2015 Outback - Wheeleez Cart Does Not Fit

I very recently purchased a 2015 Outback for my wife. We took it straight home and placed it in one of the racks I have built for our yaks because I knew with my schedule I wouldn't be able to do any rigging on it for a few days. Yesterday I decided to pull it out and pull it around to my shop where I could start to add all the bells and whistles. In order to do this I was going to use my Wheeleez cart I use for my PA. The cart would not fit into the scupper holes. The holes are wider than the cart, I could probably force them in but I'm afraid I could damage the scupper holes. I took the cart to my buddy's house and it fit his 2014 Outback and his older PA just fine.
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Has anyone else had this problem with their 2015 Outbacks?

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"I have always found it easier to show people what the coolest things about fishing are, rather than just tell them another fish story."
--Jose Wejebe

yes, same issue with mine but it does just fit if pressure is applied. I don't like it tho, bothers me for a new product to not fit right.

Carts have been varying a little in width, but we have had to widen carts slightly due to changes in some of the kayak models. These new carts recently arrived, so not many in dealers hands yet.

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

I got my cart thru my dealer at time of purchase of my OUTBACK just about 4 weeks ago. Are the problems worked out with the carts yet? Can we return to Hobie for a fix or replacement?

If you have a new cart and a fit problem... Yes, return to the dealer to sort it out.

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

I used mine again this weekend, It is a slight push fit and helps hold it in the scuppers, so Im happy with it, close enough.

Yes I just purchased a brand new 2016 Hobie Outback with the Wheeleez Cart and it doesn't fit properly either. The uprights on the cart do not fit exactly in the middle of each scupper hole. So, that means the collars don't fit neatly into the scupper holes. In fact, they rub against each side of the center hull. I called the local dealer and they told me to remove the collars. Now, the hull rests on top of the cross member. The cross member is wrapped with a foam tube which is good. However, still bugs me. Dealer said no problem. It is okay if the center hull rests on top of the cross member. As long as the foam tube is in place. I think this should be resolved by Hobie and give us a cart that fits the Outback.

You need the collar clamps to properly support the load. They do not need to be flush with the scupper holes... every boat model is a bit different. Some people (read in these forums) use a tennis ball on top. Punch holes and slide onto the posts above the collar clamps. Not needed, but makes them feel better. Never seen a clamp damage the hull. They are very thick around scuppers.

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

My new 2016 Outback and Hobie cart are two weeks old. My cart posts are also too narrow to fit in the center of each scupper hole but they do not need to be forced in place to attach the cart. I didn't like the collars having a single point contact with the hull instead of a nice 360° even contact. So I took a friend's suggestion and cut an X cut on opposite sides of two tennis balls and pushed them on the cart posts against the collars. (Make sure the X "points" of the cuts extend OUT on the shaft and not tucked inside the tennis ball.) Now I have a softer and wider contact area on the hull and the posts still stick up several inches above the top of the scuppers to meet Hobie's requirements.

Works great and an added benefit is the kayak is lifted the height of a tennis ball higher on the cart providing more ground clearance. And doesn't rattle when rolling.

I just got a Pro Angler 14. Its a month old. I've been using the heavy duty cart as instructed to wheel it around and as advised by my dealer. No matter what I do, even with my kung fu grip on the allen key and tightening up that stupid bushing the thing still slips eventually. I've tried numerous times to sort it out. I found out the hard way, the first time i took it on the water, as it managed to burn into the bottom of the hull a good 1-2mm in thickeness on the way back to the car. Now i am of the opinion it is not fit for the Pro Angler 14.

I could and probably will use the tennis ball solution.. or the pvc pipe one... or buy another set of bushings. However, noting that i spent AU$7,500 on this kayak, with the cart being $220 of that price, i expect the damn thing to work out of the box. I shouldn't have to modify anything. OR buy another set of bushings. That should come with the damn thing if they alfeady know of the issue.

Sorry to hijack the thread but thought my experience would benefit others.

The larger / heavier kayaks have pushed the clamps past their ability to hold, so 1st we recommended PVC spacers for heavier loads and since last year we added spot welds on the posts to prevent slip. Hard to tell vintage of what you have, but this issue has been fixed and is simple to correct as instructed in the cart clamp instructions packed with the carts before we had the welds.

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