if you could pick them up. BTW How are the rudders on your boats?? I am still saving that 14 for you. Let me know if it is not in your plans. I have the rigging, mast, boom and blocks.. Cheers Hal

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Hal Liske
Livermore CA
H 16 (6+ 1.. Friends) H 3.2 N 5.2 (2) H 17 (2) H-18
Nacra 5.8 (son's) H 20 (Friends)
It's a Sickness

I Need a A Cat Please
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DaveW70

The number etched on the transom (rear of the pontoon) shown in one of your pictures is the serial number. It should match the one on the title. You are right in that it is a 1976 model. The last three digits of the serial number, '76E indicate a 1976 model made in the fifth month of production with September being the first month (A = September, B = October, etc). It's similar to cars. So your boat appears to be a 1976 model manufactured in January of 1976.

Dave,

I'm pretty sure that under the old HIN system that August was month number one (A). So a 76E would have been manufactured in December 1975 but be considered a 1976 model.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
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skellington

I am failure with the process of covering the area, but I plan to strip this all down and start using marine filler to even everything out before paint. I figured I'd save my tape.

I am not even sure what I was saying there lol

halliske

Hey Ryan.. I have a H16 that you can practice on. he he he.. Say, are you ever down in Clovis?? There is a chap there who has a set of rudders for me.. Be great if you could pick them up. BTW How are the rudders on your boats?? I am still saving that 14 for you. Let me know if it is not in your plans. I have the rigging, mast, boom and blocks.. Cheers Hal

I am around clovis often. If you can send me the info about your rudders Id be glad to grab them for you. My rudders are good, both sets. I am interested in that boat that you have, but I have been very busy with work.

DamonLinkous

DaveW70

The number etched on the transom (rear of the pontoon) shown in one of your pictures is the serial number. It should match the one on the title. You are right in that it is a 1976 model. The last three digits of the serial number, '76E indicate a 1976 model made in the fifth month of production with September being the first month (A = September, B = October, etc). It's similar to cars. So your boat appears to be a 1976 model manufactured in January of 1976.

Dave,

I'm pretty sure that under the old HIN system that August was month number one (A). So a 76E would have been manufactured in December 1975 but be considered a 1976 model.

sounds correct to me.

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Hobie cat 14 196?
Hobie cat 14 1976 Flamer
Coarsegold, CA
--

I have been working on my cars lately so boat work has been a bit skinny. I have finished pontoon #1 when it comes to the delamination issues. So I just need to fill, fare and get paint on it. #2 hull has one side injected and awaiting a good smoothing. The other is the worst of all the sides. The bad side has nearly the whole inside delaminated. It will be a PITA to do. I am considering different methods to fix this because using the tiny injectors will take me a while.
Progress:

The less holes in my boat = the happier I am

All smooth
Any ideas for the large delam? I am open to ideas.

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Hobie cat 14 196?
Hobie cat 14 1976 Flamer
Coarsegold, CA
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No tips on that job, but here is some info on manufacturer/dates/builds for almost any boat available in the USA/Canada.

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx
http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm

Be sure to send some photos when you get that project on the water. As to your original post, no one here gets flamed for long posts, & newbies are given extreme slack...except sometimes when Philip gets too many chicks on his Nacra, & goes off the deep end...ignore his rants, we'll save you.



Edited by Edchris177 on Jun 27, 2012 - 10:49 PM.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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Edchris177

Be sure to send some photos when you get that project on the water.

Will do. I have an interesting paint theme for it.

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Hobie cat 14 196?
Hobie cat 14 1976 Flamer
Coarsegold, CA
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