BAD Hobie 18 Rear Beam Corrosion

looks like metal fatigue to me

if i recall those rivets hold a slug in place that the beam bolts use - i had cracks in my h18 rear beam that had to be welded. the jerk welder sanded the rivets off and never did anything about it. he returned my beam to me and the slug would just slide around

Then maybe the slug will provide enough support to keep it from breaking off while sailing. 😀

goodsailing wrote: Then maybe the slug will provide enough support to keep it from breaking off while sailing. 😀

I see absolutely nothing that is funny about this.

Damon: Need help finding a replacement? Not sure I'd trust a weld.

I'll keep my eye's peeled for a late model 90's rear beam for ya, i'm on various classifieds daily 😉 Rob Patt might have a nice one in his back yard! He has a very extensive hobie 18 parts list on CL at the moment.

I've got a couple, but they might be from 80s boats, any way to tell? Of course, I'm way off in WA.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I think I have a line on some new beams that are in really good shape but the owner is in the Northeast and so far the weather has kept it from happening.

It's a lot of trouble to pickup, pack, and ship something 8 feet long so I don't blame him for not wanting to deal with it while wading through snow.

I see absolutely nothing that is funny about this.

Must be a lot of cabin fever going on....

Truth is, without knowing how many times this boat has been sailed with the spar in that condition would lead one to believe the slug has held it together. If that is the case, welding a brace would work if a riveted slug has supported it. But it appears there's plenty of replacement spars are available.
The Hawaiians complete their spar attachments to their 40' outriggers with twine! 😆

Jeesh, with all the ice out there scrap those hulls and put some skates on that sled.

MN3 wrote: looks like metal fatigue to me

Agreed.
There is some corrosion but it is minimal, happening after the fatigue opened to let the saltwater in.

here is some corrosion but it is minimal, happening after the fatigue opened to let the saltwater in.

Couldn't there be greater corrosion on the inside of the tube than what you see on the outside?

goodsailing wrote: Couldn't there be greater corrosion on the inside of the tube than what you see on the outside?

Good question.
If the corrosion were greater on the inside, his crossbar would have folded already. Its kinda amazing that it has held together this long.

If the corrosion were greater on the inside, his crossbar would have folded already.

Not necessarily.
Lets take it apart and get the facts.