This does not look to be a problem by looking at this one picture. This is not related to any other discussion I have been having in these forums.

It is somewhat common to see the aluminum sleeve dimension not fit the plastic width exactly. It is possible that it has not actually slipped, but may have been in that position all along. The part "floats" a bit left or right in the mold. The molds are aluminum and expand a bit over time. We have had to modify the sleeve length at times to get a better fit.

The sleeve is a reinforcement for the crossbar tube. If there were to be an actual problem, the hull would crack as the tube is twisted. That is a subject we have discussed here. The problem (when cracking) is a plastic molding issue where there either is not enough material back there or the plastic is undercooked.

so... a non issue as far as I can tell from the photo.

If there is other damage not shown in this photo or you want to contact Hobie, contact the distributor where you purchased the boat first. You can also contact Hobie directly through our own website at www.hobiecat.com and through our forums on that website.