Rudder Adjustment, Oasis with dual steering

I have a brand new Oasis in which the rudder turns more in one direction than the other. I used the excellent tips from the forum to make the steering adjustments but I am bothered that the action is different on each side. With left rudder, the steering lines are relatively loose, but at right rudder the lines are very tight and binding. Overall, this restricts the amount of usable steering travel.
Two possibilities come to mind, either Hobie have a design problem with the steering geometry (I think this is highly unlikely), or my boat has a particular problem. Has anyone else experienced and solved this problem?
I can refer this to the dealer of course but I like to be able to fix things.

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Nifty in Aus

I'd look for line routing issues inside the hull. May be catching on other control lines or even assembled incorrectly. Perhaps the bungee used to pull the up or down lines is catching or actually hooked onto one of the steering lines? Use a small digital camera to get a photo or video of the inside workings of the system in action.

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

Thanks Matt - I did as you suggested and sure enough it was a routing problem. The port steering line ran from the aft steering position, INSIDE the seat scupper, then back to port of the cart scupper and to the rudder. I disconnected it all and ran the lines to port of all scuppers, after checking with my local dealer. I now have even tension on the steering lines across the range from full port lock to full stbd lock, and an extra ten degrees of rudder both ways.

I was initially thinking there would be an angle adjustment on the steering levers, but couldn't find any diagrams for this. So for others who might be thinking about it, you need to gently lift up the shiny Hobie sticker on the steering lever, then use a 1/8 Allen key to undo the lever from the shaft. Lift the lever straight up, then remove the pin which aligns the shaft with the lever (careful not to lose the rubber washer) and then the steering shaft and arm can be pulled out from below. However, there is no adjustment anyway, and I can see that it is unnecessary and would add complexity and a weak spot.

The dual steering system seems to be quite different from the solo, which is the only one I could find diagrams for. Whereas the solo steering arm has two ends and a steering line to each end, the dual lever is single ended but with two lines attached. The lines run both aft to the rudder, and fwd to the second steering arm and then fwd to a pulley and then back to the rudder. A diagram would be handy.

I was also wondering just what sort of rudder angle was to be expected. Initially, with the problem, I had about 25 to 30 degrees, but the lines were slack on port lock and binding on stbd (I imagine some newbies might accept this as normal). Now I reckon I get about 40 degrees.

I still haven't had the boat in the water, and now we are getting some of the tail end of the Queensland storms. Spare a thought if you will, for the poor people up there who are suffering loss of life, property and livelihood. Many of them will not be kayaking for some time.

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Nifty in Aus

Those storms are really devistating been watching it here on the TV, you gotta feel for the Queenslanders. You are a fair way away there in Gippsland. Was in Vic in October/November and was amazed at how much water was in the Hume dam then.

I have purchased 2011 Hobie Mirage Oasis Tandem and have had a horrible experience with it.
I volunteered as a safety kayaker to support the 7.5 mi. Potomac swim on 6/4/2011 (http://artemis.crosslink.net/~cherylw/pr2007i.htm)
It was windy and a bit rough, but I was unable to control my kayak at all, even with the rudder and mirage drives installed. It had no tracking (st)ability, what so ever! I was paddling sideways, making circles and loops. I was unable to control my kayak at all, both peddling and paddling! With the rudder all the way, it would just not turn right! I was shamefully taken out of the race and barely made it to shore, on my own. It was like trying to paddle a washtub! The bottom of the kayak is round and there is no keel to speak of, to assist in tracking / keeping the course. I am an experienced kayaker and am extremely frustrated / disappointed, after spending thousands of dollars on the kayak and accessories for this model, I would not recommend to anyone. It is a safety hazard and should be taken off the market!

If you don’t cleat the rudder down it will pop up when moving fast or in rough water and you will loose control. I had a similar experience but when I turned around to look at the rudder and saw that it was only partly deployed I just pulled the down rudder line again and cleated it and instantly regained control.

The only time I don’t have it cleated down is in very shallow water so it pops up like it’s supposed to when you run aground. Try again and you will find that with the rudder in the water it is very controllable, without the rudder completely deployed you can’t do a thing with this boat.

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2011 Oasis with Sail and AMA's
2011 Necky Looksha 14

I had the same steering problem my first time out.... only to later realize I should have cleated the down line.

The forum is a great place to seek help and support, but a bad place to bash a product due to your own ignorance.

It was blatantly foolish of you to present yourself as a "safety kayaker" without any experience -- and in doing so, become a safety hazard to those around you. So now you think the Oasis should be taken off the market because you don't know how to operate it? That's equally foolish, as a properly operated Oasis can be handled superbly in virtually any conditions.

Take the advice you didn't seek and you might actually find out what a great kayak you bought!

I am a new (to kayaking) kayaker and really new to Hobie. I purchased a Hobie Outback yesterday and had to wait until I got off work to try it out. I live on Tampa Bay and by the time I got home the seas were 2 to 3 feet and the winds were at least 20 mph...I couldn't wait, so I went ahead with the inaugural splash. The handling was great the steering was exceptional, considering I was getting pounded by some rough water.
Maybe this was tame compared to mbeyder and his conditions, but I am new and very inexperienced and I thought it handled like a dream...I can't wait for the weekend!