I have been searching and searching and can not come up with some much needed info. (If I have missed it somehow, please accept my apology). I received my Hobie OB retro repair kit early last fall and replaced the "smaller" bolts on both sides with the longer ones. They went in easily enough and a few days later, I was able to get my OB into the water to go fishing. After about 2 hours on the water... and me peddling around, the right side bolt lifted up. I scooted forward and tried to tighten the bolt with my fingers. It went in some and seemed to work... for a little while.. then it happened again. Then I tried a pair of pliers (that is all I had to use at the time) but it wouldn't tighten it enough to be able to use the drive properly because about 20-30 min later... it happened again. I didn't think it is a good idea to try to pedal lopsided and put undue stress on the mechanism.. plus it's hard to do! This scared me at first.. as I thought it broke. Sooo.. being out about 2 miles from shore, I had to paddle back in. After not using "paddles' anymore, it was not an easy task.. plus it was very hot that day. I finally arrive back to shore, packed everything up and headed home. I rinsed out the yak, the drive.. everything that was used that day. I found the allen wrench that came with it and tightened it enough where the drive pin would fit underneath it. The next day, I took it out again... and several hours later, it happens again. Well.. I thought I had fixed the problem the day before.. thinking maybe I didn't have it tight enough. Well... it did it again and I did not think about bringing the allen wrench with me.. BUT I did make a mental note.. to never leave home without it again. Actually that become my most needed tool on the Outback. This has happened quite a few more times... just coming undone at will. I haven't been able to find any info on this in the last 6 months of searching. Has anyone else had this problem? It kinds of ruins the excitement of going out fishing.. never know when it's going to do it again.. that you have to stop... and get the wrench out.. tighten it.. then go on... especially when it's really cold outside. It's just more aggrivating than anything and I don't think it should be happening. The left side stays secure. Is this a warranty thing or something I'm going to have to keep getting use to? I even removed both bolts, rinsed the holes out and "q-tipped" them, then changed them out (right to left.. etc)and it still does it on the right side only. I will add... this yak doesn't seem to leak as bad as it did before changing out the bolts. I'm thinking for some reason... the shorter ones were the main problem (after I siliconed around all the hatches). So, with that all being said.. am I thinking it's just me... or has others had this problem? Thanks for your replies!!
Pam