 If your Hobie 16 has a soft spot on the top of the deck in front of the forward pylon its time to fix it big time. Soft spots on any part of a hull means typically the fiberglass matting is delaminating. If one does not fix it the soft spot will likely expand, get bigger and bigger until like in this picture the hull will break off or crack, etc. Loved this picture and had to post it. Stay tuned as I will add to this post on how to fix soft spots before a hull breaks. |
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Soft Spots?
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Two Questions: 1) How do you know you have a soft spot? It is not likely to be seen from the outside as a crack. 2)How can you tell were it is. ie side, top. Is there a way to inspect a boat that you have not use for this problem... before buying one. 3) and of course how do you fix it. 4)Can the completely broken Hull above in the picture be fixed? or is it not cost effective to even try. Ok, so 2 questions end up being 4, with sub parts.
ReplyDeleteTo find soft spots you press all over the hull(s) with your hand to see if the fiberglass gives much. Soft spots are found on the decks of old Hobie 16's with colored hulls in front of the forward trampoline pylon typically. With other boats its found on the decks, particularly where people walk. Soft spots can develop on the side of hulls as well. Fixing a soft spot typically means you cut it out or drill into it and drip resin into the holes you have drilled, not real affective but some have done this process with some level of success. Regardless its a hard fix. About the hull in the pic. They took the hull to the dump and found another hull. It would be a pretty tough fix, and not cost effective. Soft spots typically is due to the fiberglass matting coming loose under the gelcoat, if not fixed the spot may get bigger and bigger over time.
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