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Topics - NowhereMan

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 22
1
Craftsmen's Corner / vacuum pump questions...
« on: March 17, 2025, 10:01:00 PM »
I made a vacuum chamber out of small trash can, a couple scraps of lexan, and piece of flat silicone rubber (pictures below). I want to use it to de-gas poured urethane that I plan to use to make some Hobie turbo fins (pictures to follow...).

Today, I tested it out, using a vacuum pump that I borrowed from the local O'Reilly auto parts store (18 CFM, as I recall). It worked fine, except that oil got sucked into the hoses, which was a mess to clean up. Actually, the pump itself was very oily before I started, so I think there might have been some problem with it.

I'm considering buying a cheap vacuum pump, and would prefer that it be oil-free, both to prevent the oily mess I had today, and so that I can run it indoors. The oil-free pumps seem to be expensive and not as powerful. This one is suspiciously cheap (several of the oily kind are in this same price-range):

https://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Oil-Free-Oilless-Diaphragm-Silencer/dp/B0D9BPC79V/

However, online it says that an airflow of 8 CFM is needed, and you need to be able to pull 29 inches of mercury (https://www.smooth-on.com/support/faq/111/) and I'm sure that oilless pump won't do either. So, maybe I'll have to go with an oily pump.

Any thoughts on a cheapo pump that might work?


2
Hobie Kayaks / Hobie Adventure Island trampoline dimensions?
« on: March 16, 2025, 08:49:35 AM »
I've decided to try to make my own trampolines for my AI. I'll use different material than what Hobie uses, but the dimensions will be the same as the standard Hobie trampolines.

One slight problem.... I can't seem to find the precise dimensions of the Hobie trampolines listed anywhere online. So, if anybody who has them could measure and post the size here, I'd appreciate it (or better yet, if you are nearby, I could stop by and take some measurements). This will be for a pre-2015 AI, in case that matters...

3
Places to Launch and Camp / Camping near San Diego?
« on: February 10, 2025, 08:08:39 PM »
I have to be in San Diego on this coming Sunday, February 16, and was thinking about driving down a day or 2 early and camping. I saw that Lake Cuyamaca is about an hour away from where I need to be and camping sites are available there, but was wondering if anybody had other suggestions...

4
General Talk / Reed the fish monger
« on: November 25, 2024, 08:28:04 PM »
I think I've probably watched all of this guy's videos by now. I never realized that filleting fish could be so interesting...

https://www.youtube.com/@reedthefishmonger/videos


5
For Sale / CL: 2014 Hobie TI and trailer for $3500
« on: November 08, 2024, 05:00:15 PM »
Not mine, but I saw this on Craigslist, and thought that somebody here might be interested:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/boa/d/santa-cruz-2014-hobie-tandem-island/7791627089.html

I don't see the seats or mirage drives in any of the pictures but, strangely, there clearly is a spinnaker (which costs more than $800 new). Assuming that all of the parts are actually there, and the boat is in good condition, it would be a great deal...

6
Kayak Sailing / Windsurfer mast for Hobie AI
« on: November 04, 2024, 05:44:53 PM »
I've been trying to put together a second AI from a Hobie Adventure (older version of Revo 16), and it's complete, except for the mast. The official Hobie mast is over $800, and I don't think it is even possible to get the pre-2015 version. So, I decided to try a windsurfer mast.

I found a used 460cm (15' 1") 90% carbon mast for $200 (no shipping, no tax), so I figured it's worth a try. The mast is exactly the same length as the Hobie mast, it's about 1mm narrower at the base, 2mm narrower at the top, the thickness at the center coupler is 1/16" (Hobie is 3/32"), and it weighs 3.86lbs (about 1/2 the weight of the Hobie). I did a few flex testing experiments, and as near as I can tell, the windsurfer and Hobie masts are virtually identical in that respect.

I bought the Hobie mast base and collar and attached them to the windsurfer mast (rivets for base, G-flex for the collar). The mast top piece seems to be currently unavailable, and since it fits inside the mast, it would not work without major modifications anyway. So, I made a little dohickey out of a solid piece of 1.5x1.5x3 inch piece of starboard plastic (not easy without a lathe...). That slips into the top of the mast. I've also got a mast topper that I use, which is the secret ingredient that makes it possible to fly a second sail (jib/genoa or spinnaker), and I figured out how to add that to the top. That was actually a bit tricky, as the sail is not a standard Hobie sail--it's from Intensity Sails, and was super-cheap (like $200, although, unfortunately, they don't sell AI/TI sails anymore). The non-Hobie sail has a narrower sleeve, so I could not slip 1.25" PVC pipe through it, and had to use some narrower (but, supposedly, extra-strong) below-sink PVC instead.

The only things remaining are to spray paint the mast-topper tube, and put one bolt thru to connect to the top of the sail, which should be done in a day or 2.

I might try to replace the mast-topping tube with aluminum tubing. I'd also like to redo that white starboard plastic piece in aluminum, but I don't have a metal lathe, and that would probably be beyond my limited angle-grinding skills.

The lighter weight aloft will be great, but a broken mast would certainly be no fun. A jib definitely puts some extra stress on the mast too.

I was hoping to test it out this weekend, but it looks like the wind will be practically zilch after Wednesday, so I might have to wait a bit to see if it'll hold up. In any case, I still need to find some battens, so if anybody knows where I can get 3/16" fiberglass rods in 10' lengths locally, LMK. I can find them online, but shipping is pricey.

A bunch of pictures...
 

7
Craftsmen's Corner / DIY hobie crank arms (again)
« on: September 19, 2024, 09:18:16 PM »
I've posted several threads on this topic before, but I didn't put much detail in any of them. Every time I make a new pair, I always seem to have to relearn something, so I thought I'd make a new thread with all of the details, This may be more for my own benefit than anyone else...

