I cracked the hull at the inside aft cross beam about two feet long. Not the hull deck joint/seam but the actual hull. I would like to reiforce the hulls at all beam sections. Has anyone separated the deck from the hull completely? Are there any inside frames other than the cb trunk? Suggestions please. Need to fix quickly as we are in preparation for the Everglades Challenge in March.

Her eis what happened to the hull'

Mayday Mayday Mayday

That was the vhf radio broadcast made on Sat. at 11AM as our port hull cracked and sank. 18kts with steep waves created by an adverse current ended our return adventure sail to the Dry Tortugas. Our Mayday call was quickly returned by the commercial lobster 2nd Destiny captained Adam ?. A plan was quickly devised for a tow back to Fort Jefferson. We were meet outside the par
k by two park rangers, Tree and David for the final tow to the beach. Once back on dry land another plan was hatched to to disassemble the catamaran for return voyage on the Yankee the tourist ferry to the fort. By 5:30PM the same day Birch, I and the boat have been deposited back to Key West. Many thanks to the park rangers, 2nd Destiny and the ferry crew in assisting us in our safe recovery and return. Now we just have to fix the hull for another adventure to begin.

You cannot do this without completely destroying the boat.

Your best course of action is not to repair, but to replace. A "crack" big enough to cause the hull to sink is a fatal structural failure - in a place where the boat doesn't usually fail.

I'm guessing that the boat has wings. If you want to reinforce the hulls at the crossbars, you do it via deck ports - two are already there.

Has it occurred to you that sailing an old boat in the open Gulf of Mexico - alone - may not have been the smartest thing to do? Were you prepared to be out there for several days? What if your radio hadn't worked?

You're lucky that it wasn't the USCG that responded. They would have taken you off the boat, back to the CG station (Key West) AND you would still be responsible for recovering the boat.

Yes the boat has wings and the crew is big 500 lb total. Replacing the hull does not stop the other hull from failing or a replacement hull as well. I was thinking that it would be best to reinforce both hulls to avoid future problems.

If you want to avoid future problems, get a different boat. You're too big for an old Hobie 18 with wings.

Matt is right. This is an argument I normally avoid. Composites have a limited life. Polyester foam core, like yours is one of the shorter ones. There is no easy way to reinforce or repair your hull. I would guess that age and use are starting to make your hull flexible at a minimum or more likely, starting to delaminate.


As for crew weight, we were given an upper limit of 450 lbs when we were racing 18 magnums and those boats were new

we are doing a 300 mile adventure race in March no time to buy and equip a new boat. I've looked on line and can not find a port hull for replacement. it appears repair is my only option.

Post a couple pictures. What year is the hull?

I've got an 84 TheMightyHobie18 port hull that could be had cheap, it's structurally sound but needs some attention. I'm in South Carolina

86 hull
I can not see how to post here. Facebook under Guy deBoer Key West there are two pics

how much?

how much, any pics?

Look, I'm as adventuresome as the next guy and done some crazy, stupid sh$t over the years. Taking a 1986 Hobie 18 300 miles in a race that mostly cover offshore areas and has a significant offshore crossing involved is NOT something I would do. I would gladly have taken my 1980 TheMightyHobie18 in said race, that boat was heavy and built like a tank, plus had all the reinforcements done. Your 86' falls under warranty years for the type of cracking you have experienced: http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=21208

There are plenty of turn key boats for sale in the $5K range. Really, start selling your good parts and buy a new boat for the race: http://www.thebeachcats.com/classifieds/catamarans/p12406-1994-prindle-p19.html

Everyone who is telling you to get a different boat is giving you good advice. I had a hobie 18 for 20 years and raced many long distance races on beach cats, so I know from experience. There is a boat listed in the ad section of Catamaran Sailor right now (and it is in Florida, too) for a great price and has been raced in longer races: G-Cat 20 -- Built in 1999, boat is in good condition, rigged for racing, double trapped includes beach wheels and trailer, with additional parts. Boat came in second in division in the 2011 Miami-Key Largo Race. $2900. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-786-1049 home or 954-914-9207 cell (FL)(Nov2)

You need more boat for that much weight and that usage! It is not too late to get another boat!

$2900 is way cheaper then what the TheMightyHobie18 repair will cost in time and materials. Plus, if you've had one major failure there may be more surprises down the road.

I had the pleasure of sailing a g-cat 18 on vacation a few years ago, it is a fantastic boat and the 20 is faster. For the price that is a steal. I'm not sure if the 20 has daggerboards, but I doubt it, they still go to weather the same as the TheMightyHobie18 and you have less to worry about breaking.

I sent you a pm on that TheMightyHobie18 hull

Are these the pictures?

If those are the Pic's. Typical Mid 80's H product.

If you decide to fix that, ( I wouldn't ) have you checked the lip at the front cross bar and the shroud anchor? Any cracks around those points?

Bottom line. The chance of it happening again is very good. You would be putting yourselves at greater risk and you may put someone that has to rescue you at risk unnecessarily.

If you fix it, you should also install the upgraded crossbar/shroud anchor plates at all front and rear crossbar connection points.

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