Aft Beam Assembly Question

Older 18. I have reviewed assembly instructions...not sure what I am talking about.

Starboard hull.

The aft inboard beam attachment will not accept the channels. It, the opening between the deck lip and the hull (trough) is too narrow.

Now, I know these boats are generally the same, being popped out of molds...with hulls and decks joined later.

And this boat sailed...so, am I all wet and the channels are not used as backing to the bolts or is something amiss?

As far as I can ascertain, just one channel part number is used on the 18, #6110000.


Thanks.

Sooo the channels will not fit up in the lip? Is the outboard bolt loose?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Not even close. Like half inch of air between underside and the back side of channel.

Thanks for concern. Very odd, considering.

The aft inboard recesses for the crossbar anchor plates are tighter then all the others. Not really sure why they made them that way since it's a bit of a pain. Anyway, you can try squeezing the anchor channel closed slightly using a bench vice. That's what I had to do when fitting the upgraded anchor plates in the back of my boat. I guess if it's still too tight, you could try to grind away a little of the gelcoat inside the recess to give more room. Bot if you're able to get the channel part way into the recess and the bolt started in the crossbar, I would just carefully tighten the bolt and see if the channel will seat itself. If I recall correctly, the recess opens up a little at the top, so it may be a matter of just getting the hull flange to flex slightly so the channel can pop in.

sm

Thank-you srm, will give that a try.

+1 for the wider at the top statement, you can't start the bolt before the channel is close in many of the old 18s or it will carve its way into the boat. If you can jimmy it up in there so it is mostly straight then you're ok to tighten it up the rest of the way.

_________________
Tom
Fleet 259, Central Coast CA
H18 ('81)
H18 ('85)
H20 ('97)
H18 ('78)