Hobie Cat Forums

Is there any reason not to leave this alone until spring ?




Thats my AI ... you can kind of make out the Ama's and the nose poking out to say "Brrrr", the hull has the factory top cover on it and then is rolled 3/4 of the way upside down on its side leaning on the garage wall. The X-braces are resting on closed cell foam.

I've dug it out a few times but I cant keep up ...

... plans were first to store it over winter in a friends' airplane hanger, when that fell through I was going to install some J racks on the outside wall of the garage but winter came sooner than expected. I could prolly find a place for the Ama's in the garage but not the hull.

For those that dont know, that white stuff all over it is called Snow, its a form of frozen water, Yes it does go away, but NO, you can't sail on it.

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Alan W.
'07 AI dressed in Golden Papaya

... because it fades to Golden Papaya

How big's your living room?

As to not being able to sail on snow, just give it time. I'm sure someone here will come up with a plan....

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... prolly big enough but the sumbarine is in dry dock there this winter

Hmm ... over 100 views and no one can tell me if its OK to leave it in the snow ? or how about the cold - my truck said 3 deg this morning

I know its a damn shame to look at - and it should have been in my friends' heated hanger as I said. Im sorry AI ... may the rudder pin gods strike their wrath on my pin during the first sail of 2011

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Alan W.
'07 AI dressed in Golden Papaya

... because it fades to Golden Papaya

I am no expert on this but from everything I know about the plastic your kayak is made of the cold temperatures will have no permanent effect on the plastic. Cold temps will make it more brittle but that would only be a factor if impact loads were happening to the boat. I say just keep it where it is and don't let icicles hit it.

Once things start to thaw out you might want to make sure it doesn't collect water and put any odd loading on the boat.

I am guessing it may be awhile before it is in liquid water again

I'd be curious to see what Matt Miller has to say about this.

You'd have to think that the cold shouldn't be a big issue, and simply coming into contact with snow itself shouldn't be a problem.

I would think the biggest dangers would be the weight of the snow building up, and any ice, tree branches, or other firm things that might break and hit the boat while it's so cold, would cause the highest risk.

Surely the boat is strong enough to handle cold, and contact with snow. Right Matt?

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Review the FAQ on winter storage.

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=32883

As others have noted... impacts when cold are bad. Weight is bad, but cold by itself is not too bad. What I see that is an issue is the exposed plastics cooking in the UV... that is bad.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

not a problem - we're due more snow tomorrow

... I'll get it dug out and properly stored this weekend

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Alan W.
'07 AI dressed in Golden Papaya

... because it fades to Golden Papaya

send it down here on a winter vacation. We'll keep it warm and flexible for you. It's 81 deg. right now...and all our ice stays confined behind closed doors and inside drinking glasses and coolers. As it should!

Last weekend:



(there. Did that help warm you up some?)

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Island life in the Devil's Triangle:
http://2gringos.blogspot.com/

Was down your way on Grace Bay at the beginning of the month. Darn gate agent wouldn't let me board with the AI tucked under my arm so I had to borrow a rental

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Alan W.
'07 AI dressed in Golden Papaya

... because it fades to Golden Papaya

Ha ha, I know perzactly where you took that photo.

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Island life in the Devil's Triangle:
http://2gringos.blogspot.com/

Snow, never heard of it. I think you blokes are making it up. Next you'll be telling us is that it falls from the sky as flakes.

Those photos look nice fellas. Pity about that oil slick Gringo. Next you'll be telling us is that it's coral.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.