Leaky Mama Bob

Accidentally, I found out my mama bob leaked (05 Getaway). Trying out a new quick launch program involved me putting the mast up and down on the ramp. (It's become hard to find setup space in the parking lot at my site now).

In the process, I have dunked the mama bob for maybe 1 or 2 minutes into the lake. Later I realized it had taken on a lot of water - maybe half full (half empty if you're an optimist). It appeared there was a crack inside the open tube, sort of in the hard to get to middle of the tube and hard to see.

I sealed up both ends of the open tube with heavy duty plastic bottle caps of about the same size as the openings. I glued the caps into the openings with adhesive silicone sealant. There is probably a better material to use but that's what I tried.

Forcing the repaired bob underwater shows no leakage now. So, this is at least a temporary fix, maybe will replace with PVC caps or similar if I can find the right sizes.

Do you capsize often?
Do you sail single handed?
Do you sail in shallow water?
If the answer is no to all questions then think about sailing without.
I've experimented capsizing without masthead float and have managed to right the boat from turtle with a 50Kg crew, I'm 75 Kg.
Also a there's a definite performance improvement when not sailing with that great lump at the top of the mast.

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Ashus
Mirror, Bosun, Laser, Fireball, Hobie 16, Dart 18, IOR 1 Tonner, 1720, Ozgoose, Hobie Getaway

My goal is generally to not capsize, and if I do I like the idea of having flotation to avoid turtling.
It might be possible to add equivalent flotation to the top of the sail, keeping it flat to improve aerodynamics. I don’t know - maybe somebody with more math could look into that.

And would you sail faster with the pointy end forward?

I guess my purpose in writing this is to say “dunk your mama Bob in the bathtub and see if she takes on any water“

If you’re counting on it for flotation, just check it out once a while and make sure it will provide it when needed.

Recently found out mine was full of water too. Like, at least a gallon. Probably more. I didn't catch it in time and it lead to my mast comp tip failing 6 inches from the top. At first, I couldn't grasp why the comp tip would have failed that close to the end. But after realizing the bob was full of water, it made sense. That's a lot of weight up there acting like a whip in rough seas.

Sorry to hear that Owtcast
I wonder if yours seemed to fail at the middle seam like mine did?

Yep, mine had a leak inside the open center tube just as you described.

good catch


The rule is blunt end forward



how bout an auto inflatable mini belt at top, maybe with rain shield

Yes, great idea. A flat piece at the top of the sail that would only inflate under full immersion!
Maybe someone can work up a prototype.

https://www.marinechandlery.com/secumar ... loat-15705

But as I found with auto inflating PFDs, then you're stuck with a balloon for the rest of the day.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Ah, it exists already!
Looks like it could work, maybe attached to the main halyard

Well, it would only be up there for the rest of the day if you’d capsized, so maybe that’s a fair deal.
Good find!