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r/sailing • … • u/LT_Bilko

Hobie 16 Repair (yes, I know about drill and fill)

Hey, TIA for any help.

I have a H16 that has some hull issues (one soft spot, a dented area where the trailer roller sits on the side, a few cracks that should be easy to epoxy back together). I am hoping to basically rebuild the hulls so that it will last another 50+ years. The boat in question was bought by my family in approx 1969 and trucked from CA. The original hull number is 2499 so I know there is a ton of work involved here, but I'd be completely happy spending to fix this boat even at the cost of buying a new one. I am not even 100% that I have any issues dealing with a foam core or not. If someone knows if it is just a full glass hull, that would make my life exponentially easier! Any advice on where to look for guidance on how to's, etc would be amazing.

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I've not done boat repairs specifically before, but I have done carbon fiber work on bicycles so I am not a total newbie to the concepts. Has anyone ever heard of a way to inflate the inner hull and vacuum the outer? Based on my carbon experience this seems possible and likely a strong fix with using epoxy to add structure.

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Thanks again.

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