Does anyone know how the vertical posts are attached to the hulls on a hobie16.

It looks to me as though there is silicon sealent around the posts as they come out of the top of the hull. Does this mean that they are only attached at the bottom and are not glassed in at the top. If so why? could this be to allow for different expansion of the fibre glass and Aluminium?

I want to know because I am building my own boat and want to follow a tried and tested method.

Its my understanding they are held in place using a bonding putty. I'm not sure if its epoxy or polyester. The silicone is just to keep water out. Thats one of the reasons people cut a port in, to fix a pylon that has come loose at the bottom. It would be best to incorparate the pylon into a bulkhead. My opinon.

Mike

I have been coming across old boats and parting them out, so I have had to hack up quite a few hulls. I took some pictures of the insides so people could see what they were working with when contemplating repairs. Attached is a picture of the back post of a Hobie 14. It should be the same as the 16. I'll be posting the complete set of pictures on www.TheBeachCats.com pretty soon.

As a note, it looks like the posts were pushed into the hull and bonded somehow to a "nest" of fiberglass that was wadded up in the bottom of the hull. Seems like you could do the same by pouring some resin down there and re-inserting the post if yours has come out.

Here is another angle...

OK--last one. This is the front pillar of a Hobie 14. It didn't seem to have as much material in the bottom as the back pillar and didn't have as much sealant at the top as the rear one either..

Cheers Dan,

I couldn't have hoped for a better reply than that!