Hobie Cat Forums

So when I tore the hobie apart I noticed there where no "vent tubes" in the front pylon. I'm not too sure what they are and I forget who said it but it was mentioned briefly in another post. What are they for and how I should I replace them before I re-foam them.

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An Old Hobie 14... Not A Clue To The Year... Needs Extensive Work...

the vent tube is that little tube in the center of the pylon:


If your hulls are tight the heating / cooling (expansion / contraction) of air in the hulls will do some major delam damage not to mention the condensation in the hulls it is has no where to go.

If they aren't there i can't imagine what would have happened to them.

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

Probably been replugged already with the tubes omitted. I think any kind of small plastic (1/4' dia.?) tube would work so long as it wasn't damaged by the new foam (assuming you're using expanding foam). I think you can actually buy the factory foam plugs from Hobie.....not sure if they come with the vent tube or even a pre-made hole for it.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

It looks like they re-foamed them without putting in the tubes. Expanding foam, is there a special kind or can I use the stuff from my local hardware store? And would 1/4 or 1/8 be better for the tubes? Can't imagine it would have to be bigger than 1/8.

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An Old Hobie 14... Not A Clue To The Year... Needs Extensive Work...