Hobie Eclipse Steering

I just bought two used Hobie Eclipses and absolutely love them as does my wife. My problem is with the steering on one of them. If I squeeze the left hand grip, the rudder swings right to make the turn, but does not return to center. If I squeeze the right grip, the rudder turns left and re-centers itself but it does not go all the way to the stop. Is this just a misadjustment of the rudder or do I need to take the rudder housing apart and clean it?

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Jamie Roberts

This would be adjustments and possibly a bungee replacement in the rudder drum. The bungee in the drum is what self centers the rudder.

Manual:

https://static.hobiecat.com/digital_assets/Mirage_Stand_Up_Eclipse_Manual_PnHRcP5.pdf

Steering adjustments:



Centering bungee replacement:



The Loop is pulled through and looped over a small hook on the underside.



https://static.hobiecat.com/web_uploads/2019/05/13/Eclipse_Rudder_Bungee.mov

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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 have the rudder housing assembly diagram but it doesn't depict the bungee in there.

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Jamie Roberts

Matt,

I started to work on the rudder today. I removed the rudder lines from the rudder housing and started the alignment process only to find that the left rudder line was inches shorter than the right. Apparently the former owner shortened it for some reason so the adjustment has the end just sticking out from under the adjustment screw. Does the Eclipse us the same rudder line that most all Hobies use, the 700 LB line?

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Jamie Roberts

Shows as 300 lb spectra, so 700 would certainly work I think.

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

After spending some time on this I finally discovered the problem. I adjusted the steering and cleaned out the rudder assembly and it started centering but would hang sometimes. I then took the plug off the handlebars where the cables passed through and found that one of the cables was no longer attached to the plug. I superglued it back in and that resolved the issue.

_________________
Jamie Roberts

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

Matt,

Are there directions anywhere that would help me replace the rudder lines?

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Jamie Roberts

In the board? You would need a wire you can push/feed into the tubes and then pull the lines back through.

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

That's what I was thinking, thanks.

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Jamie Roberts

Are there any videos of rudder drum disassembly? I have small gravel binding it up and don’t want to break it trying to clean it.

There is a diagram in the catalog: https://media.hobie.com/digital_assets/Hobie_Kayak-Eclipse_August_2020.pdf#page=61

Did you remove the rudder blame and flush that way? Maybe pop the top cap off and then flush it out?

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

Hi Matt, How does one open this rudder steering assembly to check the re-centreing elastic ? My eclipse has never returned to centre correctly since new. I tried tightening the steering lines as per the manual and youtube video but that makes it worse, the tighter it is the less it re-centres. I had to let it a bit looser and now releasing the right it recentres pretty well but the left it gets sticky and requires letting go of the left then pulling the right, and letting it go, to get the rudder into the centre.

The dealer is about 2 hours away, its still under warranty (12' eclipse acx), happy to try and have a look myself if you think it may be an easy fix, or take advice if I should revert to a dealer? I am in Sydney Australia.

Does the eclipse have a 3 year warranty worldwide, as the dealer told me it only has a 2 year warranty?

Many thanks

Remove the sticker to access the screw holding the assembly together.

Warranty is:

Rest assured that we stand behind your new Hobie watercraft with the following warranties.

For 2019 and newer model years:

Hobie Kayak, Eclipse, SUP – 3 years
Inflatable Kayaks & SUPS – 2 years
Sailboats – 3 years, Europe 2 years
For model years prior to 2019, your Hobie comes with a 2-Year Warranty (1-Year Warranty on all SUPs).

The Warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, improper storage, or running into stuff. The Warranty covers defects in the materials, manufacturing, and design.

Hobie, at its option, will repair or replace a product found to be defective under the terms and within the period of this Warranty.

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