Crack in Scupper Hole - Mirage Drive Outback

Hi Hobie Support - my issue is with a crack in the scupper hole of the Outback Mirage Drive. Take a look at the thread from me to local dealer and let me know please how I should proceed. Thought I would post my explanation first to you rather than call support. I cannot figure out how to post the picture of the crack, but I do have it and can email it to Hobie support if you will provide a contact. Thanks very much - See Below (my original question is at bottom of this thread)

Tue, June 22, 2010 8:55:20 AMRE: Mirage Drive Outback Crack in Scupper Hole
From: Mike Friedland <[email protected]>Add to Contacts
To: Bill Ashmead <[email protected]>


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HI BILL,



HOBIE HAD A FIRST GENERATION WHEELED CART THAT CAUSED SOME SCUPPER HOLE CRACKS. THEY REDESIGNED THE CART A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED.



DEPENDING ON THE CRACK, THERE IS A REPAIR WHICH INVOLVES POLY WELDING WITH THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL.



MY ADVISE IS TO CALL HOBIE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PLEAD YOUR CASE. HOBIE HAS THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE WE HAVE SEEN, AND I AM SURE THEY WILL HELP YOU RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.



THEY MAY SEND YOU TO US OR ANOTHER DEALER FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT.



I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.



GOOD LUCK,



MIKE FRIEDLAND

FRENCH CREEK OUTFITTERS


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From: Bill Ashmead [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 1:54 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Mirage Drive Outback Crack in Scupper Hole



Hi -

I have a crack in the left scupper hole. Found it today when I took on major water while fishing in Sandy Hook NJ . I assume it was from the wheels possibly going into that hole by mistake and damaging it. Is there anything that can be done?

Here are some pics





(I bought this a year ago as a used mirage drive outback. I have used it many times in the past year -at least 20 without an issue)



Is there any advice on repair you can provide? I see in the Hobie online forum that this is a problem area sometimes. Others have had the hull replaced. Not sure if I qualify. Its seems that regardless of the fact that it was purchased used, this is an area of the hull that should not falter in any situation.



Thank you for your advice.



Sincerely,



Bill Ashmead

Cart damage to scuppers is not a warranty issue. Yes, we have made some concessions to owners who damage their hulls when within the warranty period. These have been "good faith" adjustments / discounts on a new hull to help get them back on the water. Your situation does not appear to fit as the hull was used when your purchased it.

I don't know where the dealer got the idea that a cart change was made for this reason. Not true. We only changed the length of the cart posts to fit a change to the Pro Angler hull shortly after it was released. The Outback has never been an issue in this regard.

In any case, the proper way to handle this is to place a claim with a dealer... not to call us direct. Give the dealer the hull details, serial number will tell us the age. We can review once we have all the facts.

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

Hi
Where can I find the serial number on the hull

Also, since this may not be covered in any way, and I am left with a sinking hobie, can you direct me to the best way to repair the damage. Thanks

I found the same problem in my outback two weeks ago. Spoke to the local Hobie rep and he was useless. Although Hobie says the old designed cart is not the cause of the design change of the cart there is little doubt that the new design has stopped this issue. I feel that Hobie should stand by this and replace the kayak. Mine is less than one season old and I had the old cart which caused the problem when I did as I was instructed to load the kayak on my car. Mike Friedland and George at French Creek Outfitters have been great to deal with and always go the extra step to help customers..... Hobie dropped the ball on this one but I hope I can retract that if and when they step up and honor the warranty and replace the kayak. Even though George did a repair on it the Hobie rep said they do not recommend arepairing holes beneath the water line..... well, then, Hobie, what......?

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By what basis do you make this statement? There is no design change that changes how a scupper cart can damage the scuppers. Improper or incomplete insertion of the carts is the primary cause. The fact that we have now created a "keeper pin" system does not make Hobie Cat responsible for their improper use. We have already agreed to review the details of this specific situation, but there are limits to the extension of good faith coverage to older or abused boats.

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

Actually Matt, I disagree slightly.

The newer carts with the rounded plastic caps don't hang on the mismatched scupper columns where the older scupper carts with the flat plastic plugs (that came off easily) grab and hangup on the 'seam' at the mismatch. I've started making rounded caps for my old carts using 1" hard wood dowels that are working great and don't grab the seam at all (they work like the new cart design).

If Hobie would make the newer caps available as replacements for the old carts, it would be easy and cheap for people with the early carts to get this benefit.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Agreed Bob.
I'd also like to see the keeper pin as an upgrade as well!
How about that too Hobie?

My point was that new innovation does not make us MORE responsible for issues related to older product. These are also improvements to products we didn't even design originally.

Dome caps are available and in the catalog price list as 80045000 CAP - HOBIE CART DOME (.25)

We have not made the keeper pin available, but the concept is very easy to duplicate in many different ways. There are a few threads on these ideas in the forums...

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

Thanks Matt

_________________

Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I have contacted French creek outfitters who advised me to send pics and hull number first, which i finally got to today. They said they do not do repairs but if it's not under any warranty, which they will check first, perhaps Hobie will provide the sticks of hull material that I could weld on. Will know more next week.

Depending on the location and nature of the tear, I would look into sleeving and gluing the scupper. The prospect of welding thin material in the middle of a tube sounds daunting.

For tubing, you might find some thinwall brass or Stainless, or you might even be able to roll some paper that would protect the integrity of the tube while backfilling with epoxy.

There are 2 epoxies that have been formulated to work with Polyethylene that I know of. One is 3M Scotchweld DP 8010 and the other is Loctite 3030. I have used both and can recommend either.

Another solution is to plug the scupper and switch to a conventional cart -- not nearly as convenient, but workable. good luck.