Late 70's decks were prone to softness.
Yes, but only after many years of (ab)use - the Hobie warranty is five years. I don't know of any warranty claims for delamination. Matt Miller may have some history on this. I owned a '78 and raced it hard for six years. No problems.
Speculation is that the foam core did not allow the layup to adhere to it as well as later foams. Matt Miller confirms that the type/brand of foam was changed in the '80's.
ORLY? If you buy a boat that's out of warranty, then you have nobody to blame but yourself for not inspecting it thoroughly.
The '80, '81 (I bought one new), were tanks. Solid decks and over minimum weight.
Min weight at the time was 340# Most boats of that era still weigh less than 355#. Boats were not regularly weighed then because the nationals had provided boats.
About what? Most people had no idea what their boat weighed.
Weight came down in '82, '83. Solid decks.
Nope. Manufacturing process was changed for the 1984 model year which resulted in a significant reduction in weight. Class min weight was changed in 1985 to 320#, where it remains today.
Coleman boats begin in '84 & '85 and identified by serial number, Coleman sticker on the transom and red glue in hull to deck seam.
Wrong again. Coleman bought Hobie Cat in 1976. Red glue seam was indicative of the 1984 manufacturing process. Hull graphics changed in 1984 and included the Coleman stickers. Coleman sold Hobie Cat in 1988.
Weighed at minimum weight. Solid decks.
Actually, the '84/'85 boats were
less than minimum. I owned an '84 that had lead shot in the rear pylons (from the factory) to bring it up to minimum. I own an '85 H-14 that weighed 8 lbs less than minimum before I put a dolphin striker and a trapeze on it. My '84 16 was a bit fragile - two pylons came loose and had to be repaired.
Since then weight has fluctuated a bit, and decks are stout (depending on care or lack of).
Actually, weights crept up from '86 to early '90's because of the warranty claims for fragility. (I owned an '89 that weighed 345#) In the meantime, the H-16 became an ISAF International Class, and the class rules became subject to ISAF oversight. In 1990, Hobie Cat stopped providing boats at nationals and boat weighing became more commonplace. In 1991, sailors and ISAF exerted pressure on Hobie Cat to produce boats at minimum weight, which they agreed to. Since '92, boats have been generally at minimum weight, and the weights of the hulls are engraved behind the rudder pins. (Most hulls weigh between 68# and 72#)
In summary, delamination occurs on the 1970's boats because they're
old. Nearly 40 years of flexing on the decks breaks down the bond between the glass and the foam. Once it starts, it's like cancer. You can fix it in one area, and it'll pop up in another.
