Did Jesus go to Hell?

My friend Canyon recently gave a lecture on 1 Peter 3:18-22. One of those passages that has puzzled most Bible readers, myself included. In this post I'll consider verses 18-20, here from the NASB:

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

But did Jesus go down to Hell to preach to the spirits there? For what purpose? And doesn't that seem a little misplaced here? Canyon works from the theory that Peter was aiming to bring out the contrast between our temporal bodies, and our eternal souls. Jesus was made alive in the spirit after dying in the flesh. And in the same spirit he preached centuries ago to spirits who were once in bodies, but now are in prison awaiting eternal condemnation. that Based somewhat on his thoughts, here's my attempt to paraphrase the passage, to hopefully bring out the intended meaning in a way that's easier to understand:

For Christ also dies for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us unto God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. His body was a temporary vessel for his eternal spirit. The same spirit that preached through Noah to the souls that were embodied in his days, but are now in prison, awaiting judgment. But they did not listen, as God were patiently holding off their judgment while the ark was being constructed. The ark through which only eight persons were brought safely through the water.

 It seems to make sense of an otherwise difficult text. Or does it? Feel free to offer your comments!