srm wrote:
All that being said, I am still curious as to what Hobie recommends as the official patch method. There are a couple of posts with the same 1984 hulls with black glue and what appears to be an insufficient sized patch. Matt Miller recommended the patch be added on those boats.
Official? Hmmm,
I have done the patch on at least 5 redline boats and none on "Black Glue" boats. (I have owned over 35 18s). I have used Carbon and fiberglass mat and really don't see any difference. I do worry that the carbon is less flexable than the rest of the boat and could create related stress cracks in boundary areas. I have never seen one fail again after repair in that area under either technique. But, the redline boat will continue to fail in other areas. Rear cross bar areas being the next worse.
Love them all but the white 1983 is a battle axe. Heavy, strong and probably one of the most durable years ever built.
Love the reinforcement plates...