Newer H16 - FRAME CREAKING #%@(@#*%& ???

A friend has a newer 16. (2002) mint... Every time we sail the creaking noise drives me nuts. (us nuts). With each shift in the wind and each movement we make on the tramp, each of the 4 pylons creak loud. I'd mentioned he may need to?

1. tighten the bolts? they likely are tight
2. turn upside down and fill with epoxy - (I know many do this for stiffness) but seems extreme
3. try to get some lube inside the frame where the pylons go in?
4. put some nylon material/washers between pylon and bolt?

ANYONE know why or have a easy solution? I've sailed dozens of 16s and never experienced this before. Frame seems rigid. when we pull the boat in and out I don't see flex in the hulls which I have seen on old boats (that didn't creak).

Minute movement between the crossbars and hull surface is the most likely culprit, I would think. If you loosened the attachment bolts and squirted a little silicone or wax lube in there you might find things would quieten down.

On the other hand, I applied this same idea to another boat I have and the grunting and groaning actually got worse.

My guess would be that it may actually be the side bars moving in the corner castings and not the crossbars/pylons. The side bars are a looser fit in the castings and when you sail, if you sit on the tramp, you can actually feel them moving around. At least that was the case on the 14 I sailed at this year's NAC - it had some creaking going on and I could feel the side bars move when it made noise. Maybe coat them in silicone caulk before installing.

sm

+1

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

We'll try to narrow it down next time out - and see if we can verify it's the side bars. Thanks for the suggestion.

Skip the caulk.

From Christensen's, "Welcome To A Fleet", circa 1978. Mine's buried somewhere in the den.

Use your choice of aluminum beverage can. As I remember, we used Old Style. Cut and fold pieces and cram them between the castings and rails and beams. Use a screwdriver and a hammer and drive them in to make them tight, then tighten the tramp.

Makes for a tight boat.

As mentioned above, the side rails are probably the main culprit.

I was very disappointed when my relatively new 2004 Hobie 16 creaked louder than the 1971 boat I owned for 30 years. Roughly two years ago, Matt Miller posted that the factory had been chamfering the sharp edges of the side rails to prevent creaks on new boats.

I decided to give it a try by filing down the sharp edges of the side rails and sprayed some Boeshield B9 in the corner castings for good measure. The result was a dramatically quieter boat -- well worth the effort.

I have a 2008 H16 that is creaking as well. My previous 1985 was very quiet with minimal creaking. I would be interested to understand what actually takes away the creaking.

Thanks

_________________
Jake C

2008 Hobie 16

It has to do with the interaction of the sidebar in the casting, so lubrication or seating in something like 3M 5200 will quiet it.

This became an issue when we started using french castings... hardness of the anodize maybe.

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

Any suggestions on how to seat it without actually taking boat apart?

Inject?

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

Can you elaborate?

I would suggest taking it apart... the only other option would be to inject sealant in the gaps to stabilize the bar under load. Dampen the sound?

No proven advise here.

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

Is the tramp tight. It should be tight enough that the side bars bow in a tad. If not it will cause a creeking.