I start with 3/4" square 6061 aluminum bars, which are cut to 13" in length. I've got a piece of aluminum channel with the precise spacing carefully marked.


8
Craftsmen's Corner / How to remove bolt stuck in Hobie threaded insert?
« on: September 06, 2024, 04:16:34 PM »
My Hobie Adventure was making a creaking noise that seemed to be coming from the "click-n-go" thing (holds the pedals to the kayak). So, I wanted to remove the click-n-go things, but one bolt was stubborn and got stripped. I drilled off the head (luckily, no damage), but now I've got to get the bolt out.

Any suggestions?


9
In July, I was fishing on my AI in Santa Cruz, and the DFG guys came by. Embarrassingly, I could not get my fishing license up on my phone (forgot my password, wet fingers, etc., etc.). Anyways, they wrote me a citation and said it's easy to get it dismissed (except for $25), if I actually have a license. Of course, I was able to get my license up on my phone a couple minutes after they left, which was no use.

I tried calling SC county court shortly after, but they had no info on the ticket. Today, I finally got a letter from them, and the fine is $485. The original citation does not have the "Y" or "N" box checked by the "correctable" option (that is, neither box is checked, which seems weird), and the person at the court said that means it's not correctable (which seems questionable). So, as I understand it, the options are to plead guilty/no contest and beg them to reduce the fine, or request a date to dispute it. Neither option seems that great to me. In any case, I'm just wondering if anybody has any experience with this and/or any recommendation.

10
Craftsmen's Corner / DIY Hobie mirage drive fins?
« on: August 09, 2024, 08:44:14 AM »
I found YT video where a guy makes DIY fins for his mirage drive (it's a long and rambling video, but if you look at about 1:40, the set on the right is the one that seems to work reasonably well):



I might try something similar, as I need a couple of pairs of turbo fins, and the authentic Hobie version costs $70 each, while even the fake ones are $40 each.

But, I was thinking that it might be possible to create a mold from a turbo fin, and then make fins similar to the real deal using pourable liquid rubber. I'm wondering if anybody has any idea what kind of rubber the fins are made from, or any knowledge of a pourable version of rubber that might hold up to the abuse that the fins take...

11
Craftsmen's Corner / A few DIY parts for V2 Hobie Mirage drive
« on: August 02, 2024, 10:55:57 PM »
It's no secret that Hobie charges a fortune for parts, so I'm always looking to DIY parts. In the past, I upgraded a couple of V2 Mirage drives to GT, which resulted in leftover V2 drums and various other parts. I'd been thinking about trying to assemble V2 drives from the leftover parts, and I was recently able to find a couple of spines for a good price ($38 each), so I got them.

The Mirage drive masts are ridiculously expensive (like $40 each), so I got these 16 inch long 7mm stainless rods and threaded them:

https://www.amazon.com/inches-405mm-Stainless-Steel-Metric/dp/B0CLGV9QJ7/?th=1

I had a 1/2" nickel rod laying around, so I used that for axle that the drums attach to (it's even more stainless than stainless), and I have a 3/8" stainless rod (not pictured) that I'll use for the other 2 metal parts (axle for the fins themselves, and axle for the roller thingy).

The turbo fins and chains are the only parts that I haven't figured out how to do on the cheap. There is a YT video of a guy who made his own fins, so I might experiment with that, but I'm stumped on the chains. If anybody has any ideas, LMK...


12
Hobie Kayaks / Hobie replacement pockets
« on: July 31, 2024, 09:42:32 AM »
The cloth mesh pockets that come standard on Hobies are hook magnets. They sell replacement rubber mesh pockets, which are nice, but very expensive, and I have torn a couple of them. So, I bought this silicone rubber fishing net, and I've used it to make rubber pockets:

https://www.amazon.com/Alwonder-Silicone-Replacement-Freshwater-Saltwater/dp/B0CYS5ZF6X/r?th=1

The pockets are not as stretchy as the material that Hobie uses. Also, if I can figure out how to add a thin bungee cord across the top, then I think they'll be ideal. But, for now, they'll do, and I can make a dozen or more pockets for less than the price of 1 authentic Hobie version...


13
Hobie Kayaks / Knockoff Hobie mirage drive chains… suck!
« on: July 30, 2024, 08:39:53 AM »
Other than maybe 5 miles of use last year just to test it out, today was the first time I used this fake Hobie Mirage drive chain. It failed after 1 mile of use, and I was not even pushing hard. It looks like it pulled out of the fitting, as opposed to a cable break. Lame!!!


14
Craftsmen's Corner / Drip "candle" plastic for kayak repair?
« on: July 28, 2024, 08:26:35 PM »
I've got a thin spot (not a hole) on a kayak, and I'd like to add some mass. I could try to patch it from the outside, but that would look kinda crappy, so I was thinking that adding plastic to the inside would be better. I came across this "drip candle" plastic:

https://www.amazon.com/Wintersteiger-Wintersteigter-Drip-Candle-Clear/dp/B009AV1DM4

It is designed for skis and snowboards, but one of the comments claims that it works to repair scratches in kayaks too. Did anybody ever try this on a kayak? In any case, any thoughts on whether it is likely to work on a kayak? If it works, it seems a lot easier than plastic welding...

15
Craftsmen's Corner / Suggestions for DIY Hobie mesh pockets?
« on: July 25, 2024, 09:19:08 AM »
I managed to tear 2 (of the 3 on my AI) Hobie rubber mesh pockets yesterday. It would cost nearly $50 to replace them, which seems crazy expensive, even by Hobie standards. Has anybody found an alternative (cheaper) material that works well? On the Hobie forum, somebody cut up a rubber landing net, and I'm sure that would work, but I don't have one to cut up...


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