MIRAGE DRIVE PEDAL SHAFT

Have had Hobie's since 2007 and have greatly benefited from Hobie's warranty on their products. Have never known a company to back their product as well as Hobie. I will always have a Hobie with a Mirage Drive.

Question--If Hobie can get a decal to stay on a kayak forever, why can't you use a paint system for the pedal shafts that will stay on? Have replaced pedal shafts two times for paint coming off and surface of metal pitting. I know of two instances where a pedal arm has broken. I fish offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and don't want this to happen to me. Mr. Miller, if possible, any chance you can bring me up to speed on the latest paint system for the pedal arms as I need to buy a new set.

The "e" coating process does have issues from time to time. We are, once again, trying to get to a anodized process instead. Even anodizing varies though.

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

I appreciate the prompt reply, from which I gather no changes have been made to the paint systems of the pedal shafts currently available for purchase. I plan to buy pedal shafts, strip them to bare metal, and use epoxy primer and paint. Hopefully this will give me a longer lasting coating that the factory provided coating.

Alternatively you could have them primed and powder coated. I believe the crank arms were reinforced in 2008, so your new arms should be a bit stronger if your old arms were 2007.

When all is said and done, it may end up being less expensive to order some of the old billet crank arms from Hobie. I think they are anodized, and will never break. You need conventional bicycle style pedals for them however, available from any bicycle shop. You could even go with clipless pedals.

Roadrunner, are those your calf muscles in that last picture? You've got some serious muscle!

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No, those belong to the guy who keeps beating me!

I don't mind the paint coming off...Corrosion is my issue. I have used Boe shield t9 for over 20 years on metal parts on my boats , Kayaks and farm equipment.

Apply it according to the lable and you will never have corosion again....keeps the paint over metal like new also.

http://boeshield.com/

[youtube]www.youtube.com/user/spinfisherbob[/youtube]

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Hobie Fishing Team Rider
Stay Fit, Go Fish, and Have Fun
SpinfisherBob
http://www.youtube.com/user/SpinfisherBob