I'm replacing the comp tip on my mast as it has weakened from exposure to the sun. Does anyone have a "step-by-Step" procedure, tips, tricks, things to look for, etc.?

I put on a comptip this past spring.

The hardest part was getting the mast tang holes, rivet sleeves, rivets and mast all lines up.

Do you have an air pop rivet gun? If not you will be hard pressed to pull the rivets tight.

Yes, I have a pop rivet gun and have pulled many rivets. I'm primarily concerned about a tight fit between the tip and the mast and the seal below the tip. I understand that if that seal has deteriorated, the mast will leak in a capsize situation making the boat difficult if not impossible to right using typical techniques.

drill one hole at a time....work from inside to outside...one rivet at a time, and set.....I have used plenty of silicone and have never had a problem....but, what do you mean the compt tip has deteroiated????.........why not paint it

This boat is an '88 and seen its share of outdoor exposure. UV from the sun breaks down the comp tip material in the same way it does fiber glass over time. Notice older boats that have weathered/dull looking comp tips and you'll notice that when the main is downhauled the tip bend A LOT more than a new boat.

I don't know how the rules folks would feel about painting the tip to protect it. Some paints conduct electricity and the that would defeat the purpose of having the tip to begin with. I have a tip cover made of Sunbrella material that I slip over the tip when not in use.

If you buy a new comp-tip it should come with instructions. In any case, it comes with a closed-cell foam plug that is siliconed into the mast below the tip-end. The comp-tip itself is epoxied into the mast. The gap between the end of the tip and the foam plug is filled with spray-in foam (A-B or maybe great stuff) after drilling a small access hole. The hole is then sealed with a small plastic plug that comes with the kit.

Hi guys, anybody care to enlighten me on what a comp-tip is, what it does etc. Sounds like a fibreglass top-section you add to the mast to make it longer ? I`m assuming you can the put a high-aspect sail on an existing mast, with a flexible top-section similar to skiffs or windsurfers. Sounds like a brilliant idea, if that`s what it is. A pic would also help.
Thanks

Steve

Steve,
You might of come up with an idea that nobody has tried. Adding a comp-tip to the top of an uncut mast to make a 34' H16 mast. Very interesting.
The comp tip is a 9' fiberglass mast section that replaces the 9' you hack off your existing mast, just above the mast hound. The comp tip is a result of lawsuits against Hobie because some individuals were electrocuted when their mast came in contact with power lines. After a certain date (mid 1980s??) all mast were made that way and Hobie offered a free upgrade to earlier versions (that ended a couple years ago). All H16 class racing requires that you use the comp tip. Most sailors dislike them because they flex at a different rate of the aluminum and weather quickly in sunlight.
Jack

You know, the thing that gets me, is why do people who wheel their hobies into power lines think that it's anyone else's fault but themselves. Why hobie's fault, why not the power company? Can people not take responsibility for their own actions anymore????? Frankly I would have loved to been a juror on these cases and thrown the claim out the window!

I agree however that it's good the comp tips are there to minimise the consequences of these accidents, but why sue in the first place?

Thanks for clearing that one up for me, Jack. I sailed Hobie 16`s for 4 years, so I wondered if there was a change of rig design which we, in deepest darkest Africa, had not yet heard of. Interesting point is that there are many new (less than 2 year old) H16`s here, imported from France, that still have all-aluminium masts. Obviously no law-suits in Europe yet. I think it`s a good idea - I know a sailor who`se son was badly injured in a land-yacht in the same way, and is now a paraplegic from age 12. That`s a big price to pay for not looking up while sailing a land-yacht / wheeling your boat to the beach.
My question was aimed at finding out if you could add a section of fibreglass mast to a aluminium one to lengthen it by about a meter (3ft) to get an old design 16ft boat to fit into the F16 class - also be more flexible at the top, which is how the skiffs handle all that mainsail, more flexible section twists off in the gusts.
The Hobie 16 already has enough sail area, no need for a 34 ft mast !!

Oh, oh!

Now you guys have done it! Now you just KNOW someone out there has sponged up this new idea (of lengthening the H-16 mast) and adding a un-Godly amount of surface area to mainsail. The H-16 is already overpowered. What would such a 'beast' be called? "Hobiezilla" ?