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Hull damage at front crossbar
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=51405		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  buxton [ Tue May 27, 2014 4:52 am ]
Post subject:  Hull damage at front crossbar
We have a 92' 17 Sport at our locale lake that is showing signs of something hitting the hull from the inside at the front crossbar and pushing out and it has cracked the gelcoat. It's the same on both sides, looking at the parts manual, I see a support bar that the striker goes through with the nut and think that may have something to do with it. I will be taking his boat apart later this week to find the cause and repair the damage.
This can't be the first time this has happened to a 17. He's not and aggressive sailor and rarely gets a hull out of the water. Does anyone have any knowledge on this you could share with me?

Image
Author:  srm [ Tue May 27, 2014 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hull damage at front crossbar
It should not be related to the dolphin striker rod. The dolphin striker is completely contained in the front crossbar, so it would not contact the outside of the hull at all.

I would recommend that you install a 5" diameter access port behind the front crossbar so you can look inside and reinforce if necessary. The access port is also very helpful as far as storing items in the hull while sailing as well as well as keeping the boat dry. The access port will also allow you to reinforce the front of the centerboard well (an area that is often damaged by the centerboard spring).

I would also check the crossbar end caps (the parts that are screwed to the hull) after you remove the crossbars. It's possible that the end cap screws have loosened and allowed the crossbar connection to flex the hull.

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Author:  buxton [ Fri May 30, 2014 2:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hull damage at front crossbar
Thanks for the info, I haven't heard from him yet as to when he will be bringing it over to my place. I do have 1 5" access port in stock so if he lets me install it I will. At first I was thinking it would be open when I removed the crossbar and why I thought it might be the support bar for striker rod, make sense that it won't be. I'll let you know what I find when I get the job.
Author:  haroldeck [ Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hull damage at front crossbar
I have a 1987 H17.

I had something similar to this happen over the winter, but only on 1 side.

I concluded that water had gotten in through the crossbar while sailing (I flipped it a lot right after I first got it), the water then froze over the winter and pushed out on the hull.

It wasn't that bad, so I have not thought about for a year or 2. Now I'm wondering.
Author:  buxton [ Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hull damage at front crossbar
I still haven't got the boat here, I'm not sure if he will being it before the end of the season as it's kept at the lake with mast up as per regulations. After we talked the first day, he went home and thought about it and felt the same as you about ice as he does not cover it during the winter. I myself wouldn't wait, and water seeps into the fiberglass as all the gelcoat is cracked. I told him to put some silicone or something over it and he said: "What the 2 coats of wax won't keep the water out"
Author:  gmhendo [ Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hull damage at front crossbar
Buxton I have seen hull damage caused by high point loading usually associated with trailer rollers and over-tightened straps. The damage cam be caused by the moving trailer or by crew on the boat during rigging. It may be something different but this might be a cause.
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