Oasis questions

Hi all, I am very close to making a purchase but am concerned after taking a test drive. I have zeroed in getting a new Oasis after much research so I went to the local Hobie dealer to test one out They do not have any Oasis demos (they have one in stock) but really pushed getting the outfitter instead as it is more stable and has all the fishing amenities. My son and I took a test run but my fears proved correct with my weight (300lbs) in the back and my son (100lbs) in the front. I was pretty submerged in the back. My seat was filled with water. I am not so much concerned about water but the fact the back end was maybe an inch from the water. Even with more weight up front I do not think that this would work. Would the Oasis be any different? Thanks Todd

Hi Todd, you can rest easy with purchasing the oasis.
I weigh in at 320lb and have never had a wet seat yet.
when using it in tandem, all is good. when going solo the bow dose sit high, but I found that with
4 x 5kg dumbells put through the front hatch into the bow and the kayak sits nice in the water.

Yes, the Outfitter has more of a tendency to squat in the back.



Many of the dealers have their favorites and have to be careful to address their customers' needs rather than their own. The Oasis is an outstanding boat as you have, no doubt read. It lists 100# greater capacity than the Outfitter, but the new '09 hull has an additional increased capacity of at least another 100# (my guess) that Hobie doesn't publish. A lot of this added capacity is in the aft section and I would recommend the '09 over the '08 for that alone. You should be able to put two of you in it easily with capacity to spare!

Thanks Montedane and RR. Montedane do you have any photos of the Oasis loaded up so I can see how it sits in the water? Thanks Todd

Hi Todd,
I have pictures, but dont know how to display them.
My reply to you was my first ever post to the forum.
Will try to search the FAQ section to find out how.
I know Im not computer clever, but surely Im not the only one.
Keep watching this space.
Montedane.

How to show images is shown in the Kayak FAQ: http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=12574

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I'm about 220# my wife is 140# and I put my 55# dog on a carpet covered piece of plywood on the back deck of the Oasis. My seat is still high and dry, although the waves do come up over the holes where rudder lines exit the hull and it leaks a little. I don't think you'd have any real problem with the seat being wet but you might take on some water through the rudder cable holes. It doesn't amount to much. Maybe a quart every 4 or 5 hours in the water.
The boat is plenty stable and a lot faster than an Outfitter. My dog can stand up and walk around on the back deck. You can heel it over to the gunnels under sail. When paddling solo, I put a 55 pound lead ballast tube in the front hatch and the dog rides in the front cockpit on a dry bag filled with styrofoam peanut packing material. I've got two other flat water kayaks. The Oasis is by far my favorite boat for it's comfort, speed, versatility, and durability. With two pedalers, I have no problem keeping up with the hardshell crowd. We can cruise at 5 mph even with the dog on board. We did put the Turbo ST fins and sailing rudder on it. They should be standard equipment on this boat. Particularly the sailing rudder. The rudder authority was inadequate in my opinion without the sailing rudder. I tried the boat on a river with the standard rudder and it was nearly uncontrollable in current. On flat water I needed constant rudder adjustments to maintain a course. The sailing rudder fixed all that.

Thanks for the info. Does anyone have any photos worth similar weights in the back so I can see what the waterline looks like. With a purchase of something that I am not able to really test, I just want to be sure I am going to be happy with it. Thanks Todd

If your imagination is good for 40#, this guy is 6' 7", about 260# and is in a lower capacity '07 model. He's a little too tall for the Oasis IMO, but weight is no problem. Looks like there is plenty of freeboard.

Thanks RR, are the rudder cables in this photo under water?

All rudder cables are well clear of the water.

Blowing up the last picture above, you can see one of the rudder lines (highlighted in violet) where it enters the boat and how high it is off the water with Jeff in it. Of course, the stern tends to squat a little bit with speed.


Hobie always enters at the highest point with rudder lines. The opening is small and sleeved with tubes so not a lot of water can squeeze by. Additionally the '08 (as I recall) and newer models have internal 'O' rings in the tubes to seal out the water. Even without the seals not much gets in. I swamp my stern all the time on boat wake rides and end up with a tiny amount (non-sealed versions) as a result.

Here's a close up of the new '09 stern (left) and '07 side by side. You get a better picture of the rudder cable lay out. Also notice here the added hull volume of the '09 as it approaches the stern. From the seam down it has almost twice the depth at the chine. Overall depth of both hulls is the same but the new boat actually sits shallower in the water because of the added volume along the chines.

Thanks for everyone's help. I just purchased the Oasis today. They let me sit in a new one so I could be sure and there is plenty room to spare in the back. I also liked the way the seats were more upright than the outfitter. I pick it up next week after all the rigging I asked for is done.


Thanks Todd

Hi Y'all
We have a 2006 model and rarely have I ever had a wet seat.
We go out in choppy water and the only times its ever gotten wet was the odd boat wake or wave that has hit me from the side and aft. Other than that she's high and dry. Your 2009 should be just as good if not better. No complaints here. Enjoy.

Have fun
Kepnutz

Just a quick update. Took my new Oasis out Saturday for a test run with my son. It was great. My son had a bit of a temper tantrum because he did not like the way his new PFD fit so I did all the pedaling. With the turbo fins it was no problem at all. Held my large weight plus had stuff strapped to the back with no problem at all. Plenty of rude boaters flew right past us with large wakes which it handled well. I also have the Hobie float things on the back so I had no worries of tipping over at all with my son making all kinds of movements up front. He did manage to put his mirage drive in backwards and pedaled for a bit backwards. Thanks for everyone's help. Todd