14ft Fibreglass catamaran restoration. Bolt Rope pulling thru.

[BrissoDamo]

Hi there,
I got cheap little beach cat(caper cat 14) that I want to do up for my son, have been working thru it- rigging first and trampoline.
I replaced the trampoline with a new one, nice and tight, then went to step the mast up- the bolt rope pulled at the center of the rear transom.


Whats the fix for this???
- I am going to do full make over, epoxy lay up inside and fix the spider cracks and re gel the outside so it looks good big bright yellow for safety.

happy 2020' Damon.

 

[Blueknarr]

Welcome to the forum.

A few questions as I'm not familiar with that design.

Is the flair intended to be where the tramps are installed thru.? Or is there an alternate opening?

Is other side of the aluminum clear? Or does stuff slide along it?

Possible solutions

Tight lashings from last grommet around aluminum.
Cut off a bit of bolt rope so it is fully contained in unflaired aluminum.
Crimp the aluminum flairing closed.

Good luck

 

[BrissoDamo]

Welcome to the forum.

A few questions as I'm not familiar with that design.

Is the flair intended to be where the tramps are installed thru.? Or is there an alternate opening?

Is other side of the aluminum clear? Or does stuff slide along it?

Possible solutions

Tight lashings from last grommet around aluminum.
Cut off a bit of bolt rope so it is fully contained in unflaired aluminum.
Crimp the aluminum flairing closed.

Good luck

Its from Brisbane Australia- is now folded, they were popular owner retired.

Yes the flare allows it to be installed without removing the hulls.

I am thinking about placing a sleeve onto the bolt rope in sections -cut the flat section off it or rivet it to the bottom flange slid inside of course- place it when I put the hulls back together so it has no flared out area as it does now.
Metal Mate 27.95 x 12.7 x 1.7mm 1m Aluminium Section Sail Track https://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate-27-95-x-12-7-x-1-7mm-1m-aluminium-section-sail-track_p1109887

 

[BrissoDamo]

I have just pulled it apart- the trampoline has 10mm bolt rope, not 1/2" like the old one- back to the sail makers, no sailing this holiday.......

 

[Blueknarr]

So not many in the US. Bit then again there are plenty of Hobies around.
Certainly take the picture to the sail maker. Might want to shorten the bolt rope as well as fattening it.

Don't remove the slot. You will want to remove tramp without disassembling hulls.

Restraining lashing wouldn't hurt. Cheap insurance.

Have fun

 

[waikikin]

I have just pulled it apart- the trampoline has 10mm bolt rope, not 1/2" like the old one- back to the sail makers, no sailing this holiday.......

Hi BrissoDamo
Might be worth riveting on a saddle at the centreline also so it can be lashed back might make that peel issue have some redundancy. Should be heaps of fun- has the esky/storage in the hulls. If you've read Jesse Martins book some pretty worthy adventures possible.
Regards from Jeff.

Just for interest if some aren't familiar with the design Kim Miller's Hobie Cat Sailing Pages. Jesse Martin Story. Pt.1. http://users.tpg.com.au/kkmiller/jessemartin/jesse_martin1.html

 

[fallguy]

darn 2 mm shortage

 

[BrissoDamo]

Hi BrissoDamo
Might be worth riveting on a saddle at the centreline also so it can be lashed back might make that peel issue have some redundancy. Should be heaps of fun- has the esky/storage in the hulls. If you've read Jesse Martins book some pretty worthy adventures possible.
Regards from Jeff.

Just for interest if some aren't familiar with the design Kim Miller's Hobie Cat Sailing Pages. Jesse Martin Story. Pt.1. http://users.tpg.com.au/kkmiller/jessemartin/jesse_martin1.html

It shouldn't need any of it, the extrusion should of been a little thicker, but they were cheap/light boats with a seaworthy design- this thing is leaking thru spider cracks, the lids which are seats also aren't strong enough. Be a lot of work to get action out of this "cheapy", but it saves me from drinking beer in the sun. Fun begins when I bring it up to my standard, start splitting the hull open.

Those Martin's don't know how lucky they are...

 

[BrissoDamo]

So not many in the US. Bit then again there are plenty of Hobies around.
Certainly take the picture to the sail maker. Might want to shorten the bolt rope as well as fattening it.

Don't remove the slot. You will want to remove tramp without disassembling hulls.

Restraining lashing wouldn't hurt. Cheap insurance.

Have fun

the hobies aren't so seaworthy as these things, too low and flat. these things were designed to do coastal voyaging in a day and age when people had a lot more ticker. 60's aussies were adventure freeks, be a model 94 and fishing line in the tub- live off the land and steal booze along the way!

 

[Blueknarr]

Everybody's skin got thinner once screen life replaced real life

 

[BrissoDamo]

Everybody's skin got thinner once screen life replaced real life

This is why I grind fiberglass as a pastime, you get left alone. The styrene fumes help you forget the past....

 

[BrissoDamo]

enter the power tools!

makes me sick look at something that's poorly constructed- looks like 2layers of 225gm csm pe/resin, bunch of 3lt drink bottles for positive buoyancy!

no surprise when I peel it open(sent a message to the parts supplier, have you got the molds for these hulls? no reply)

drinking beer in the sun, cutting fibreglass, listening to loud music annoying the neighbors.....

If he doesn't reply I will give it a sand blast, 225csm with pe then s2 with 3;1 foam fill it(gp33), flick it over sand it off, quench the fibers, grind the weak spots, patch em with 450 csm and pe resin, fair it then gelcoat spray.

Appreciate any input from real boat-builders, I am contract joiner by trade some of my powerboat buddies are shipwrights. This a whole new can of worms......

I can imagine the shape of these hulls being seaworthy, but being like 3mm thick isn't making me think I go to sea in one I didn't re-engineer.

No way I would let my kid go out on that sled of doom- bought it off a protestant pastor- said it was in fair condition....lying grub.

 

[BrissoDamo]

Hi BrissoDamo
Might be worth riveting on a saddle at the centreline also so it can be lashed back might make that peel issue have some redundancy. Should be heaps of fun- has the esky/storage in the hulls. If you've read Jesse Martins book some pretty worthy adventures possible.
Regards from Jeff.

Just for interest if some aren't familiar with the design Kim Miller's Hobie Cat Sailing Pages. Jesse Martin Story. Pt.1. http://users.tpg.com.au/kkmiller/jessemartin/jesse_martin1.html

The guy should get lock up for shoddy boat building.

heres the fix- new x members like $20/m ts103 Yacht Masts and Spars Made in Sydney – Tempo Spars http://www.tempospars.com.au/masts.html

will salvage the old end caps get em powder coated so they look spivvy

 

[BrissoDamo]

hulls grinded up ready for layup

 

[BrissoDamo]

First layup yesterday-