Hobie Cat Forums

What do the soft spots on the hulls look like? How do I tell? Where are they usually? how big is bad?

Soft spots usually cannot be seen. Take the heel of your hand and press down hard on the top and sides of the hulls. Any soft areas will be very noticable sometimes you can even hear a sound as the foam compresses.
Again if you get a good boat do not let anyone jump on the hulls or even walk on the middle. I have seen some hulls get soft from sitting in the water for long periods of time.
Hope this helps
Former Hobie Admiral Gary

Where depends on which boat we're talking about. They tend to develop wherever the laminate is repeatedly compressed. On the 14 and 16, the foredeck just forward of the trampoline is a prime spot - it's where people step on to the boat. On the 17 and 18, they tend to develop where the skipper sits, just forward of the rear crossbar.

Any size is bad, larger ones are just worse. Soft spots are just like cancer - caught early and treated, they may never reappear or spread. The larger they are, the harder they are to fix completely, and they will spread.

Thanks for the answers. i am going to look at a 16 on thurs and wanted to really know what to look for

Cavi - There is a great video on You Tube that shows you how to inspect a Hobie for this and what it will sound(!) like if you find a soft spot.

This might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL33jMcV4oM&feature=plcp

That is an EXTREME example. Lots of times the soft spots can be just a 5-6" round area! So check the hulls carefully!

_________________
1980 H16
1997 Wave

can a 5-6 inch area be sucessfully repaired or should one run if that is what they are seeing? the boat I am going to see tonight is a hobie 16, do not know what year, but has two main sails, trailer, the only thing wrong is the mast step is broken. Price is $600 (probably 500 after some banter)

Good luck on your search.

I'll defer to what Matt says above from his vast experience about soft spots.

If you didn't know, here is how to determine the year from the serial number: http://www.hobiecat.com/support/article ... erial.html

_________________
Jonathan
'85 H16 __/) 87468 Tidal Wave

Okay, I bought my H16 last week and the hulls look great, the sails are okay, so I am almost ready for it to sail. It is funny, after seeing that video I went back to my club and the H16 my club has has real bad soft spots on the top of the hulls, almost as bad as the ones in the video.... I hadn't really noticed until I was looking for it. It does sail fine despite the soft spots. My new H16 does not have any soft spots!!!

WHAT ??
$600 for a mast step ????

Did you know that an aluminum prop can be fixed by adding aluminum
material, then grinding it back to shape, ( and it's only like $75)
--- Ask me how i know !

A mast step can be repaired the same
way if it's aluminum. I plan to have a small bad-spot on my Hobie 21 mast-step
repaired that way, and a Good prop shop can do the work for you.

Bille

I think he meant $600 to buy the whole boat, Bille.

_________________
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16