H16 hull "crack" repair

1981 Nationals boat

Inboard of the hull, four inches from bottom, is a horizontal crack approximately eight to ten inches in length. Coincidentaly? It lines up pertfectly, fore and aft, on center with the forward pylon. If I push in, above or below it, I cannot feel much, if any flextion of the side.

Is something going on inside the hull that has caused this crack? The boat is disassembled and wiggling the pylon (inside to outside) I detect a slight movement (maybe 1/8"). This crack was covered in duct tape, which upon removal, revealed a feeble attempt at fixing with the wrong shade of gelcoat only. I was told the boat doesn't take on water (and there is absolutely no reason to not believe this), I was also told "Just don't sail it in heavy air", well around here that is the rule rather than the exception.

Another question. This boat has set for several years. Probably related to this crack a port has been installed between the pylons (in this hull only) and it is "frozen" closed. I've beat on it to the point of, if I get more serious at trying to free it I'll be replacing the whole port. Any tricks? Penetrating oil or otherwise?

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

You can bet that the pylon shoe has broken loose and is shoving down into the keel causing the crack.

Access the inside. Pour some resin between the hull side wall and shoe. Then glass the shoe in best as possible to lock it in place again. Do an external repair and off you go.

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

OK (I'm getting better at using the search feature), but I needed the key word "shoe"...Matt, you're invaluable.



So, if possible, put a layer glass above, below, fore and aft of the shoe?

ps this picture was posted by Matt B in an earlier post, not our boat! ps

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

Shoe... thats it!

You can see where it can both break loose from the side and where the horizontal crack would be along the bottom of the shoe as it is forced down into the keel.

Yep, resin and glass under and around if possible to bond back in.

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