2015 TI Mirage Drive Attachment Point?

I noticed this raised spot forward of the aft mirage drive well. I assume it is some sort of attachment point as I note others by the mast and forward drive well. The others are flush to the hull, but this is raised. Is this something to be concerned with and/or should it be corrected?

It's a brass insert added to strengthen the area. Brass when molding attracts more plastic.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Covered with a simple cap. Not an issue.

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

Good to know. Thanks!

I've got the same thing on my new TI. Just send a picture and inquired about it to my dealer. He said he check with Hobie on this matter. I'm worried it will get snagged on something, like my cradles while loading and unloading.


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2015-Tandem Island

Please share your dealer's response. This still bothers me as it just seems like poor workmanship.


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It is simply a cosmetic cap...

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

But its ugly because it protrudes unlike the others on my boat which are flush. Is there any way to make it flush?


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File?

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

Good idea. I could file and then sand to make it flush. Can you confirm my assumption that the cap extends below the surface of the hull (i.e. bare metal won't be exposed at the level of the hull surface)? Thanks.

My 15 TI has an outie also. So far the sandbars and oyster shells are working on this spot pretty well. Certainly less trouble than using a file.

I don't think it is sticking out enough to be a hazard for catching on things. If I'm sailing along with the mirage drive inserted and hit something, this bolt will not be my biggest problem. If I'm beaching the boat with the drive pulled out, I'm not moving too fast and it shouldn't be a problem then either. I use the PVC pipe bunks, so not worried about snagging on the Hobie Cradles. I removed the venturi scuppers. With the amount of water that comes over the side, it seemed kind of useless to have a fancy contraption trying to keep a little water from coming up out of the seat scuppers, especially since the new seats keep me above the seat well anyway.



The other mirage well bolt is flush with the hull.

Happy Sailing!

-Chris

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2015 TI
2009 AI (sold)
Lake Travis, Ladybird Lake, Rockport/Aransas/Padre Island
Texas, USA

As in the example above... normally the brass is right at the hull surface, so ones that are in a bit are likely retracted during cooling.

The brass has to contact the mold to transfer the heat from the mold to the brass. This one is normal in my opinion.

You could simply remove the cap.

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

My TI has four of these caps. Three are flush. Is there something different about the rear mirage drive well that makes you consider protrusion normal?

Or are the flush ones abnormal?


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They may vary... Depends on cooling, shrink...

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

scc, this is from someone who is only a user, not an expert. (fusioneng could give us a more knowledgeable view.) Still, my understanding is that these brass pieces are only important during the molding process--they attract more molten plastic to their area. They are intended to strengthen that area of the hull. After the hull is removed from the mold, cooled down, they do not serve any important structural purpose. If you think one sticks out too far, perhaps simply file it off level.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon