WARNING: Don't use the wellnuts with the AMA's (Sidekick)

I had read, but I just had to try.

Sure enough, today they just popped out. Sigh. What a bad design for something that is designed to be under load (the sidekick ama's).

Gonna try to do the washer/locknut thing, but going to be a pain to reach even with two people doing it. Tempted to move it back to the aft hatch, but IM not sure how that would affect stability of them.

That aside, I love them. Did a 4 mile peddle to a beach down river and the sailed back up at slack tide. With the ama's had no fear at all of rolling, would probably bend the mast first. Averaged 4.1 mph with the wind with a high speed of 5.6, great fun and a relaxing way to come back from fishing or whatever.

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2007 Hobie Revolution

I installed the side kicks a week ago using bolts and lock nuts with washers. I used the screws that came with them. I put the nuts in a socket attached to a ratchet. A little honey to hold the washer. My nephew was able to get the socket under the bolt and I turned the screw. It was a feel and judgment , looking at the screw on topside. Took about 5 minutes to get all four. I have a Revo and installed the bar 25"-26" from both hatches, right behind the seat. I didn't even try the well nuts.

Bets of luck. Bruce

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

Bruce,

What size nuts/washers did it use? Ill try your technique and see if I can get it reseated.

The thing does work great though.

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2007 Hobie Revolution

Has anyone tried sliding a big ole fender washer onto the back side of the wellnut before cranking down on it?

Brian C

Hey Dog..How You Going
Kepnutz

The nut size is a 10-32. They didn't have any so I bought 10-24 bolts and nuts. Just take the bolt/screw with you as they might change the size.
Bruce

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

Working my butt off. And missing lots of sailing because I'm working my butt off. I gotta find me a night job so I can sail during the day.

And yeah, I realize that the wellnut is a blind fastener. It was just a random thought I fired off.

I haven't really seen a mounting location for the Sidekick that I couldn't get at the backside of. I guess the advantages of the wellnuts is that they're relatively watertight once installed and already paid for.

I'm wondering if some of them just aren't being tightened enough. We've not had a mount pull out due to wellnuts... At least that I'm aware off.

Brian C

You're point is well taken as to the tightness. Some may not be cranking down enough. My luck is I give it just a little too much.

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

we've not had any, that we know of, pull out. I can see how they could pull out. I think its Ocean Kayaks, use to or sill does, use well nuts for the side carrying handle, now i've seen them pull out, but the side walls on those kayaks are very thin and the kayaks are heavy!

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Brad Stephens
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Mine came out ugly.

So today I filled in the 3/8" holes with marine epoxy and that went well, if a little ugly, will try to sand it down when it cures (You can sand epoxy right?)

Then I put the sidekicks on just barely in front of the aft hatch, just far enough forward of it that I could barely open the hatch. I didnt extend the crossbar, but if you wanted the holes on the outside of the brackets you would need to in that position. Rather I let one set of holes be on the outside (on port side) and the other set of holes on the inside of the bracket. The makes the port ama out about 2" further than the starboard one, but it worked really well today.

The do seem to sit maybe 1" lower in that position, but again, in high position today were perfect for sailing, they just engaged a little more often. Will try them for sight casting/standing paddling next week somtime.

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2007 Hobie Revolution

Yes, you can sand epoxy.... But it's so brittle that it may not stay stuck to the polyethylene. If it doesn't, try the West Systems G-Flex.

Brian C

Hi! Where (and how) is the best place to mount the Sidekick on a Sport?

After having the AMAs mounted back by the aft hatch (in my Revo) for over a week now, I am definitely liking them better back there. No interference at all with paddling and still provides great support.

Only problem is that in the high position one of them is almost always kissing the water just a little, might need to do as another suggested and cut a plastic cutting board to shape under it to raise it up 1/2" or so.

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2007 Hobie Revolution

Hey Ya Going Arch
Kepnutz