Venting H-18 Pontoons vs H-16 Pontoons

How do the H-18 pontoons vent temperature/pressure changes, since they do not have the tube through the foam in the H-16 corner castings?

Vent? As far as I recall the inspection ports were expected to vent the Hobie 18. The original boats anyway. The rope used to pull the inspection lid was not sealed.

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

I had my 89 Nationals boat apart last spring. Underneath the front crossbar is a 1/8" dia hole drilled into the hull. I'm assuming that is a vent. If not I will fill it this winter, after I fix 6 other boats. My mini fleet for the pond out front.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

OK. My '97 H-18SX doesn't have the rope pulls on the forward inspection ports; it has the threaded caps. We had the forward crossbar off a couple months ago, and I think I remember seeing what you are writing about.

My 1992 18 had vent holes under the front crossbar. I leave my hull plugs out when traveling so I filled the vent holes with silicon, and it greatly reduced the amount of water intake during heavy wind days.

I have an 82 H18 that doesn't seem to take on water normaly untill we took it in higher winds a few weeks ago and capsized for the first time since I've had this boat.
It immediately went turtle in the gusty winds and it took us 15 miniuts or so to right it in those conditions afterwords we capsized one more time without going turtle so it spent a little more time on one side.
When I got it home later I found it had taken about 4 gallons of water in one hull and about one gallon inthe other. I figured that the water got in thru the rope holes in the port plugs so I plan to get the screw in type to prevent this in the future - But now I wonder if this will be a problem with hull venting.
I leave the drain plugs out when not in the water but it would seem that you would need the venting in the water due to the difference of the air and water temps.
Any thoughts????

Thanks, Mark

Go to the screw in ports if you don't have them. I also leave my drain plugs open when ever possible and when the boat is in the yard I open up the ports (for days on end). If you keep air flowing in the hulls and the water out I feel there is less chance for delamination.

_________________
1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net