Hobie Cat Forums

Well, when I retracted my centerboards for trailoring this weekend (I leave them down when parked at home, to deload the springs) I found one was sticking when fully retracted. On inspection I found the hook broken, but inplace. This is my second broken hook (the first was on the other centerboard), so I have rebuilt it before.. The first hook I broke several years ago and rebuild is still holding, so I plan to rebuild this one the same using a 3/4 fiberglass rod as the backbone. Anyone interested.

Send me lots of pictures (high-res, please) and you may find yourself the author of a "This Old Hobie" article in the Hotline . . .

I have been working with a broken one all summer. I have re-built it at least 3 times with poor success. One time I put a 3'' stainless pin in as a back bone and that lasted the longest. I think the placement of the actual hook part needs to be exact or it binds too much no matter how strong you re-build it.
This last time I just cut it off drilled a hole and epoxied a 6" stainless hook (lag bolt) inside. Its still working after one weekend regatta but I have new/Used boards on the way. Just tired of messing with it...
Good luck I hope it goes better for you.

I rebuilt one on my first used boat. I made a rough mold of the hook using masking tape, then poured in resin. After it cured, I filed and sanded it to the shape of the hook and laminated a couple layers of glass around it to provide reinforcement. It worked fine for the two years I owned the boat.

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Ok, it looks like there is enough interest so I will picture document the process with notes. Is there a good web site to post the pictures so I can link to it from here?

OK - I posted the pictures of my hook repair.
http://thebeachcats.com/pictures/?g2_itemId=100823
This technique has worked for me on a couple rebuilds.

I'm finishing up a board w/a broken hook that I bought on eBay for a "This Old Hobie" article in the Hotline.

My repair was a little more involved since I dissected the board to get a good look at the interior structure:

Mbounds - ja I did the disecting thing also to another board that I shattered hitting an underwater boulder at speed. I concluded it would be easier to build a new one than to try and fix the shattered board.

Despite all the (intentional) damage to the board, it has been fairly easy to put back together. It helps when there are two clean edges to join. Jagged, shattered edges, not so much.

The board is all back together now, just doing some final fairing. Gel spray will have to wait until we have warmer weather in Michigan. For some reason, my wife gets cranky when I spray gel coat in the house.