Hi everyone, I have an AMF Hilu that was in my families possession and i didn't really understand what it was the other day till I started doing some research, according to what I found it is really rare and there are not many left, I also found that it might be worth a good deal of money and wanted to see if anyone had any information on the boat, i am looking to eventually sell it but i just want to get all the facts straight first.
thanks, Jake
thanks for the reply, im thinking about selling because i just dont know anything about sailing and i know there are people out there who are dying to have one of these and i could use a good chunk of change for college lol
i know there are people out there who are dying to have one of these and i could use a good chunk of change for college lol
My vote would be to keep it and learn to sail it. It has a Sunfish rig which means it will be as easy to sail, but the hull design should give much better speed. Also, apparently only 6 of these things are known to exsit; yours could be lucky number 7 ;-)
Jake,Hi everyone, I have an AMF Hilu that was in my families possession and i didn't really understand what it was the other day till I started doing some research, according to what I found it is really rare and there are not many left, I also found that it might be worth a good deal of money and wanted to see if anyone had any information on the boat, i am looking to eventually sell it but i just want to get all the facts straight first.
thanks, Jake
I agree with everyone else who's recommending you hold on to and enjoy this boat. They look like a real kick. I've not sailed a Hilu, but as a kid I built a Proa-like outrigger canoe so I have fond memories of the adventure.Not knowing anything about this boat, I went to google for some answers and found on Ralph Harvey's site that he had sold one on ebay in 2008 for $800. Not the $$ supposedly reported on the Wiki but not a bad profit for him considering he picked it up for about $50.
Neat looking boat, looks like it may be fun to sail in some good winds. I would keep it if I were you Jake and learn to sail it.
How long has it been in your family? It may be something cool to pass on to the kids/grandkids later on down the road and you can teach them to sail it. Just something to think about.
I believe you are correct, the Hilu (and I believe most small or modern Proa) sail more like a catamaran. Note the fixed rudder of the Hilu rather than a movable steering oar.Ok Wavedancer , totally baffled here. I know that traditionally south pacific proas would actually move the sail from end to end thus keeping ama in same relative position with tack , don't believe the hilu is set this way.
Ok Wavedancer , totally baffled here. I know that traditionally south pacific proas would actually move the sail from end to end thus keeping ama in same relative position with tack , don't believe the hilu is set this way.
Not as popular as a Sunfish, probably because they aren't as easy for beginners to learn sailng basics on.I bet those are fun to sail (fast?)..I'd keep the thing.
14 foot fiberglass proa/outrigger canoe. built by Alcort in the early 70's and called a Hilu. sails nicely and has most parts, sunfish lanteen rig, its in Fort Pierce, Fl. no pics availiable. very light, fast and fun had had many good times in the Atlantic with it, loves waves, very rare would like $500, john bartlett captjbturtle@yahoo.com
I'm not finding a registry link on Ralph's page ... or is his web page it?First, I had no idea as a Hilu owner I was part of such an exclusive club (!!!). Encourage any other Hilu owners to contact Ralph to be added to the unofficial registry on his Hilu page.
Respond to that Duckworks ad in post #17, it seems to be priced within reason.Oh no, I have a Snark and four SF's, a pontoon, two bass boats and a canoe in the yard, mama's gonna kill me but I am now in the market for one of those too!
Make that 18...There are five (now 6 with you) Hilu members who show up on this forum and three more on Sunfish_Sailor. I have seen about 8 others on the Net in other groups..., so the numbers appear to be slightly higher than first thought.
I'm not finding a registry link on Ralph's page ... or is his web page it?
24.0 platform
34.0 outrigger hull
84.5 main hull
-----
142.5 lbs
Ah, then I'll take all the numbers anyone throws around with a grain of salt, maybe a pound.That web page was it, I thought. I'm already counted on his page - the photo of the Hilu with the Mistral sail is mine.
May as well round that figure off and post it to Wikipedia as an "actual". Who knows where their figure came from. I've never seen a Hilu spec sheet, just the sales flyer Ralph and a couple of document dealers have posted out in the wild.Weight: FYI, I weighed a few parts:
So a bit more than the "75 lbs" wikipedia says.Code:24.0 platform 34.0 outrigger hull 84.5 main hull ----- 142.5 lbs
Maybe the 75 lbs reference was for the main hull
The fiberglass should not have absorbed any water unless it is becoming delaminated. You'd see this evidenced by it going soft. I had a Hobie hull do this back in the 70s so badly the Hobie dealer swapped it for a new one. Bad lay-up job I'd guess.I just discovered my main hull was full of water. I drained it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it had absorbed a fair amount into the glass in that time.
