Hobie Cat Forums

It has been 22 years since the last Hobie Cat left my driveway. I raced a 14 before I went to college. Took a 14 the college in the Keys and sailed an 18 up and down the east coast.
I picked up this 1980, 16 footer from a barn here in Indiana and plan on doing a rebuild. I am looking to epoxy the frame, replace the tramp, tune the rudder assembly and replace the rigging with Harken products.
I would appreciate any and all thoughts concerning the rebuild. I am sure that there are new and better ideas that have come up over the past 20 years.
Here are a couple pictures and thank you in advance for any and all help.
Well I need to figure how to add pictures. LOL Any help?
Thanks Mark

The temps here were over 20 so I spent some times checking the hulls. They appear to be in solid shape without and delamination. The first thing I am going to need to replace is the tramp.
What are the thoughts on this these days. Factory, aftermarket, vinyl, mesh, three piece or two piece? There are no active fleets up here now so I do not believe that fleet racing is going to be an option. The last boat I owned had double grommet ed tramp and a very rigid frame.
Any thoughts would be great.
Thanks
Mark

I would go for the replacement hobie cat tramp. I have heard that aftermarket tramps need to be restitched after a few years.

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http://www.GetWetSailing.com It's A Great Day To Sail!

Vinyl or Mesh?

seaweek 88,what part of Indiana do you live in?I am in Columbus,In if you need any help....Bill 404 21SE

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Bill 404 21SE

Thank you for the offer Bill. I am in Elkhart, 2 miles south of the Michigan line. I have 2 boys, one in High School and one in College who have never even seen a Hobie in the water. I want to use this cat to introduce them to cat sailing. Thanks again for the offer.

Let's get together at Weko Beach this summer.I will bring my 21SE and we can party on Lake Michigan.Please get the park people to prune those tree at the entrance to the boat ramp.I need nearly 38' clearance with my boat through on the trailer and snake through those annoying branches ....take a drive up to Brighman MI ,just south of St. Joe, and check it out.They have a wonderful beach and park staff are great people.If I lived where you lived ,I would spend my weekends there.
Enjoy the coming sailing season...Bill 404 21SE

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Bill 404 21SE

Funny you should say that. We used to leave our boats at Waco and camp up there for the summer. I heard they have cabins up there now. I do think that is something we should plan on. I sailed my 14 from there one summer to Chicago armed with my boy scout compass a 12 pack of beer a bucket of chicken and a road atlas. Makes you wonder how I ever got so old.

If I were to go with a factory tramp what is the difference between the vinyl and the mesh tramp? Which gives you the tightest boat and what are the advantages of each?

I have the original white tramp on my 21SE and it's an "89.Vinyl will last and last.My 16 has a nice black mesh tramp that is after market and it looks great.
I use 3/8 bungee line and pull it tight than I lace in a black line to reduce the bounce from the bungee.

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Bill 404 21SE

A factory mesh tramp is the way to go (says voice of 38 years of experience with Hobie 16s).

The factory tramps are welded, not sewn. Double grommets are standard now, as are trapeze grommets (trap shock cord runs through these, not around the sidebar).

Use a small diameter, no stretch line to lace the tramp. Pre-bend the sidebars first by pulling them to center with your mainsheet, then install the tramp.


The best part about having a mesh tramp is no puddles to sit in.

Thank you for the reply. There is a Hobie dealer down at Lake Wawawsee that I can contact about a tramp. Is there a better place to pick up a tramp or is the price on Hobie parts still pretty much the same?
Thanks again for the help!
Mark

Do you think that a boat with a mesh tramp is as stiff as a boat with a vinyl tramp?

There's probably no difference in stiffness (especially since you're going to have a glued boat).

No serious racer has had a solid tramp in a long time.

I do thank you for that. I will start looking for a mesh tramp next week. Any ideas on where to pick one up?
I hope that when this is done at least one of my sons will become infected with "Hobie Fever" as I was.
I do wish everyone a safe and happy new years eve. And truly wish all a very prosperous New Year.