Help with comptip chip/crack

I’d like input to diagnose a repair. This fall I found a small 5/16” chip and crack in the surface coating of the mast about 3 feet from the top end. Upon further inspection there is a depression in the coating extending 3-4” above and below the chip following along about 3/8” from the sail track. When pressing on the depression it cracks I suspect because there is a void under it.

Is flex in the mast simply popping off the gel coat? Is this a defect from manufacturing? Is this a crack in the fiberglass?

Should I take the gel coat off to inspect the fiberglass? Should I just patch the chips because it’s likely just in the gel coat? Ideas appreciated.



[youtube] https://youtu.be/D4V0yxdWvXc[/youtube]

Looks like a void, probably due to bridging where the fiber turns around the back side of the mast. I don’t see anything that looks like broken fiber.

sm

That is a gelcoat void. Air bubble. Can be chipped out and filled. If in warranty, the dealer can do that.

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

Thanks for the quick replies! I was hoping to hear that answer.

What filler do you recommend? I have some chips at the base too that I’ll fix at the same time.

Just about anything, but automotive Bondo is easy to work with. Just need to get some black paint to color it when done.

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

Following up.....
Last Sept, in a gust, we pulled out the upper eyestrap (i.e. the spin halyard hangar) on our 2015 H16.
It did not pull out fully, the rivets loosened, so we quickly lowered and stowed the spin.

Back on shore, we pulled the rivets (and caps) out of the holes and covered the holes with black electrical tape.

Two questions:
What is the best material to use to fill the holes?
Can I re-drill and re-mount a couple of inches lower?
OR should I attach an additional mast tang? (I have one from an old 16)

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

I assume that if the rivets didn’t pull out, then the holes themselves were not damaged. If that’s the case, then why not just install the strap back at the same location with some new rivets?

sm

The holes are bigger than I am comfortable with.....
The rivets were quite 'wiggly' when I removed them by hand.

That's why I thought to fill and re-drill.

Tks for the quick response.

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

If the hole is oversized, I would not count on filling and re-drilling to support a rivet installation since the filler material will probably just pull out without any backing support.

I would fill the holes with thickened epoxy/putty to seal the mast and then place a small fiberglass patch over the filled holes to give the epoxy filler some support. Then drill new holes for the fitting a few inches away from the original location. Another option might be to drill the original holes slightly larger and install the next larger size rivets.

sm

TY
Then spray with black appliance rattle can paint ?

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'