As evidenced by the three boats appearing on the used market in just the past couple of months, it seems the quantity of Hilu in existence exceeds speculation.
I'll weigh the rig & foils when I get them (next week, hopefully) and post a total boat weight then. Seems like something around 200 lbs is likely.May as well round that figure off and post it to Wikipedia as an "actual". Who knows where their figure came from.
From $20 to $20k ... you'll be the next Pawn Star for sure.Shh! You'll drive down prices!(I'm holding out for that $20k Hilu collector.)
I'll weigh the rig & foils when I get them
24.0 platform
34.0 outrigger hull
81.0 main hull
13.0 daggerboard + rudder/tiller
23.0 spars & sail
-----
175.0 lbs
From $20 to $20k ... you'll be the next Pawn Star for sure.
.
Fiberglass doesn't have a tendency to take up and hold water without becoming obviously soft and delaminated. The foam flotation, on the other hand, when left to steam for years in a closed pontoon, can osmos quite a bit..., about 58 lb per cu ft for USCG approved, 4 lb density, marine grade flotation.. . .That water might have been absorbed in either the fiberglass, or the buoyancy foam, or both.
That said, seems safe to say that a fully rigged Hilu probably weighs in at ~180 lbs / 82 kg.
The spec sheet has a note stating later production superceded the webbing with a laced-on single piece tramp.And I still need to buy webbing to make the tramp!
Fiberglass doesn't have a tendency to take up and hold water without becoming obviously soft and delaminated. The foam flotation, on the other hand, when left to steam for years in a closed pontoon, can osmos quite a bit..., about 58 lb per cu ft for USCG approved, 4 lb density, marine grade flotation.
Sounds reasonable. Maybe they advertised only the main hull weight as a way to suggest how the disassembled boat is easily handled (for transport/storage etc.)More fitting with tradition, that should probably be both pontoons and the connecting frame..., maybe 135 lb to 140 lb altogether - don't you think?
Interesting! I think I'm going to go with the webbing. I like that aesthetic vs. a Hobie style tramp.The spec sheet has a note stating later production superceded the webbing with a laced-on single piece tramp.
Shouldn't be any different than the soft spots you typically find on older Hobie pontoons..., just without there being a foam layer in the mix. Good that everything is solid.Likely the foam, then. I've been all over the hull, and aside from one crack that needs repairing, I found no obvious soft spots (on the outside anyway).
I wouldn't put it past them to only draw attention to the heaviest component, then if it came up simply mention everything else weighs less.Sounds reasonable. Maybe they advertised only the main hull weight as a way to suggest how the disassembled boat is easily handled (for transport/storage etc.)
There's a curious anomaly..., the spec sheet with note added for the later design change, is dated Dec. of 1971 (probably originally printed in preparation for the initial introduction in 1972). The setup manual printed a month later shows the daggerboard instead of a keel/skeg.Also interesting in that spec sheet: it shows a long, low integral keel on the main hull, not a daggerboard.
In the setup manual, spec sheet, and every photo I've seen, the rudder seems to be the same one as the Sunfish "new style" (1972 thru the present).And from that drawing, now I know I don't have the right rudder for it.
In the setup manual, spec sheet, and every photo I've seen, the rudder seems to be the same one as the Sunfish "new style" (1972 thru the present).
You mean that little rectangle with "00001" in it?Does your hull have a Hull ID embossed into it?
Present day Sunfish rudder in fiberglass. Earlier versions were wood.OK, then I've definitely just bought an old style Sunfish rudder. Drat. And judging solely by its appearance & bronze hardware, pre-1972 is no stretch.
You mean that little rectangle with "00001" in it?
D Just kidding. I keep striving for that $20k...)
Nope, I couldn't find a serial number. Are you aware of any Hilu's with ID's? (If so, what's the location?)
That thing looks weirder and weirder the more I look at it!
I'm actually hoping to go out once more this fall, and will try to get some photos. Something to look at to pass the long winter.