Damage caused by the H-Rail kit and a solution to prevent it

Hey all,

Recently in the Hobie Lynx Owners' Group on facebook some Lynx owners have identified a design flaw in Hobie's H-Rail kit for the Lynx.



The gap between the H-Rail bracket and the Lynx's molded in insert can cause the hull material to be pulled upwards into the bracket, damaging the hull. This may be due to overtightening, it may be due to the weak hull material, I'm not sure. Would love to hear from Hobie on that. One user in the group has already complained to their dealer and got a response from Hobie saying they won't fix his hull. Hopefully they at least resolve this in their kits for people in the future.

Jarl, a Lynx owner in the group, first identified this problem. He designed a spacer that can be 3D printed to fill the gap in the bracket creating a flush, flat surface between the hull and H-Rail kit. From his supplied dimensions I re-created this part and have posted the printable .stl file for anyone who would like to use it. Link here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5237685





If you don't have access to a 3D printer, Navarre Kayak Fishing posted these parts for sale on their site here: https://navarrekayakfishing.com/shop/h-rail-spacer-insert/

Hope this helps prevent some damage out there. Tight lines.

Fyi, I have directed our accessories manager and engineering to this post for comment/fix. Thanks for the heads up.

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

Engineering is aware and plans to make spacers part of the kit.

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

Roger that, glad its being addressed. Good to know these spacers are an accepted fix as well.

Any chance those of us that bought the kit long ago would be able to get the spacers as well?

I read all the posts on this topic, as I was one of the first to get the H-rails from Black Creek I went out and looked at mine. I DID NOT unscrew them to look for damage. I immediately ordered a set from Nick @ Navarro kayak and am awaiting arrival. When they arrive I will take a pic of the underside.

Hy Mat,

Hobie sells accessories and I assemble it exactly as described in Hobie's instructions and installation video, using a hand screwdriver without over-tightening. Now I'm noticing the same damage on my Lynx as in the photo in the first post - I've only installed the rail so far and haven't even used it yet. From my point of view, the damage is undoubtedly due to a faulty design in the interaction of the breakpoint or its border and the design of the H-Rail end piece.

My dealer knows: right here the question: how do you want to deal with the damage that has occurred to my Lynx?

Incidentally, the installation video expressly points out that the rail should be used as a carrying aid when loading and unloading.....does this statement still apply without restriction?

Hello All,

Hobie is aware of this deck raising issue some of you are experiencing, and Engineers have determined it's solely cosmetic. Engineers also say the hull is at no risk for water intrusion, nor is the insert at risk of pulling out. The plastic shell is strong.

Please avoid overtightening screws threading into the inserts, and limit the amount of weight on the kayak when using the H-Rail as a carrying aid when loading/unloading.

_________________
Howie Strech
Parts & Accessories Product Manager
Hobie Cat USA

Hello Howie, is that really all? the engineers must have overlooked something during the planning.....and what do I have to read: cosmetic error, doesn't matter at all...are you so relaxed about your own purchases, maybe with the new car, are indeed at the handover a few dents in it, it doesn't matter, it drives. I'm not relaxed at all - I'm very disappointed in you. I paid 3000€ for the Lynx and get 2 washers as compensation for damage caused by your original accessories - wow - that's clearly not enough - I didn't want any accessories that cause errors, not even cosmetic ones. if I think now that I've been waiting 9 months for the rails and it might take almost as long until the washers arrive in Germany and that's all.... you can't be serious

how about if you would at least get in touch with me with a voucher as an apology

I would like it

Butje,

Contact your dealer to pursue any claim on the issue. This is not something we can resolve over the forums.

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

Do the recent inventory of Lynx H-rail kits being distributed to dealers now have the space part to prevent damage to the hull?

Very easy fix. Make a pattern with a piece of paper. Go to hardware store, buy 2 oversize thick rubber washers for a few bucks, cut down to size with heavy scissors or shears. Install - Done!

Thanks for the tip OH! I just ordered the h rails and will do that if a solution has not been included by Hobie.

I was very lucky and was able to purchase a Hobie Lynx H-Rail kit from California Canoe & Kayak in Rancho Cordova, CA yesterday. I was looking at YouTube to see how others had completed the install and came across the rear bracket spacer/hull damage issue. I was wondering if Hobie has started making the spacers available to those of us who have purchased an H-Rail kit that did not come with the spacers for the rear mounting bracket?

Thanks, Tony

The H-Rail support brackets have about a 3/32" void surrounded by a "lip" where the bracket meets the hull. From the pictures that I have seen, the problem is that because of the downward pressure exerted on the hull by the lip on the rear bracket, the hull protrudes up under the bracket into the void.

To mitigate this, I had some 1/16" thick sheet ABS left over from making my keel protector, so I used this material to cut out the disks (an oval) to fill in the void in the two brackets that I used for the rear mounts. I cut out a pattern using thick paper/light cardboard, and once I had one disk done, the rest were easy. I had to cut out 4 of them (two on each side) and then sand them down a little (about 1/32") to sit flat, and of course, drill the center hole. It seems to me that this will keep the bracket flat on the hull and will mitigate the problem of the hull protruding up under the bracket. It took me about an hour to do this, and then another 15 minutes to install the H-Rails.