H18 crossbar disassembly

A couple of questions for anyone who may be able to help.

First, i am trying to remove one hull for some repairs. All the bolts came off with the exception of the bolt that holds the front crossbar to the hull on the inside (an allen wrench type bolt). It is completely stuck and I cannot budge it. I tried spraying WD 40 in there but to no avail. I am afraid that if I keep trying to force it, it will snap off (I have done this many times in other circumstances). Anyone know what the heck to do at this point??

The second question relates to the reason I am taking the hull off. There are cracks that have gone through the fiberglass about 4 inches long to each side of the place where the cross bars attach to the hulls. I am taking in about a bucket and a half of water from these cracks. The cracks are right under the lip of the deck at these locations, but do not go through to the deck. I was quoted $300. to repair and reinforce these cracks by a local wood boat builder but he wanted me to take the hull off myself. Does this price seem reasonable?? Has anyone had experience with this type of cracking on an TheMightyHobie18?? Is it easily repaired (assuming I don't break that allan bolt head off)?

Any comment or help would be appreciated. (I have been off the water for THREEE WEEEEKS now ). HEEEEELLLLLP!

FRED
TheMightyHobie18

The cracks under the crossbar are certainly a problem. There were quite a few 18s with cracks like that between about 84 and 89 when we finally got the boat bullet proof again. There is a stainless steel reinforcement plate that should be (should have been added) there (inboard and outboard) beyond that, glass on the inside that would connect the deck to the sidewalls and going for and aft (12-14" total) would be good reinforcement. I'd say $300. is pretty good as the alternative is a failed bow and total loss of a hull.

The inboard bolt threads into a stainless nut that is mounted inside a casting... which is riveted inside the crossbar. You can replace the nut or whole inboard support casting if the bolt fails or you have to cut it to remove the crossbar. The replacement parts are shown in the Hobie Parts Catalog. The 18 is hard enough to take apart without age and corrosion making it worse. You may be able to tweak the hulls around a bit and ease up the tension on the bolt. Lift one bow and then the other a little while someone tries to turn the bolt. Try a hammer tapping on a socket wrench while you turn it. That is a bit like an impact wrench and can sometimes break a bolt loose.

Go to the hardware store and buy a can of "PB Blast Penetrating Oil"

Spray it on the bolt, go watch some football for 3 hours or so (the longer the better), come back and your bolt will be loose.

SOMA,
I just finished fixing the same cracks on my Hobie 18. It took me about 3 weekends to do it myself and about $150 worth of fiberglass, epoxy, and parts. What I ended up doing to fix mine was drilling a 6" diameter hole with a Rotozip behind the rear crossbar and then laying up between 12-16 layers of fiberglass on the inside of the hull. I also layed up 4 layers of fiberglass under the lip. I put a 6" port hole where I drilled the hole. I was going to take it out for the first time today but the wind is dead here. Maybe next weekend. It was time consuming because even with an access hole it's still fairly awkward to fix the crack because of all the curves. It wasn't so difficult a repair that I wouldn't do it again though. The inner bolts on my crossbars were only torqued to 20 in-lbs when I removed them so I can't be of much help to you there.
Matt

Thank you all for the advice. I am going to try all of the above to loosen the bolt. I already looked at the Hobie catalog for the replacement crossbar attachment. 180 bucks (ouch). I will proceed with care and patience. Msopum, I may ask you for more advice if I decide to take on the job myself. I love to do this type of work but am limited in time. Did it take you 3 weeks because of curing periods etc.? holy cow! I think if I stay off the water another 3 weeks I am going to forget how to sail!! MMiller, Regarding the end of TheMightyHobie18 production, do you know if replacement parts will still be in production??

Thanks again all!!

There was a thread on this repair a few years ago. I have repaired 4 Hobie 18 Magnums, all of which cracked left front and right rear under the crossbars, both inside and outside lips. All Magnum sailors should check this.

These boats were not designed for such a load- the excess torque of wings-- sometimes with 4 adults on the weather side wing. Only the early 1978-79 Hobie 18s cracked here (or pulled the decks off) before wings: the D-shaped reinforcing plates then became essential to long Hobie 18 life. I still have 2 of these ironclad beasts!

Mine is an 85 Hobie 18. The main crack is on the inside of the starboard hull (foward crossbar), although all the others are showing slight cracking to spider cracks. Luckily the hatch is right next to this crack so access problems are not as much of an issue. By the metal plate reinforcement do you mean the "u" channel washer type plate? Because all 8 locations have these. But the cracks start a little beyond these plates. I will look for that old thread on this repair

Thank you,

Replacement parts will certainly be available for many years to come.

My TheMightyHobie18 is a '78. It has only the reinforcing plates under the shroud anchors and NONE under the crossbars. Should I be worried about this??

D. Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067